Ep 1. Ben Affleck/Nelly

Ben Affleck hosts the premiere of Saturday Night Live's 30th season, with musical guest Nelly. Affleck's hosting gig comes fresh off the heels of his critically acclaimed role in "Gone Girl" and the impending release of "Surviving Christmas," so fans are excited to see what he brings to the table in terms of humor.

The episode kicks off with a cold open featuring Fred Armisen as embattled New York Governor David Paterson. The sketch is light on laughs and heavy on awkwardness, with Armisen seemingly struggling to find his footing in a role that requires him to play a visually impaired person. Fortunately, things pick up with the first proper sketch of the night - an ad for a device called the "Smurf-ulator," which allows people to communicate with the fictional blue creatures from the smash hit movie "The Smurfs." Affleck is a standout, playing an over-enthusiastic user of the product who just can't get enough of Grouchy Smurf's trademark sass.

Next up is a fake trailer for a new thriller called "The Network." The spoof is a nod to the hit TV series "24," with Affleck playing a high-level CIA analyst who must stop a nefarious terrorist plot before it's too late. SNL regular Darrell Hammond provides some of the biggest laughs of the night as the gravelly-voiced head of the agency, while cast member Maya Rudolph helps remind viewers of the ridiculousness of the premise by repeatedly playing up the sensuality of her role.

The episode continues with a series of sketches that range from hit-or-miss to outright cringeworthy. A fake commercial for a teleconferencing product called "Clicks," which features Affleck as a smarmy businessman who can't stop interrupting everyone with his frequent clicks of a pen, falls flat. Similarly, a sketch centered around a clueless game show contestant played by Will Forte who can't seem to grasp the rules of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" comes off as more awkward than amusing.

Fortunately, the show bounces back with "Jarret's Room," a recurring sketch that centers around two stoners (played by Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz) who host a low-budget talk show from their dorm room. This time around, Affleck joins in on the fun as a surly R.A. who tries to shut down the show but ends up getting roped into their antics instead. The sketch is a hit with the crowd, with Affleck showing off his improvisational skills and playing up his cool-guy persona to great effect.

The standout of the episode, however, is a sketch called "Debbie Downer." This recurring bit features cast member Rachel Dratch playing a chronically depressed woman who manages to ruin every social gathering she attends with her morose musings. This time around, the skit takes place at Disney World, with Affleck playing the father of a young girl who can't seem to escape Debbie's downer routine. The sketch is a riot, with Affleck doing a masterful job of playing the straight man to Dratch's wacky character and the other cast members - including Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Fred Armisen - providing some hilarious ad libs.

Overall, the season premiere of Saturday Night Live's 30th season is a solid effort, with Ben Affleck proving to be a game and charismatic host. While not every sketch lands, there are enough highlights - including "Smurf-ulator," "Jarret's Room," and "Debbie Downer" - to make the show worth tuning in for. Nelly's musical performances are also a welcome addition, helping to offset some of the weaker moments and keeping the energy level high throughout. Fans of Saturday Night Live won't want to miss this one.