Comedy Central has been able to take a can’t-miss idea and move it from short online sketches to a series of sketches that fill a half hour of television with a unified theme and increased production value, while bringing the brilliant idea to a wider audience.
The wit of the historical re-creations, along with the excellence of the many guest actors in them (including, this season, Connie Britton, Kristen Wiig, Aubrey Plaza, Owen Wilson, and Jack McBrayer) helps to overcome the repetitiveness and slightness of the formula.
When you have talent like Adam Scott (John Wilkes Booth), Bob Odenkirk (Nixon) and Jack Black (Elvis) on hand, why not let them improv their own material? They're wasted as puppets trapped in this sad, thin vaudeville.