Watch the full "Jim Carrey/Black Keys" episode

The first time Jim Carrey hosted Saturday Night Live was in the mid-'90s, and it was a highlight of the sketch show at the time, as it was going through some tough times. The cast was all new and unfamiliar, and people were not being kind to the show. Carrey showed up to host at the peak of his powers and gave the new cast not only a big boost, but also provided one of the most memorable episodes of the early era.

What always stuck out to me about that show, though, was Carrey announcing during the "Goodnights" section that he had once auditioned for the show and that Saturday Night Live was the biggest dragon he had to slay. Even though he was arguably the biggest star in comedy at the time, I believed him. It was genuine and it was sweet.

Now, over a decade later, Carrey came back to host -- only, this time, at a very different point in his career. He's on the other side of superstardom now, and his appearance on SNL is probably a bigger boost for him than for the cast of the show. My, how things have changed. And while you might have thought that after a few weeks off, SNL would have some killer material to debut for this high-profile episode (the first of 2011, no less), it became apparent very early on that this week wasn't going to be any less lazy than the season thus far (the exact moment came after a decent cold open and monologue, when they ran a fake commercial that debuted weeks ago.

They've had weeks off and couldn't shoot a new commercial?). The rest of the show was a disheartening downward spiral -- the kind that wasn't utterly terrible, but which also forces you to wonder why you keep coming back week after week. SNL better at least hit a solid double soon, because we're only halfway through the season and I'm burned way the hell out.

Sketch Highlights

• "Cold Open: Bloomberg" - Boy, did the first few minutes of this week's show give me false hope. This was the best cold open that SNL has done all season; it actually had a point of view and a lot of jokes. It also made fun of New Yorkers, which the show doesn't often do. Yes, it went on a little long (and was a few weeks too late, and the sketch just barely paid lip service to this fact), but it was really funny for a change. Things were looking up. (Watch the "Cold Open: Bloomberg" video)
• "Jim Carey Monologue" - The roll (sort of) continued with Jim Carrey's monologue, which didn't totally gel but once again had a number of good ideas and jokes. I like some of lines about the coming apocalypse (particularly his reminder to wear a condom in the rivers of blood) and his proposal to the audience member. Maybe it's because I was expecting the worst -- in recent years, Carrey's comedy has felt even more washed-up and desperate than it ever did, much like the modern incarnation of Robin Williams -- but the monologue was another happy surprise. It would be the episode's last. (Watch the "Jim Carrey Monologue" video)
• "Black Swan" - Not the worst sketch of the night, but things were definitely already going downhill. I was impressed at the ways in which the SNL staff zeroed in on some of the problems with the much-loved Black Swan (that it's repetitive and obvious), but that's not really what the sketch was about. It was about Jim Carrey being gross and wearing lady clothes. I'd be lying if I said I didn't at least smile when he jammed his fist in his mouth, but this was still pretty tired stuff. It felt like something Carrey used to do on In Living Color. On the other hand, hello Nasim Pedrad! (Watch the "Black Swan" video)
• "Grady Wilson Tantric n' Tasty" - This sketch has never made me laugh. (Watch the "Grady Wilson Tantric n' Tasty" video)
• "Psychic Medium" - I guess it was clever to work in a sketch that shows off Carrey's talents as an impressionist -- especially considering how little the hosts have been able to actually do this season. And while the impressions were pretty much all there was, it was actually worth it for a) Carrey's impression of sitcom star Alan Thicke and b) Jason Sudekis' reaction to said impression ("No one does Thicke!"), which was the funniest thing of the night. (Watch the "Psychic Medium" video)
• "Amusement Park Ride" - Not a bad set-up for a sketch, mostly because of Carrey, Bill Hader and (mostly) Taran Killam's animatronic movements. Unfortunately, a set-up is all there is. All premise, no sketch. (Watch the "Amusement Park Ride")
• "Worst of Soul Train" - This might have been rock bottom for the night. Not only does the very concept smack of desperation, but the self-consciously absurd musical acts died on stage one after another. It's always eerie when you don't even hear laughter in Studio 8H. (Watch the "Worst of Soul Train" video)
• "A Taste of New York" - I had really checked out by this point. But hey! Abby Elliott! Appearing for the first time all night. Not speaking. (Watch the "Taste of New York" video)

• Original Air Date: 1/8/11
• Host: Jim Carrey
• Musical Guest: The Black Keys