Most Americans have probably barely even heard of Best Picture frontrunner The Artist, much less seen it, which makes it a really odd choice for an SNL parody sketch. And yet, the "French Dance" sketch from Saturday's SNL, featuring a surprise guest appearance by The Artist star Jean Dujardin, was completely accessible in its total silliness. If you know that The Artist is a French film that's silent, black and white and involves dancing, you'll get what's going on here-- and even if you don't, it's hard not enjoy the sight of Zooey Deschanel, Jean Dujardin and Taran Killam tap dancing with giant grins on their faces. Take a look below.



The "Les Jeunes de Paris" sketches are a recurring feature on SNL, but it's hard to deny this one is the MVP, with some impressively executed choreography from the three leads, lots of random happy people popping into the background, and the appearance from Kristen Wiig looking a whole, whole lot like Berenice Bejo, the actual female lead of The Artist. Jean Dujardin is on a roll lately as he shows off his significant funny bone-- if you missed it, you must see his audition tape for every villain role in Hollywood-- and it's no coincidence that all of this makes us like him more as he comes closer and closer to winning that Oscar. I mean, the Weinstein Company-- the studio behind The Artist and many of the most successful Oscar campaigns in history-- e-mailed me to make sure I caught the SNL sketch. and yet, that doesn't make it any less fun to watch.