By Amber Spiotti
The third showing of Thursday Nite Live aired last Thursday to a full audience broadcasted from Dempster Hall. Aside from some overly long skits if TNL keeps their writing up they are going to return with a great spring season as well.
The December 2 show opened with a writer's room sketch featuring Michael Hayden, who delivered laughs as he complained of not receiving the best roles that instead went to fellow cast mate Emmanuel Neris. When a role that perfectly described Hayden's physical appearance was mentioned it was eventually given to Neris much to Hayden's dismay. This overall was one of the most popular sketches due to Hayden's comedic timing, voice and facial expressions.
The second sketch of the evening involved Neris and fellow cast member Lizzie Parrot who expertly played Barbara Walters in The Position. The sketch was a mock of The View as the group discussed the topic of gay marriage. Dani Letsche brought in some laughs for her impersonation of Elizabeth Hasselbeck as they poked fun at her intelligence and conservative views. Claire Entrup served as a sarcastic Joy Behar while Christina Williams portrayed a hilarious Sherri Sheperd. Overall the group portrayed the famous women very well and adapted to their individual personalities.
Jake Link and Sarah Whittle were back for TNL News, which proved to be too short of a segment in comparison to the other skits. The jokes, although funny, were overshadowed by a dramatic movie trailer, starring Link who was tired of being cast in non-serious roles. The trailer had its moments but went on for too long; I would have liked to hear some more "news."
A "4 Loko" package aired throughout the one hour show and featured Bennett Tyler who recorded his reaction to drinking a full can in thirty minutes. It was a humorous skit due to the recent ban of the alcoholic beverage in New York and was most relatable to the audience and Hofstra students for its high popularity on campus.
Another package featured music in the style of "The 12 Days of Christmas" that directly mocked Hofstra with re-written lyrics such as "7 nights of drinking," "five STD's," and "debt until I'm 53," as part of the eight nights of Hanukkah. The song was hilarious and was a favorite amongst the audience. The song somewhat dragged and could have been set at a faster pace.
"Nghbrs," a Long Island based rock band served as the musical guest. The numbers they performed were powerful, as the lead singer had a strong voice that carried well. One of the songs featured a smooth piano intro that departed from the band's louder rock songs.
Overall TNL did well on many of the skits, although some could have been shortened or had better timing. Some skits were slow in the beginning but usually delivered decent jokes and laughs in the end. TNL will return after the break for a spring season.