Lindsay Lohan's 'SNL' 'Comeback' Gets Mixed Reviews

March 4, 2012— -- Lindsay Lohanmade the most of her personal and legal woes in her so-called "comeback" appearance on "Saturday Night Live."

For Lohan, hosting "Saturday Night Live" is almost like coming home. It's her fourth time hosting the show, but it's been six years since the last time.

Appearing in a modest blue dress, Lohan jumped into a self-mocking monologue as cast members came out to welcome her to the show.

As she walked toward the audience a siren went off -- a riff on Lohan's once often active ankle monitor.

Kenan Thompson came to help the starlet, but wound up shining a light in her eyes to make sure they were clean.

Kristin Wiig piled on, greeting Lohan by giving her a full body pat-down.

When Wiig coyly explained herself by saying "I'm a lesbian now," Lohan quipped, "Been there, done that."

Jimmy Fallon made a guest appearance for Lohan, announcing that John Hamm (in the audience) was on hand in case she couldn't handle her duties.

During a "scared straight" prison sketch the actress seemed to be searching the room for her next line.

Reaction on Twitter was less flattering than the "SNL" studio audience, who seemed supportive of Lohan's self-deprecating turn as the good sport.

"This may be the first time Lindsay Lohan had trouble doing lines," @drunkenough tweeted.

But the man who holds the record for most frequent host of "SNL," Alec Baldwin (@alecbaldwin), came to her defense tweeting, "I think the time for bashing Lindsay Lohan has passed."

Lohan was later spotted leaving the show's afterparty. When asked about Lohan's performance, "SNL" cast member Seth Meyers said: "She did great."

It was a sharp contrast to the last four years, when she's been in and out of rehab, court and jail.

Last week, Lohan spoke of past regrets to "Today" host Matt Lauer.

"I regret the choices that I've made, but I'm grateful for where I am today, because of them," she said. "I don't need to see any more negative stuff. I don't need to put myself in those places any more."

In January, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner praised the actress for completing all her required community service on time, saying: "Keep doing what you're doing. You appear to be doing very well."

On Feb. 22, Judge Sautner told her she seemed to be getting her life "back on track," The Associated Press reported.

Lohan is currently lined up to play the late Elizabeth Taylor in the Lifetime movie "Liz and Dick," about Taylor's romance with Richard Burton.

Lohan remains on informal probation for taking a $2,500 gold necklace from a Venice, Calif., jeweler without permission in January 2011.

'SNL' Road to Redemption?

Last week on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," Lohan revealed how she pursued "SNL" producer Lorne Michaels, until he agreed to let her host.

"I was calling Lorne -- I kept asking him -- not harassing him, but I wasn't giving up, saying 'Can I host? Can I host?'" she told Fallon. "He was in L.A. and you know Lorne, he's very straight to the point. He was like 'What about March 3?' I'm like, 'I'm free!'"

"SNL" has always welcomed Lohan on its stage, and even tried to get her help when she first showed signs of being in trouble.

According to a 2006 Vanity Fair article, Lorne Michaels and Tina Fey, then the show's head writer, staged an intervention, telling Lohan about their experiences with John Belushi and Chris Farley, who both died of drug overdoses.

"They sat me down, literally before I was going to do the show," Lohan told the magazine. "And they said, 'You need to take care of yourself. We care about you too much, and we've seen too many people do this,' and I just started bawling. I knew I had a problem and I couldn't admit it."