Saturday Night Live - "Digital Short: Party Guys"

This is the most recent "Digital Short" from Saturday Night Live. It aired on the March 14 episode which featured a guest appearance from actor and comedian Tracy Morgan. This Digital Short stars Bill Hader and Andy Samberg as the "party guys", two guys who stand together at a house party people-watching and mocking all the different character types who are there. The flanel-, slim-fitter hoodie wearing duo take turns hating on virtually everyone at the party, calling him or her some derogatory name: i.e. "joker", "numbnuts", "cowboy".



It's a hilarious video, showcasing an array of disses that anyone can relate to; we've all heard people use these words and phrases, and we've all used them ourselves. The party guys themselves are archetypes which is why the video is so funny and why we can all relate to it. We've probably all had our own "party guy" moment where we were at a party or social gathering and hated on someone (or multiple people) there. Human beings are judgemental. It is a consequence of us being social creatures.

The disses themselves are very funny, but what makes this video so clever is how it takes the literal translation of the party guys' insults. It makes you think how, ultimately, the words and the combination of words we use to describe things are odd. It also reveals how language is socially constructed and much of it is symbolic, spoken in code. It's always interesting to examine the way we speak to each other and the roots of the words we use. Anyways that was a serious sociological tangent...

The ending is kind of corny but it's only just to turn the mirror - displayed literally like everything else - on the party guys themselves, exposing their anti-social, negative, and ultimately lame behavior.

But hey, it's still hilarious!!

[My favorites are the "jokers", "what's his face", "turd-burglar", "look who decided to show his face" (the cameo is sooo funny!!) but they are all pretty money. I'm curious to know what other people's top 3 are. Post your list. Holla!]