The Grammy winner was on double duty as host and musical guest.
You unlock thisSaturday Night Liverecap with the key of imagination.
You’re moving into a land of both streaming and web link broadcasting, of things and ideas.
Lizzo hosts ‘SNL’.NBC
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We haveLizzopullingdouble duty as host and musical guesttonight, Conehead nation.
But first: a brief acknowledgement about the passing of formerSNLcast member, and comedy legend,Gilbert Gottfried.
Laurance first met Gottfried in theSNLoffices.
So different from anybody.
He was very shy.
It was almost like he was deferring.
Eddie [Murphy] was there, and [Joe] Piscopo, who had this big personality.
It was hard to get a read on what exactly they saw on him sometimes.
I was standing there washing my hands and Gilbert came in.
We were the only two in there.
I said hi to him, and he kind of nodded to me.
Then he went to the sink next to me, turned the water on and started washing his hands.
Like, he just came in to wash his hands.
That’s how it started, a stream of consciousness for probably three minutes.
I was laughing so hard.
One thing led to another, you know how he was.
That’s how I always thought of him, that moment.
“Comedy has lost a lot of icons this year.
I hope/expect tonight’s show notes Gilbert’s passing, in some way.
He welcomes several guests on their wishes on Easter.
“Sexy back, violent crime way up!”
Next up: FormerSNLhost Elon Musk(Mikey Day) comes on to “joke” about buying Easter.
He’s in Bond villain form remember we let him host?
Chloe Fineman returns as her spot on Britney Spears.
Kyle Mooney is not Jesus Christ, he’s Jared Leto.
Last but not least: James Austin Johnson returns as Donald Trump.
This is spot on as always, but do we need Trump here?
Five years on, folks.
Know how I earn a livin'.
I amnota fan of these Mad Lib cold opens box checking, formless, lazy.
Matthew Laurance thinks “it’s so funny with the show now.
There are certain times where I think it’s absolutely brilliant.
Laugh out loud at stuff.
Then there’s moments where I go: ‘What are you doing?'”
Her mom is in the audience.
The crowd is game here.
They recite her lyrics back to her.
Here is some fun context.
When Matthew Laurance was onSNL, Debbie Harry pulled double duty as host and musical guest.
“That was one of the best weeks of my life,” he shares.
Harry and he ended up hanging out much of the week together, alongside Blondie guitarist Chris Stein.
“That show was great because of how good she was and how committed.
They could be really terrific but you might tell.
She totally, even in rehearsals, was 100% in.”
Guess That
Ah, our obligatory game show.
Tracy (Ego Nwodim), Nicole (Lizzo), and Kenny (Chris Redd) are playing.
Nicole misstates the name of Kennedy Airport.
She doubles down on the wrong answer and begins antagonizing the host, Clint (Kenan Thompson).
It’s silly they fight over who the mayor of Gametown is.
Fun fact on Kenan:All Thatpremiered on Nickelodeon 28 years ago today.
That’s how long he’s been in the sketch comedy game.
This Day in History!)
TikTok
This is the kind of spoof I’d like to see the show try more often.
It’s modern, and manic, and weird.
Lots of references to different TikTok templates and viral videos.
Granted, it’s tough to do this without seeming incoherent.
In this case, a 27-year-old is bored, scrolling through his phone while avoiding studying for the LSATs.
Interscope Studios - Black Eyed Peas
It’s 2008.
Lizzo andAidy Bryantare music producers working with the Black Eyed Peas.
Cecily Strong gets to sing in this sketch again.
This time she is playing Fergie: “The People in the Place.”
Six Flags
Lizzo brings a date (Mikey Day) home and things are going well.
It is hilarious seeing Sarah Sherman and Ego Nwodim as the grandparents.
A community of Six Flags guys show up a strange twist that sort of works.
As always, Day is shocked and confused by this development.
“We like to party!”
Lizzo cries, asserting herself.
Like TikTok and the Black Eyed Peas sketch, these are precise pop culture moments.
Hopefully people get it!
Lizzo seems to be enjoying herself.
These commercials were ubiquitous back in the day!
c’mon Don’t Destroy
Lizzo is stressed about performing two new songs on the show.
Andrew Dismukes threatens to kill her if her songs aren’t good and they panic.
She vomits until they pitch her a sketch concept: about a horny zookeeper.
That becomes the basis for her new song.
Lizzo - “About Damn Time”
“Ladies and gentlemen, me!”
Lizzo introduces her own musical performance.
ThatSNLHosts Introducing the Musical Guest Twitter accountis going to lose itself over this.
“About Damn Time” is the funky, feel-good lead single from Lizzo’s upcoming studio albumSpecial.
It was previewed on James Corden’s show.
I love the flute playing on display here.
Weekend Update
Colin JostandMichael Chetake savage digs at President Joe Biden.
Lots of jeering from the audience during this segment tonight.
He feels bad and apologizes immediately.
So this is the hook.
He returns: “I’m so proud of you.”
Even when impersonating his grandmother, he mocks the poor kid.
The segment ends with a card dedicated toGilbert Gottfried.
Throne Room Orgy
It’s the rehearsal for an ancient Egyptian god-king’s doomed sex party.
Kyle Mooney appears as an imp, giggling and stealing.
Turns out the god-king is an actual child.
This seemed pretty elaborate good production design and costumes.
So why did the actual storyline here feel so meh?
Just another check- list structure.
Lizzo - “Special”
Lizzo’s mom introduces this performance of “Special.”
Bouncy track with a very earnest message.
(“Special” serves as the anthem for Logitech’s “Defy Logic” campaign.)
Lizzo appears alongside her handler (Chris Redd).
She’s able to play - but only if she’s twerking.
Day is a traditionalist and insists she sit while performing, which deprives her of her ability.
The rest of the orchestra resolves itself to also twerk Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, the whole gang.
I like the body positive message here, but pretty dreadful work.
(Kenan Thompson’s hair is straight out ofKenan & Kel.)
Beanie Babies
Steve (Andrew Dismukes) has quit his job.
He’s going to rely on his investments: his collection of Beanie Babies.
Mikey Day and Bowen Yang challenge him: Beanie Babies are essentially worthless.
Steve and Annette (Lizzo) fight well, Lizzo laughs over his Mario drawing.
I love these strange Dismukes sketches shades ofI Think You Should Leaveenergy.
Final Thoughts
-Thanks again to Matthew Laurance for sharing his memories on working with Gilbert Gottfried.
And there was a lot of infighting.”
Like his Andrew Dice Clay impression."
-Speaking of season six, take a lookat this conversationI had with former writer Mitchell Kriegman.
He pulls no punches on his experiences working on the show.
-What did you think of Lizzo’s appearance as host and musician guest?
Weigh in below orvote here!
