Starting Five

1. 30 Rocked

It may have been the greatest all-time comedy assemblage under one roof: Bill Murray (“JAWS!”), Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Eddie Murphy, Joe Piscopo, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell, Seth Meyers, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Andy Samberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Larry David, Norm MacDonald, Alec Baldwin, Kate McKinnon, Darrell Hammond, Adam Sandler, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudekis, Billy Crystal, Will Forte, “Louise K.”, David Spade, Kevin Nealon, Colin Quinn, Zach Galifanakis, Bob Odenkirk, Kenan Thompson, Rachel Dratch, Taren Killam, Cecily Strong, Ana Gasteyer, Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake, and the dearly departed Jon Lovitz.

(If I’ve missed a few, please fill me in.)

The Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special will be difficult to top, mainly because of the numerous little touches that showed the attention to detail: Debbie Downer interrupting the opening number; David Spade and Cecily Strong ending “The Californians” (a sketch I love) with the “Buh-Bye” sketch; Garrett Morris reprising his “Hearing Impaired” bit; Kevin Nealon working “Subliminal Man” into his 30 seconds on stage; Norm MacDonald milking his on-air time by streeeeetching out his Chevy Chase intro; Jon Lovitz’s death call-back.

Highlights:

–The opening number with Fallon and Timberlake–that’s America’s biggest bromance by far.

—“Celebrity Jeopardy”...Loved MacDonald reprising his “Turd Ferguson” act (“Who is Andre the Giant?”) but you have to give special credit to Ferrell, arguably the funniest man in any room, playing his Trebek so straight (take notes, Mr. Fallon). Jim Carrey made the most of his moment (as would Bradley Cooper in “The Californians”).

–The musical montage was a tad hit or miss, but Nick Ocean (Murray) belting out the “Love Theme From ‘Jaws'” was classic. Also, glad that “What’s Up With That?” got a little love.

–Seinfeld’s Q & A bit. Nice cameo for Ellen Cleghorne and loved that Larry David got his vindication.

— “And That’s When We Break.” Perfect use of Samberg and Sandler (and loved the intro of ‘Adam Samberg and Andy Sandler’) and love that they needled “Fallon and Sanz,” who deserved it.

—“Wayne’s World.” As funny and as seamless as any bit in the entire telecast. Not a wasted moment, ideal use of every catchphrase or touch that make Wayne and Garth special. They’re worthy! I’m now ready for Wayne’s World 3. 

–Miley Cyrus’ “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” was unexpected, especially with Paul Simon in the house, but she crushed it.

The minor quibbles: Why is Eddie Murphy so aloof and unwilling to give of himself? The actresses paying homage to their favorite characters fell flat for me. Taylor Swift’s incapability to do a Californians accent. Chevy Chase seemed ill. Like, maybe seriously ill.

In the red-carpet show, Carson Daly interviewed Chase and reminded the audience (and Chase) that, “You were part of the original cast.” Chase replied, “PART of?!?” That may have been my favorite moment of the night. That ego is still very healthy.

All in all, amazing and awesome. Three-plus hours and I could’ve watched three more. And Steve Martin reminded everyone why he was the ideal man to take the stage first (“As I was walking the red carpet….that is in my home”).

I found a list of every host and musical act, chronologically, in SNL’s four decades. For your perusal….

2. Of West and Westbrook

 So whose idea was it to stage the NBA All-Star Game in New York City on the same night as SNL’s 40th Anniversary bash? Or which came first? Anyway, Russell Westbrook scored 41 points and was named MVP but I didn’t watch. The game is becoming more and more irrelevant because even the Pro Bowl has more defense.

I don’t know if Adam Silver is going to pull a Bud Selig here and put some type of stakes in the game, but maybe these guys need ($) a little ($) extra ($) incentive ($) to play hard ($$$).

Great note from someone on Twitter: The last time the New York Knicks won the NBA title, SNL was still two years away from its premiere. Sadly, I remember it well.

3. Hi, Sierra

February is the month that makes us wonder if “magazine rack” is a double entendre. There’s the annual SI Swimsuit issue cover, of course.

But Shape magazine opted to take on SI head(lights) on with this cover of Jada Pinkett-Smith in a tangerine bikini

For me, though, the most arresting cover of the month belongs to a woman who is not famous (or linked to one of the world’s most famous men), but rather to a relative unknown from Lincoln, Nebraska, who moved to NYC directly out of high school eight years ago: Sierra Andersen. The former Knicks City Dance captain is a Grace Kelly doppelgänger, but one of my favorite things about her is that she is taking guitar lessons from Dan Smith. If you have lived even a year on the Upper West Side in the past two decades, you know of Dan Smith because his fliers (“Dan Smith Will Teach You Guitar”) grace every laundromat, coffee shop and even a few bars. He’s a legend. How much of a legend? He’s even inspired a snarky meme!

If you watch the video, Andersen is playing the opening chords to “Seven Nation Army.”

(Thus concludes the Big Lead Round Up section of today’s program; hey, they must be doing something right)

4. Beverley Center

Did you watch Houston Rocket guard Patrick Beverley win the Taco Bell (hey, MH gets 25 cents for branding this here) Skills Challenge on All-Star Saturday night? I did, and I loved it. Why? Because in winning the SKILLS Challenge, Beverley traveled blatantly at least twice.

I get that you’re not going to call traveling in the Dunk Contest. But in the Skills, shouldn’t you have to display proper form?

5. Uptown Suburban Funk

A northern California mother of two has created a parody video of Bruno Mars’ and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” video, and the mom has done it with aplomb (it doesn’t hurt that she looks great in yoga pants).

Her name is Deva Dalporto and she is (Are you listening, Katie?) a mom, wife, blogger and actor. And this is what such types do in their free time, if they ever get some. “Suburban Funk,” co-written by her husband, Greg. That cute couple in Carolina (“Christmas Jammies”) finally has some competition.

The fun part for me is wondering how many times Dalporto fielded the question, “WHAT are you doing?” while filming this video, which looks as if it was shot in one day.

Remote Patrol

Better Call Saul

AMC 10 p.m.

“I’m not a criminal,” says ‘Slippin’ Jimmy McGill. “I’m a lawyer.

Famous first words.

I don’t want to go all over the moon over this Breaking Bad prequel –I’m not sure it’s Frasier to BB’s Cheers, but it’s had a promising start. And Bob Odenkirk is not yet as oleaginous as he’ll become as Saul Goodman. What we are witnessing, thus far, is an angel’s fall from grace.