Greetings, Conehead nation.
Welcome back to your latestSNLin Review experience.
I am joined tonight by formerSNLcast members Victoria Jackson and Dr. Ellen Cleghorne.
Daniel Kaluuya hosts ‘SNL’.NBC
I was underwhelmed bylast week’s episodewith Maya Rudolph, beginning with a rushed, ham-handed cold open.
Let’s dive in and see if they bounce back tonight.
Let’s give someone like Chloe Fineman back the baton!
And tonight, the merciful gods at 30 Rock have graced us with a rare repeat performance!
Throwback/recurring cold opens like this warm my heart, and remind me of better days.
Chris Redd plays the Generation Z country-rap entrepreneur.
“Maybe chill?”
he suggests to critics.
Mikey Day shows up as his friend Gary (a.k.a.
God); he receives a lap dance from Redd.
(In his latest music video,Lil Nas X seduces Beelzebubwith a lap dance.
He’s a troll!)
Pepe outs Speedy Gonzalez.
Pepe needs to listen and is in treatment for sex addiction.
Next up is embattled Florida Congressman and MAGA supporter Matt Gaetz, played by aFamily GuyGlenn Quagmire-inspiredPete Davidson.
Gaetz is under federal investigation and is a pretty vile character.
Many onSNLTwitter that wonderful wasteland were urging Colin Jost to play this role.
“Judge him by his face,” Britney coos, issuing her verdict.
I remain a huge fan of this segment.
Chloe kills it, plus it gives the show a fun and clever way to comment on current events.
He continues on the topic of racism, contemplating which is worse: British racism or American racism?
“Let me put it this way,” he says.
“British racism is so bad, white people left.
They wanted to be free free to create theirownkind of racism.
So that’s why they created Australia, South Africa, and Boston.
(Lumping Boston in with South Africa, ouch.)
He reveals he wrote a play when he was 9 based onKenan & Kel.
“Thank you Kel,” he says earnestly.
A very nice touch.
It has been immensely satisfying watching Kaluuya blow up over the years, beginning with his classicBlack Mirrorepisode.
Ellen Cleghorne agrees, saying his “Fifteen Million Merits” episode was “was haunting.”
His bike is stationary.
He peddles for points and eventually changes his social class by competing on anAmerican Idol-throw in program.
Cleghorne adds: “I’m a big fan of Daniel Kaluuya.
When I think of him recently I laugh because of the seemingly symbiotic relationship he has with LaKeith Stanfield.
Now they are sharing an Oscar nomination in the same category.
Just imagine if every place you went the same guy was there?”
Vaccine Game Show: Will You Take It?
None of the contestants will, despite being at risk.
“Will you take the vaccine right now?”
he asks, noting that they’ll get $5,000 if they do.
“That’s a lot of bread,” says Kenan Thompson.
“Not worth it.”
“Tuskegee,” reiterates Ego Nwodim.
Punkie Johnson won’t take it, since she is a Christian.
Facebook has poisoned her.
This is a funny riff on the reticence and mistrust that’s out there.
Ellen Cleghorne shares: “I’m vaccinated and it was easy.
Nothing in America is easy for Black people, so I know something has shifted the paradigm.”
And former cast member Victoria Jackson shares that the “COVID game show… was funny.”
Viral Apology Video
Kyle Mooneyis in the prank posse.
He is about to eat mouse bones from his cereal.
This takes the crowd a while to come around.
It appeared to be a shrimp tail.
(He has since been canceled.)
Trust me, friends: No one likes thirsty clickbait, especially not the good people atSNL.
McKinnon is the noisy mom, distracting them during their game.
She puts away the dishes and vacuums as they attempt to brainstorm and share their responses.
She buses their wine glasses prematurely, puts pictures in the garbage disposal, and jams to Carly Simon.
“Are you upset?”
asks her daughter, played by Heidi Gardner.
Turns out she is being passive aggressive; she had to watchDeadpoolon her birthday.
Things close out with a commercial shout-out for Josh wine.
Kudos to Alison Gates and Anna Drezen for this character-based sketch.
Very lived in and well-observed.
They want him to be a doctor.
The world does not need more poets or journalists or authors or professors.
Redd begins to read his poem entitled “My Sorrow.”
It is bad, let’s just say that.
“Ain’t nothing wrong with being a doctor,” Kenan Thompson says.
Is there a poet in the house?!”
Victoria Jackson is a fan.
It’s an absolutely blistering, sneering song.
And this performance, with its retro ’70s rock aesthetic, truly rules.
“Gonna look up St. Vincent.
Never heard of them,” says Victoria Jackson.
“That was entertaining.”
Check out themusic videotoo.
He slams the QAnon people.
He continues to go back to Gaetz, but also makes digs at Delta and Spirit Airlines.
Meanwhile, Michael Che discusses the new Biden infrastructure deal and the student debt crisis.
“I think Biden is doing a great job,” says Ellen Cleghorne.
Biden is fearless and Kamala Harris is no Selena Meyer (Veep)."
The Starkie sisters (Kate McKinnon andAidy Bryant) show up to discuss vegetarian Easter meals.
Smokery Farms has popped up on Update a few times before, in 2019.
They seem rather self-amused, which is standard fare for a Bryant-McKinnon bit.
Giggle fest**!
“I think she eats giggles.
““They’re giggles-eaters!
“Mace and Cindel Towani**
Then Guy Who Just Bought a Boat shows up!
Yet another recurring character how fun!
Alex Moffat uses slang to show that he is wealthy, compensating for his small penis.
This is his first appearance in roughly 18 months, after five appearances in 2017 and 2019.
He slimily discusses dating in the era of COVID-19.
May-December relationships are discussed by Jeff and Hattie Deeley, playing by Heidi Gardner and Mikey Day.
She has a lot of money, gives Che a candy, and talks about custard.
As usual, Gardner totally inhabits this octogenarian.
(In an earlier era, Hattie would have been played by Kate McKinnon, right?)
What a nice surprise!
They are expanding their horizons.
I don’t get the meat thing, unless it’s an anti-human, pro-vegan thing.
For the first time, I don’t think Kate McKinnon knew what character she was doing.
She was just laughing at herself.
The old, rich lady romance was interesting.”
Frat Trip
A college fraternity is planning a group trip.
Kaluuya wants to invite their moms because the trip is over Mother’s Day weekend.
He is very adamant.
Slowly, the rest of his brothers get on board, except Mikey Day.
This is a standard role for our man Day, who is in disbelief at the proceedings.
For example, Kaluuya suggests picking up “a couple of 24 packs of Activia for the moms.”
Will that embarrass you?”
Day responds, “It kinda would, yeah, mom.”
“Very funny,” says Victoria Jackson of the sketch.
Dog Park
“That’s not how she talks,” says an indignant Ego Nwodim.
She is objecting to Kaluuya’s voice for her pet dog.
“You made her sound like a damn fool.”
That’s just the voice Kaluuya uses for dogs.
She also hates that he doesn’t impersonate Katt Williams.
You think my dog’s a hillbilly or something?
My dog is a genius.”
Dismukes warns Kaluuya that this ishisdog park.
The two face off for the right to flirt with the ladies over puppies at the park.
It’s a real phenomenon.
Unfortunately, Nwodim leaves before they can determine who will get her hand in marriage.
So that’s amazing!”
St. Vincent performs “The Melting of the Sun”
This is hersurreal new single.
It is pretty soulful.
She has an eccentric vibe, to be sure, but this is top notch.
This season has had some extraordinary live music, I must say.
Half Brother
Kenan Thompson is having a birthday gathering.
Kaluuya and Strong are wondering who is going to liven up the party and make it a little sexier.
“No nasty,” implores Thompson.
Kaluuya has brought his upright bass.
Yet another opportunity for Strong to sing.
This is a prerequisite for her to appear in live sketches these days right?Meow.
They perform a few “jazz speech” numbers and hint at getting divorced.
Aidy Bryant accidentally requests.
I think if they had one more day to write that sketch it would fly!"
Final Thoughts
Thank you to Ellen Cleghorne and Victoria Jackson for their thoughts tonight!
I thought this was a very natural, relatable show that also combined several fun recurring characters.
What did you think?!
Weigh in below orvote here!
Dr. Cleghorne also says, “I’m sorry that Jim Carey isn’t playing Biden.
I love me some Jim Carrey.
I’d be down to see a Black female version ofDumb and Dumberstarring me.”
I would love that movie!
Netflix get on it ASAP.
“Like Jerry Springer says take care of yourselves and one another.”
