Though it was a lackluster penultimate episode, the former Disney darling gave a solid performance.
Penultimate episodes always hit different, don’t they?
So, let’s hold our 8H overlords to that fun, impossible standard forSNL47’s penultimate episode.
Selena Gomez’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ hosting debut.Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Welcome, Conehead nation, toSNLin Review.
The sun is setting and change, as always, lurks in the air.
Former Disney darlingSelena Gomezmakes herSaturday Night Livehosting debut tonight.
Next month, she stars in season 2 of Hulu’sOnly Murders in the Building.
(It also has a great penultimate episode!)
Meanwhile,Post Malonewill perform as the musical guest for his first time.
He’s an extremely popular, if divisive artist due tofrequent critiquesthat he is a culture vulture.
(Hey, at least his collaboration with Ozzy Osbourne was a cool effort!)
I am joined this evening by the illustrious Gary Kroeger, who was onSNLfor three seasons.
Paul Brittain used to play Depp, but hereKyle Mooney(?!)
Kroeger confirms Strong is the cast member he would miss the most if she left the show.
They cut to the video of Depp’s employees finding Heard’s excrement in Depp’s bed.
This was an interesting effort, but it’s flat and ends abruptly.
Surely there was a more inspired take on this insane trial/pop culture moment?
!SNLin Review verdict: Don’t select this.
Monologue
Growing up, Gomez used to watchSNLevery Saturday with her mom.
The twoSNLlegends both gave her advice on hosting, as did her friend Miley Cyrus.
“Emma Stone found her husband here,” she said.
Gomez says she’s looking for her soulmate, but at this point she’ll take anyone.
Of course, Kyle Mooney volunteers.
“Be with you, like you said,” Mooney explains.
Same with James Austin Johnson (a.ka.
Plus, they’re both married.
When Punkie Johnson throws her hat in the ring, Gomez doesn’t say no!
She ends the monologue by leading the audience in a sing-a-long to theBarneytheme song.
The monologue was fine/mediocre.
(I would’ve preferred a call back toSpring Breakers, but fine!)
Bratz Dolls
Sarah Sherman’s parents are getting divorced.
(Her dad loves a woman named Julia.)
In her grief, she says she wishes her Bratz dolls were alive.
Suddenly, they are!
So we get to see vacuous, mean dolls played byBowen Yang, Selena Gomez, and Aidy Bryant.
They’re vain and give Sherman advice about “being a bitch” to waiters.
Love Yang and Bryant vibing together, hurling insults.
And Gomez does well too.
Old Enough!
It’s the Americanized version of the hit Japanese show.
He’s helpless while running his errands, bumping into fellow boyfriend,Kenan Thompson.
“We’re basically roommates,” Chelsea realizes when Matt returns having failed to do what she asked.
He’s so absorbed in his video games, he won’t even have sex with her.
(It’s daytime, after all.)
This goes on for longer than I would’ve imagined.
A Peek at Pico
Melissa Villasenorand Selena Gomez cohost a local public access show.
Guests include a librarian (Heidi Gardner) and the rapper Lil Hubcap (Chris Redd).
He performs his latest song: “That’s sad.”
Villasenor and Gomez have a fun chemistry.
shouts Cecily Strong, who has forgotten her very first line in the play.
Meanwhile, Selena Gomez can’t do an Irish accent, so she’s adopted an Australian drawl.
No one knows their lines here, much to the director’s chagrin.
A few penis jokes are thrown in for good measure.
Another slow, shoulder shrug sketch.
Inventor Documentary
Steve Martincameo alert!
He is playing Archie Gizmo, the inventor of the whoopie cushion.
Dina Beans became his muse, and was behind every good idea she had.
“She was God’s perfect fool.”
I love the old images of Steve Martin here.
Fun short film!SNLin Review verdict: Watch this one!
His new album,Twelve Carat Toothache, is set to be released June 3.
I am not a fan.
Kroeger has “been going through a retro phase lately and I’m not yet up to 1970… Oh man, I can’t believe they brought back Baby Yoda (Kyle Mooney).
Everything about this is unpleasant.
Do not click, like.
Don’t encourage them.
The show is as good as it is relevant.”
This is cute if messy.
I like the movement and playfulness here.
As they’ve done previously, Sherman seeks to embarrass our golden boy host.
There are also curiously lots of pictures of Sherman on the wall.
And finally, there’s a surprise hiding in a cage.
But Edmund can’t figure it out.
He requests they all laugh.
Edmund selects Blondelia (Kate McKinnon) and we discover the disturbing truth.
Watch to find out what her interesting trait is.
Intuition Music Video
Wow, another short film!
Selena Gomez is dating Chris Redd.
They are hanging out at the apartment one night when he suddenly, suspiciously leaves to buy paper towels.
While e’s gone, Punkie Johnson appears as Gomez’s bad angel/her intuition.
They collude against Redd he must be cheating!
Paranoia gets the best of them.
(Though I like them giving Punkie a chance to star.)
Their advice for matriculating students: Get into modeling.
You’re young, so do it now!
They bring out Selena Gomez from the class of 2017.
This is brief and goofy.
Post Malone performs ‘Love/Hate Letter to Alcohol’
Another auto-tuned performance.
“Love/Hate Letter to Alcohol” is at least one reason why Malone gets his ass kicked.
Just listen to Kendrick Lamar’s"Swimming Pools (Drank)."
Baby Monitor
Selena Gomez is home alone while her parents are enjoying their anniversary.
Her friends are ready to rage!
Wait a minute, there’s a catch.
She’s actually babysitting her siblings (Bowen Yang and Sarah Sherman).
They watch in horror on the baby monitor as the pinheads Yang and Sherman fight and do somersaults.
I love the sillyTwilight Zonetwist here.
Post Malone nearly ruins this sketch, laughing about milk and bread.
Final Thoughts
Thanks again to Gary Kroeger!
Check out his podcast"The Gary & Kenny Show.
“Their latest episode features fellow ex-SNLcast member, Jeff Richards.
Kroeger shares: “WhenSNLguests come onto my podcast, it’s great.
Who else is loving this new season ofKids in the Hallon Amazon Prime?
The show doesn’t have to suck!)
So, what did you all think?
Weigh in below orvote here!
Felt a little padded without our man Dismukes, no?
