My fellow Coneheads, hello, it is I,SNLin Review.
Even without the specter of the election looming over season 46,Saturday Night Liveremains in a precarious place.
As the streaming wars continue to reshuffle the deck,SNLis one of few true monoliths in pop culture.
Credit: NBC
Bateman previously hosted way back in season 30, whenKenan Thompsonwas a mere featured player.
(I wonder if he and Kenan will bring backT.T.
and Mario, incidentally.)
He recently released adeep fake episode featuring Alec Baldwin, which you all should watch.
When the climate changes he will put it on again and I cant wait.
Lets see if hes right!
Youre watching C-Span which is honestly surprising.
We are not in a courtroom it is a Michigan Senate hearing.
President Trumps personal attorney, Rudy Giulani (Kate McKinnon), is farting.
Its going to be that kind of cold open, folks.
The good news:Cecily Strongis back!
She is Melissa Carone, the supposed voter fraud star witness whowent viral this week.
Heidi Gardner was forced to eat ballots at the behest of nefarious, conniving Democrats.
AndBeck Bennettis Mike Lindell, the inventor of My Pillow.
Beck is the unsung hero of these otherwise weak cold opens.
(That said, it is extraordinary we are spared any cameos this round.)
This is grim stuff to be spoofing, let along incorporate as recurring characters.
Its a riveting story, and continues this seasons strong streak of monologues.
During Batemans 2005 monologue, he and Amy Poehlerpleaded with audiencesto watchArrested Development.
Richards concurs: Jason Bateman is pure glue.
He holds everything he does together, especially when hes only listening.
Sleepover 2
Ah, the sleepover motif we previously saw this conceit duringthe Adam Driver episodein January.
Bateman is a lame ass dad visiting his daughters sleepover.
McKinnon is clearly the culprit.
Just tell the hot dad you Kill Billd the living room, she mugs.
Ah, man, dont take about my gait, sighs Stacey (Melissa Villasenor).
But this is a great role for Bateman, and has a fun “I am Spartacus” ending.
One note is more than a little disturbing.
It is Davidson as Stan, I mean Stu, spoofingEminems classic stalker tale.
Very specific, even down to McKinnons Dido haircut.
The climax is Batemans Santa dismisses Stu immediately.
We cut to a screen reading Slim Shady and it is Eminem in the flesh.
He has gotten the gifts received in the song.
This is a fantastic use of Petes skills, Stan-a-Clause and a really cool tribute to “Stan.”
A+
Eminem was also impersonated by Davidson onSNLin 2017 during the sketch Lion King Auditions.
Outdoor Cabaret
Bowen Yang is Charlie, emceeing an outdoor holiday show.
Cecily Strong is Billie Moon.They duet.
Cecily must insist she spotlight her singing chops at least once an episode.
They are not handling it well wild, passive aggressive, melodramatic.
Think about your dead mother, suggests one dad (Jason Bateman).
Its hilarious, but ultimately very moving.
Richards says, What happens in Alabama stays in Alabama.
Unless its a deadly virus youve become infected with.
You cant sing off COVID, unless its an AC/DC tune.
Here, Bateman is Wallen from the future, warning him about getting kicked offSNL.
Hes the devil on his shoulder.
And Yang is Wallen from two months in the future.
(The camera work seems to miss Bateman at one point.)
Davidson is another fan, high and locked in the bathroom.
Not a ton of people are willing to fly to New York right now, it seems.
This is silly, and ends with Wallen singing a new song.
Thanks for giving this poor southern boy a second Yankee chance.
6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Weekend Update
Colin Jost compares Trumps recent 45-minute rant to an unhinged Only Fans video.
He concludes with a riff based off the movieThe Help.
Scalding, brutal, hilarious.
Staten Island native Davidson comes out to discuss a recent protest in his hometown.
He mentions an inexpensive vibrator beingsold on Etsywith his face on it.
People like me but not in the right way.
He then riffs onTwitters recent outcryover his casting as George Bailey for anIts A Wonderful Lifecharity table read.
Gardner is back as teen YouTube critic Bailey Gismert!
We last saw her during theSNL at Homes, which was a fitting format for her.
She is commenting on watching the old prestige movies from the ’90s, a la the datedAmerican Beauty.
(Including her calling Che out for not being in sketches, ever.)
This is yet another raucous, savage Update.
They roll around like gerbils in their bubble boy enclosures.
Goofy physical humor underpinned by real frustrations from extreme COVID precautions.
Bateman gets a nasty bloody nose from rolling around.
Cecily rolls over Day as the sketch ends.
Morgan Wallen Still Goin Down
This is a hometown, paint-by-numbers country-pride anthem, if I ever heard one.
The music video for this singlewas releasedabout two weeks ago.
Killing the Bit song
Ryan (Mooney) is hanging out with other guys watching the game.
He attempts to join their joshing, but no one laughs.
This leads to a song about his inability to keep the joke going.
I try so hard / But what I say just doesnt make sense.
His energy is off.
He doubles down on making cut to jokes, after Steve (Davidson) admonishes him.
Final thoughts:
-Reply guys, sound off below!
I thrive off your engagement!
-The cold open, credits and monologue clocked under 15 minutes tonight, folks.
That may be a record for the season.
Good energy, solid pacing.
-Guessing Aidy Bryant is still shootingShrill, while Kenan Thompson and Chris Redd areworking on their own sitcom.
(Kenan was a pre-tape in his sole appearance.
Same with Chris.)
