Our NBC affiliate tape-delays the broadcast by an hour so they can edit out material they deem to be offensive. :(

WOW! How unexpected, Brian Williams is hilarious!  Job well done Brian.  

11:45pm - So far, very good.  Brian doing a fireman accent...Who would have thought? Monologue was funny out loud. Bonus appearance from Obama!

Sexy Brain.  News to me.  He's great, talented and funny.  Guess i'll be watching NBC Evening News from now on...

Brian, Iam a 51 yro male I thought you were the bomb on SNL-.You are a real talent ... accept it stud

SNL has just finished its first skit, and I am already rolling on the floor.  Brian Williams is a FUNNY guy!

Brian Williams is hysterical! What a comedian! Very refreshing. We should all lighten up - way to go, Mr. Williams.

Hey!

Watching SNL and "B" is doing a fantastic job!  Its great to see him having some fun and getting laughs.  Great job Brian!

Tiffany
Chicago

Oh my gosh, you are doing an amazing job! So far the show is just 30 minutes in and I've been STUNNED by your excellent performance. You must have acting in your background because your accents and stage presence are wonderful.

I'm watching SNL as I wrtie.  Brian Williams is great! He's such fun!

So far... Hilarious! From 1 mick to another, good luck.

Watching made me incredibly uncomfortable.  What was he thinking?  This is simply not a gig a credible journalist should be involved with.  And this is the guy were going to watch for our war news?

Mr. Williams you are alot funnier than expected. I would be quite happy if you left me that voicemail, it would get me through the tough days

I'm watching SNL as I write this....and Brian is absolutely NAILING it! The man is so funny! He actually seems more comfortable with the skits than many professional actors; you often see them looking at the cue cards, but he seems so natural and at ease. I think he is doing a fantastic job!

Brilliant!  who knew Brian Williams was so funny?  I stopped watching when Tom Brokaw left but it makes me want to watch NBC news again...he actually has a personality.

Dear Brian, I watch you every night on the nightly news. I rarely stay up for SNL anymore, but I could not stop laughing tonight. You were fantastic, and it is nice to see you in this other light. Don't give up your day job, Brian, but thank you for lightening the mood in these times. All best wishes, Claudia Clark

I thik it is awsome that he is stepping outside his zone and doing something diffrent. I think he is dang good on SNL.
Rock on Mr Williams! You are doing an awsome job!

Brian that may have been your first stint on Saturday Night Life, but it will not  be your last...great job and I especially loved it when you threw pennies at Matt Lauer.

yes, funny. you have talent. need an agent?

I have to say, I didn't watch Tom that much...I liked that he was a Dakota boy, but Peter was The Man. Since they have been gone I've been a channel-flipper, although Brian is usually my choice. Watching SNL tonight sealed the deal. I can only hope that his appearance wasn't a complete marketing ploy...that he enjoyed hosting the show at least a little! I will watch him from now on because I can't help but admire the guy for stepping completely out of his box and opening himself up to public and professional ridicule. The fact that he was actually funny was icing on the cake. Congrats Brian!

Super funny.  Finally, someone with a serious job who doesn't have to take himself seriously 100% of the time.  Plus he actually comes across as talented in the sketches--impressive!

1. Brian was funny for 30 to 60 seconds--then lame, lame, lame.  

2. In addition, his insulting high school slang, the  twisted adolescent use of the term "gay" in a way that reinforces the confusion and perhaps the hate between being gay and being lame.  In this case, it was only Brian who was at best lame, at worst shameful (hello, Don Imus).  

3. Please let SNL die a quick and sudden death. It has spent years now languishing in a slow painful decline, which "everybody" acknowledges. Put it out of its misery.

4. I am sorry that my candidate, Barack Obama, decided to do a walk-on during such a dismal display--that continues to "grasp at straws."  Sorry, Lorne, it's time for a swan song.

This man was hilarious. I loved his timing and I hope he comes back to the show. I loved the egomaniac reporter skit

This man was hilarious. I loved his timing and I hope he comes back to the show. I loved the egomaniac reporter skit

This man was hilarious. I loved his timing and I hope he comes back to the show. I loved the egomaniac reporter skit

OK Brian, I just finished watching SNL and can I just say this:

You were awesome!!!!  Really, you were more natural and comedic than most of the "professional" comedians who host SNL.

Congrats on a successful night, you'll definitely return to work with your reputation in-tact...and I love the James Bond-ish intro to Nightly News.  I think y'all should go with that.  

Brian Williams had many funny moments on SNL.  I was nervous when his Bronx Beat skit was tettering towards a bad Ray Romano imitation, but he eased into the show and some of his best moments were when he played himself.  I would definitely say this was NOT one of the worst SNL shows.

Brian:

You ROCKED on SNL!!!  Although I have high regards for the other evening news anchors, YOU are my favorite and I think that you did an awesome job tonight on SNL!!  My friends and I had a little "SNL viewing party" tonight and we loved how you let loose, yet were tasteful and classy, as always.  I could never picture Katie or Bob pulling this off like you did!!  You're awesome Brian!!!  

OMG, who knew!  He was absolutely hilarious and dead on with the liners, facial expression...I mean, he might want to re-think his career choice. Or, maybe he could do both..........NBC Nightly News and now for the "what cracked you up today" segment.
Great job, Brian.

You aren't a stuffed shirt as too many TV viewers imagine news anchors, you are human being with a life like the rest of us. Hopefully, that round object you carry after the camera light goes out is soccer or basketball, not the weight of the world atop your shoulders. I want to know that my news comes from a fellow human being who spills coffee on his shirt, forgets to mail his phone bill, picks up the dog's poop up, and has a sense of humor. Your schtick on SNL tonight was respectful of your job and a fun look at you as a person. We need to laugh at ourselves more because come Monday you'll be back in the chair having to tell us about our leader's hubris and stupidity.    When we laugh at ourselves, we cannot scream at someone else. When we laugh, we poke fun at ourselves, our values, our stereotypes and our masks.  I loved the skit with you being interviewed as a fireman and less than excited prize winner. How much truth was contained in those skits -- maybe from personal experience from the other side of the mike.  Laugh at yourself and others can never wound you.

And...I think you were wonderful! Great job. Right up there with John McCain singing Barbra!!

Oh my God!! That was the best SNL I have seen in a while. That one actually had me laughing out loud. Brian was fun to watch and so so hot! (fanning)
Brian should play a super hero.
Great Job!!!

Lisa

You did good kid. Your dad would be proud.

Great job!
Brian was quite the professional in the hilarous skits. It was fun seeing him doing something different, like hosting SNL.  
Sure, he's well respected as he anchors the evening news, Mon-Fri.  To see him let his hair down, was quite refreshing!
We liked the way he "rolled."

as a long time SNL viewer,I thought Brian 30 rocked!.although i'm not sure where it's done.i will see you mon. night.

Brian was actually a better actor than I had expected! He didn't over do it (if one actually CAN on SNL, lol), and he didn't seem at all nervous. He was already one of my favorite journalists, but I didn't realize his sense of humor was so lucid. Way to go Brian.

Good job.

I expected it to be good, 'cuz I've seen Brian Williams on Conan a number of times and always found him funny.

The sketch about the news theme was hilarious, I really liked when he punched the globe across the bottom of the screen...

Great job, Brian. I gotta say, I didn't know you had it in you. Man, you were funny. Thanks for letting us see your other side. It's nice to know that you're not just another "suit".

hot diggity dog!!! brian, you were fantastic on SNL tonight... seriously, I feel that it was EASILY the best episode of the season.

great job.

Brian--That was FUN! You did real good!

And I can't wait to see your new opening on Monday's Nightly!

Brian--That was FUN! You did real good!

And I can't wailt to see your new opening on Monday's Nightly!

I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time.  I was looking forward to this all week and was not disappointed.  Great job and Brian, you are a winner.

I just watched Brian Williams host SNL. I loved it!  Best SNL show I've watched in years!  It's nice to know a person can be both smart and funny.  Thank you Brian Williams for taking the risk.

I think Mr. Williams did a fantastic hosting job on Saturday Night Live. I especially loved his Bronx accented fireman role. I applaud Mr. Williams for his performance and in no way believe it tarnished his extraordinary professional journalism career. This only shows that Mr. Williams can connect to the average American, a trait which can sometimes get lost in television network anchors.

Mr. Steve Capus
President NBC, Universal Television Operations and Network.

I salute you. Putting your signature allowing Mr. Williams to bring some humor into our lives and giving America a chance to smile is what's it all about. News comes and goes but Mr. Brian Williams is able to bring out the personal touch, few months back it was his sons I-Pod, couple weeks ago, he was locked out and unable to preview the new studio, tonight was Saturday Night Live. And to Brian, you did a great job you got to be careful they might ask you to return. I am positive there ratings tonight must of hit the roof. Today's motto, let's fight Terrorism and crime the Brian Williams way, the only thing the backroom guys missed was the bubbles - pow, ouch, ugh  ...
You got me as a watcher and listerner every night, and in the morning it's Matt in the evening its Brian. Mr. Capus, I am positive I speak for others in saying this your doing a great job.

Brian Williams did an outstanding job tonight ! It really showed his lighter side and humor. Now everyone knows the "guy behind the desk" has great personality .. I know it was a risk, but it was a risk worth taking .. way to go !

Brian did a great job. Especially his accent as a NYC fireman.  Nice to see the other side of him.

Great job, Brian!  If you had that opening theme, I would totally watch Nightly News. I may just have to watch now anyway. You were fantastic. I think that's the best SNL episode I've seen in years.  I mean I thought you were cute on The Daily Show as a giant head, but wow,you were simply amazing tonight.

Brian, you were a hoot!  Loved the opening monologue.  Congrats for having the guts and good humor to do this- it was fun to see you in a different light. Next- a 30-Rock cameo?

Executive summary: Brian Williams should keep his day job. Reading cue cards, acting, and attempting accents aren't his forte. And probably never would be. Brian redeems himself when he's in his news anchor element in pre-recorded segments. I swear he has a bald spot on the top of his head near the back. I duly took in his costume changes to shape his image from button-downed stiff suit to casual male in shirttails, jeans, sweaters.

SNL kicked off with a fake cackling Hillary (the fabulous Amy Poehler) in a white bridal dress Halloween costume that the other Democratic presidential candidates and "Bill Clinton" mistook for a witch's costume. You can run, Hillary, but you can't hide.

"Bill Richardson" was in an Al Gore costume. "Joe Biden" and "Chris Dodd" as identical Sponge Bobs. "We cancel each other out."

"Mike Gravel," strapped into a strait jacket, handed "Hillary" a bag of loose Milk Duds he "found on the bus." "Hillary" opened the bag and took a whiff. "They're not Milk Duds."

A guy in a Barack Obama mask enters the room. The guy whips off the mask and underneath - the real Obama! "I enjoy being myself," he says. "I'm not going to change who I am just because it's Halloween."

Obama turns to the camera and intones: "Live from New York. It's Saturday Night!"

BriWi emerges on stage. Gets a standing O. Whaddaya expect? It's all NBC cross promotion during the first week of November sweeps!

He's nervous. Crooked, frozen mouth muscles. "It's such a thrill to be here hosting Saturday Night Live," Brian reads off the cue cards. "Now is this really a good idea? Should I be hosting this show?"

Probably not. Brian is stiff and his delivery is sing-song but promises "You're gonna see a whole new Brian Williams."

The first skit sucked. Brian played a firefighter promoting fire safety on what appeared to be a local cable TV show - "Bronx Beat w/Betty & Jodi." Two gum-cracking, fast talking New Yorkers. Williams, in a fake mustache, just sits there in his fireman's uniform. Why he assumed what appeared to my ears to be a bad Southern accent is beyond me. Maybe to poke fun at Hillary and her phony, opportunistic accent switches. The two gals leave "Paul" the firefighter to finish the show. Grade: D for lame.

Next Brian's a high school principal shooting a TV show - "Riley's Way" - with cap and gown-clad students on a swing. Principal "Barry Jeffers" plays his part until he finds out he's not going to be in the sequel. Instead of parroting his script, he tells one kid to "go to hell," the next, "lose 10 pounds," and the third, "you're gay." Okay, that proves Brian can swear.

Brian kept putting his hands in his pocket of his principal's khaki pants that appeared to be a bit too tight around the crotch. Maybe he didn't want anyone to see the outline of his manhood. I did. Grade: D for dumb.

To prove how "cool" Williams is, the bumper graphic had Williams in black & white dressed like Walter Winchell in front of an ancient manual typewriter. Had a Winchell bowler and a cig hanging from his lips.

The third skit was a send up of the frenzy Publisher's Clearinghouse winners usually work themselves into upon hearing they've won the $15 million prize. Only Brian Williams as "Carl Bacon" answers the door eating an apple. The Prize Patrol chick with balloons is practically orgasmic pumping herself up with phony excitement to spur Williams to react. Nothing. She shows him videos of other people's off-the-charts reactions. I laughed my ass off here. The taciturn Carl finally gets excited when a pizza delivery guy shows up with free cheesy bread. Even so Williams has a hard time getting excited. Grade: B for Williams. A+ for the other talent.

The best segment is next. A pre-taped "Day In The Life Of Brian Williams." This is where his "legendary humor" comes out in self-deprecating jabs. He stands in front of 30 Rock before he starts work waiting for "someone to recognize me." Even so the NBC publicity pimps had to cross-promote other NBC news talent flashing pictures of guys like MSNBC's golden boy Keith Olbermann.

He plays his favorite "game" of throwing pennies out a high floor window. Al Roker and Matt Lauer get "hit" on the street below. An irritated Matt says "What kind of an asshole throws pennies from a window?" His delivery is well-timed and funny. Now Matt should do SNL.

The funniest line of "Weekend Update" which I wished Brian had anchored a la Jon Stewart (they want to humanize Mr. Stiff but not tarnish his news cred) was after the set up to Joe Biden's line from this week's debate where he attacked Rudy Guiliani as a guy with sentences consisting of "a noun, verb, and 9/11."

Rudy's fake retort: "Joe Biden sucks 9/11."

The fake Hollywood producer clown blabbing about the writers' strike was sad but true. "I'd love to have $200,000 [writers' pay] but I have $20 million."

The fake Larry King interview with Amy Poehler as J.K. Rowling was hilarious! Ol' Lar queried about Dumbledore's gay outing. "J.K." showed deleted scenes with an obviously gay Dumbledore being pestered by "Miranda," the Maggie Smith character. J.K. alludes to Dumbledore's frequenting gay bars "Manhole" and "Wizard's Wand."

Then to show out of touch Larry is, the fake Larry teases the next interview (but all we have to do is go back to that Jerry Seinfeld debacle this week when Larry asked if his show "Seinfeld" had been canceled. To which the stupified Jerry replied, "The final episode had 75 million viewers."

"The Sexiest Woman Alive! Ann-Margret is here so stay tuned!

There's a funny bit where Williams comes into the Democratic debate green room to go over ground rules. When he leaves the candidates bandy about ideas to derail Hillary. Amy Poehler is priceless as "Dennis Kucinich." She had a short black shoe polish wig and fake ears.

There's a dumb skit at the end where Williams is taking a news meeting with sycophantic employees where he's deciding on a new "Nightly News" theme song. The open ends up like a cop TV show with a James Bondish Brian brandishing a gun.

This is why I haven't watched "Saturday Night Live" since the days of the Coneheads, "Jane, you ignorant slut," "Cheesebuga, cheesbuga, cheesbuga," (based on the Albanian-owned sweat-and-grease smelly restaurants - Belushi was Albanian).

Brian was forced to introduce (perfunctorily, I might add) the "music" group, Feist. The lead singer is a stringy-haired young guitar-playing babe eerily reminiscent of a dark Sarah Jessica Parker. Her thin, weak, tinny voice makes Britney Spears appear operatic.

Brian Williams promised he wouldn't sing on the show. I wish he had...

Brian did a great job hosting. overall it was a very funny episode and I think he carried himself really well. It was cool to see him branch out and take on a few different characters. Especially the Italian fire fighter ("My Wife!") and the college principal one was great too. He was suprisingly versitile and I hope he hosts again sometime.      

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