Vogelcheck Family aka Kissing Family - SNL

A fish out of water boy friend comes home to a family with LOTS of physical affection. Fish Out of Water & Physical Comedy with the Kissing Family

SKETCH ANALYSIS

2 min read

HOW I FELT:

No way! Did Kristen Wiig just bite and pull on Fred Armisten’s lip! I was flabbergasted at the tongue to tongue action in this sketch. Then I was blown away again by them upping the ante with some crazy clown logic of passing air mouth to mouth. That’s not how it works! But that’s what makes it so funny in an absurdist way. Also wait, why did Fred Armisen Break during his speech halfway through? Read on to find out!

WHAT WORKS:

This is a classic Fish Out of Water and has the boyfriend (Taran Killam) as the Voice of Reason. Several times his looks of shock to the camera are what get a big laugh. The extent of the physical comedy and social

It’s also a social commentary on the hypocrisy of judging the then controversial Michael Sam kiss reference. https://www.cnn.com/2014/05/12/us/michael-sam-nfl-kiss-reaction/index.html

STRUCTURE/ EXPOSITION

Pov: Some families might go too far in their physical affection

Who: Boyfriend and his family

What: Meets the parents

Where: Family living room

Game: ‘Inappropriate’ affection and kissing.

Premise based improv scene initiation:

GAME BEATS:

Okay let's break it down!

  1. Brecken Vogelcheck (Andy Samberg) gets kissed 7 times by his Mother (Kristen Wiig) in between her dialog of worry for his safety.

  2. His father (Fred Armisen) enters, compliments him kisses him 6 times in between his dialog then tells him that he loves him.

  3. His father says we don’t bite but your mom does. Kristen Wiig then proceeds to bite and tug at Fred Armisens’ lip.

  4. Close up on Taran Killam’s aghast face.

  5. His brother (Bill Hader) enters, does a fake out ‘wet willy’ and then proceeds to lick his ear.

  6. His father says pick on someone your own size and Bill, Fred, and Kristen all join in a tri-kiss and cheek licking session.

  7. Close up on Taran Killam looking astounded.

  8. His other brother Austin (Paul Rudd) enters with Grandma (Kate McKinnon) and they make out with lots of tongue on tongue action.

  9. Mid shot of boyfriend Taran Killam’s look of disgust.

  10. Andy says he’s so excited and gives Paul a kiss who replies me too and kisses Fred.

  11. After the Michael Sam kiss Bill says “seems like a lot for TV” then proceeds to contrast his statement by motorboating Kristen Wiig and then kissing each brest.

  12. Paul Rudd is necking Fred Armisten and adds “yeah!”

  13. Maya Rudolf enters to perform CPR on grandma after she faints at seeing the Michael Sam kiss. Maya uses her boobs for the compression then punches and squeezes them.

  14. Maya then exclaims “I’m out of air” and the family then pass air from mouth to mouth.

  15. After the last line everyone in the family turns to someone else and makes out with lots of tongue. Including the new boy friend, Taran, with grandma, Kate.

ENDING:

“Now that’s what I call a touch down” and the pandemonium that ensues is the last heighten of chaos and works for me giving it a sweet and chaotic feel to it.

PITCHES:

How could one possibly heighten this sketch any further? Well one could go ‘R’ rated and have nudity and sex but that wouldn’t fit with SNL’s brand these days.

BONUS:

Fred Armisen accidentally hit Bill Hader in the face when he gesticulated a little too vigorously at 3:19, later Bill touched his face and made a gesture in a wider shot around 3:24. Also he kept repeating what Fred said to keep trying to make him break some more.

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