January 20, 2024 – Jacob Elordi / Reneé Rapp (S49 E9)

Some Thoughts on the Season so Far:

• Much like the previous two seasons prior to this one, I am going to share some thoughts about the season and cast before the review.
• Let’s discuss this season first: I think season 49 has been a fairly solid, consistent season. One of the reasons I’ve been enjoying this season a lot more than the previous one is the noticeable increase when it comes to creative, fun, silly sketch concepts (the material in the Bargatze & Chalamet episodes being prime example of such), as well as the majority of my favorite current cast members having solid-to-strong seasons thus far. There are still some issues, especially when it comes to Bowen and the overuse of Mikey (though he’s been decent), as I rather see some of the airtime they both are getting be given to someone like James Austin Johnson and Michael longfellow (more on him later), but I cannot overall really complain as JAJ at least been having a solid season so far, and besides the roles given to him in the Adam Driver episode and a role or two earlier in the season, he’s being well-utilized, especially both getting standout pretaped performances (e.g. Lake Beach, Giant Horse and The Right Track), as well as solid “glue” roles. Even as the latter roles seem to be given to him firmly as second behind Mikey.
• The underuse of Michael Longfellow so far is probably my biggest complaint. I just don’t get it, truly. The man had a strong rookie year, showed eons of potential and is generally very well-liked even by the most hardcore of fans. So, what happened? Outside of the Emma Stone and Jason Momoa episodes , he feels (just as James, a frequent commenter on this site, stated elsewhere) like a glorified extra or writer making random appearances. There will most likely be 12 more episodes in four runs (as the reliable Saturday Night Network assumed; going with their assumption here), so I hope Michael, as well as Molly who seems to be getting Lauren Holt-esque airtime this season; both performers deserve a lot better than the terrible season they’ve been having.
• Ego is a cast member that I felt improved a bit from a very hit-or-miss, demoralizing season last year. (In fact, the decline of Heidi and Ego last season was one of the biggest gripes I had with said season as it went on.) This year, however, has been quietly solid for Ego; lots of solid “glue” roles and two desk pieces ranging between decent to strong. With that being said, I’ve noticed her heavy decrease in airtime compared to how heavily pushed and hyped she was during season 48. I understand some fans, such as regular commenters John and James, theorized that Lisa From Temecula bombing hard the second time without the “laffing” probably affected her and led to Lorne not trusting her anymore as a “star” of the show alongside Heidi, Bowen, Chloe Fineman and Kenan. I tend to agree with that sentiment, but I think it’s a blessing in disguise for Ego, as it relieves her from so much pressure and the result has been a mostly-solid year for her. In fact, if Ego decides to leave after this season, like some fans were theorizing due to her airtime decrease, then I’ll have no problem; she’ll be ending an overall very solid run with a solid, quietly consistent final year.
• As for the rest of the cast, most are doing well. Sarah’s season is slowly turning into a flat-out fantastic one and is probably my favorite so far this year after Andrew; she’s been displaying range and her oddball work is as strong as ever, especially the return of her wonderful pretaped work. The vets mostly improved, especially Kenan returning to being that solid, beloved vet he was for so many seasons before season 48’s shameless, flop sweat pandering turning him into that season’s absolute bane. Bowen did some solid stuff this year, but his overuse and annoying tendencies hurt him still. Chloe F & Heidi do not work as a duo and will never will, but the push is still there; both are better than last year (and as I said before, I’m probably the only reviewer out there who doesn’t hate Chloe as much as others).

Cold Opening – Courthouse Address

cavalier Donald Trump (JAJ) rambles & relishes his Iowa caucus victory

• I guess I expected it, as we now get the return of JAJ’s Trump impression. I am assuming this will be the first of about half a dozen cold openings starring him this half alone. I guess I should be happy seeing JAJ getting meaty airtime from the get-go tonight, at least.
• JAJ’s Trump nicknames for fellow GOP candidates are doing nothing for me, despite JAJ giving it his all.
• OK, the Guatemalan family joke gave me a pretty solid laugh. I hate to admit.
• Now Trump is referencing Mean Girls? I guess this is to pander to the fans of the musical guest tonight, but this isn’t funny to me nor does it capture Trump in a satirical way.
• Man, the last minute or so of this cold opening is resulting in absolutely zero laughs from me. I feel horrible for JAJ being given such material to perform.

Rating: **

Monologue

host takes questions from SRS, (KET), BOY, other audience members

• Man, Jacob has to be one of the tallest hosts in SNL history. I also expected a longer applause break, but maybe the audience isn’t as stan-filled as I feared.
• Wow, a Saltburn spoiler right out of the gate? I loved most of that movie, but didn’t expect them to show that specific scene from it.
• A Q & A monologue? It’s been ages since they last did one; fun seeing Alex English and Rosebud as audience members; both came off funny, though their bits were too brief.
• Sarah is fun and adorable as always in her scene, especially when expecting a bigger applause break from the audience.
• The whole elephant joke with Kenan gave me a cheap laugh, though a part of that is probably his look.
• Amazing how likable and funny Bowen is as himself. Instead of going hammy and over-the-top. It is also nice to see him attempting a silly Australian accent.
• I can tell Carson won’t be too happy about the “charming” turn at the end with Jacob being grateful about the success of his acting career so far. Jacob was likable, but it came off absolutely out of nowhere and made a disjointed monologue even more of a mess.

Rating: **1/2

Crown Your Short King

bachelorette (CLF) quickly pivots to tall (host)

• A whole sketch based on the Short King meme? Is this SNL, once again, trying to appeal to the Gen-Z and failing? I am a Gen-Z myself, but these pieces make SNL, instead of coming off hip, come off as old as it is.
• Mikey is solid as usual in his utility role, but I wished JAJ was cast in his role, as he’s been a bit underused in a few shows this season.
• Chloe is doing a dead-on imitation of the typical bachelorettes in these programs. This is the biggest highlight here thus far.
• I like Molly Kearny a lot more than most SNL fans seem to, but their mugging in this sketch is coming off like they are trying hard to be funny. Seeing how terrible a season they’ve been having, I am not surprised.
• Figures they’d do a sketch utilizing Jacob’s height; his walk-on gave me a big laugh, which is the biggest one I got so far tonight.
• Yeah, the performers are doing an OK job, especially Chloe, Jacob and Mikey’s way of holding this sketch together, but aside from a decent part or two, this sketch is going on and on, with back-and-forth between all the performers that’s resulting in absolutely NO laughs from me whatsoever.
• Showing how very dead tonight’s audience is, the whole making out session with Chloe and Jacob, which is clearly designed to get very loud, uproarious reactions, complete with “Whoo!”-s, is greeted with almost total silence. Ouch.

Rating: **

Club Shay Shay – Extended Cut

Katt Williams (EGN) is cuckoo in Club Shay Shay interview extended cut

• As usual with SNL, we now get a pop culture take that’s late by three full weeks. Hey, at least it’s not the usual full month or two behind!
• Ego’s very solid as Katt Williams, with tons of energy and effortless charisma. Unfortunately, this piece is yet another miss from her this year, which is sadly bringing to me unwanted memories of the back half of last season where Ego delivered one dud after the other for me, with minor exceptions.
• Like other times SNL parodied real-life incidents, this is nowhere near as nuts as the actual Katt Williams interview it’s parodying. Good energy, but way, way too long and the dead audience, once again tonight, isn’t helping it.
• Absolutely none of the quick gags between the interview segments are working for me, and yes, the audience is greeting those with deafening silence, so am I.
• Is SNL kidding me with the gag with the large glass?! This feels straight out of a shitty kiddie show.

Rating: **

Entertainment Tonight Lip-Readers

(host), (BOY), musical guest lip-read celebrities

• It feels beyond bizarre seeing an ET sketch in this day and age. I only remember the parodies SNL did in the ‘80s/early ‘90s. Also, two pop culture sketches in a row? Is this a season 29 episode rerun?
• Bowen and Jacob are fine as this duo, but this celebrity-centric sketch revolving around reading the lips of celebrities isn’t doing anything for me; not also helping is that this type of humor doesn’t work for me, despite fun performances.
• I understand some fans disliked the leadoff sketch of the season due to its focus on the Taylor/Travis romance, but I felt that with its fun performances, quick pacing and energy, it worked. This, on the other hand, is a clear example of a slow week backstage of a sketch.
• I admit cracking up at Jacob’s lip-reading of Travis Kelce, but otherwise this is a very tepid piece with no real premise holding it up.
• Nice seeing Reneé Rapp in a sketch tonight, but per usual of SNL’s pop culture takes, we are getting a spoof of Gwyneth Paltrow’s trial pretty much a year after it concluded. This was indeed a slow week backstage.
• This is a minor observation, but why do a lot of sketches featuring Bowen Yang this season have him on the screen the entire time? And all using the small screen/awards host gag? I know he is the most popular current cast member and everything, but it feels odd.
• Yeah, I can see why some fans might enjoy this sketch, and while I got a few OK laughs here and there, most of this sketch came off, for the billionth time tonight, like SNL trying to be hip and young. I am sorry, but this ain’t my kind of SNL entertainment.
• Man, I’m beginning to realize tonight’s episode in general isn’t for me, nor is its bizarre focus on dated pop culture events or humor I can’t stand.

Rating: **1/2

Bowling Pins

convoluted animated-pin scoring vignettes confuse bowlers (host) & (HEG)

• Ooh, I can already tell I’m in a for a bizarre sketch concept that I’ll love, just from the opening of this whole sketch with Andrew as an animated bowling pin.
• The increasingly odd videos of the bowling pins are a great absurdist escalation, especially starting with the dramatic bowling pins scene with JAJ, Ego and Marcello.
• The very tense scene between Mikey and Troast was already pretty funny (Mikey going over-the-top always amuses me), but the dubbed “Gutter” ending it basically slayed me.
• I can tell it’s probably JAJ who’s doing the dubbing voices here. If so, it’s yet another example of how great a voice-over narrator he’s been so far.
• Jacob’s agitated reaction to the Bowen/Devon dramatic scene was a good way to end his character’s frustration with the endless bowling pins videos.
• After the sketch ended, I do love getting to see some of the cast members having fun before we go to commercial (last screencap above).
• Thanks to John, the fellow SNL reviewer/frequent commenter on this site, for informing me this sketch is a Steven Castillo-written one; no wonder it was this strong; nice first impression back indeed.

Rating: ****

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines embraces the cool aspect of in-flight mechanical failures

• This seems to be a variation of the solid spoof of Southwest Airlines last season. However, this is not only our fourth pop culture piece of the night, but yet another that’s a bit too late as the incident spoofed here happened over two weeks ago.
• Some good laughs from the back-and-forth between the Alaska Airlines workers proudly talking about their brand as we see horrified reactions from Flight 1282 door plug blowing up during travel, but this as a whole is just fine.
• Fun seeing a Sully impression being done perfectly by James, though it was a bit wasted here with a very brief bit.
• Bowen feels like he’s been in practically every single sketch tonight. At least his solid dry delivery is being used well in the context of this piece.

Rating: ***

Musical Performance – ”Snow Angel”

Weekend Update

Tim Scott (DEW) defends his decision to endorse Donald Trump’s candidacy

Deobra Redden (PUJ) blames lax security for leaping at judge in court

• A fucking horrible “Both Sides” joke to open Update. Not only is it the usual both sides-ism, but it came off to me so lazy and elitist.
• After the rough Trump/Biden rant at the start, this edition is improving, as I’m enjoying the string of jokes afterwards, especially the joke about an Iowa voter voting for Trump and passing out.
• Che’s whole joke’s punchline being about slave owners having sex with their slaves feels old hat, as did the Catholic Church/pedophilia punchline from Colin that followed it.
• Great to see a Devon desk piece again! His Tim Scott impression is great, as his silly characterization with that open-mouthed smile of his.
• I am amazed by how quickly this desk piece ended, and besides Devon’s fun energy and the predictable-but-funny dog whistle moment with Colin, the rest of it was just fine. Devon at least gave another very likable performance.
• The running joke with Colin shitting on Spirit (which already was dissed in the Alaska Airlines short earlier tonight) always works with me.
• Man, that vaping pregnant women joke…. I feel horrible for laughing so hard at it. The Mexican dog/Staten Island joke afterwards was no slouch either.
• Geez, we now get a parody of yet another incident that happened ages ago? I understand SNL usually needs to comment on such events after such a long break (still cannot believe we didn’t get a show on January 13th), but this is really overdoing it for me.
• Now we get the visual of Punkie bravely dressing in drag. Female cast members dressing in drag can make sense sometimes, like the Katt Wiliams/Ego short earlier tonight, but Punkie? Come on.
• Punkie continues to have a solid season, which is making me very happy, but this piece so far is completely resting on Punkie’s natural charisma and her rapport with Che. This is another instance of trying to parody something already outlandish, much like the weak Katt Williams spoof earlier in the episode.
• Overall, two really strong jokes from Che and Jost (women vaping & Mexican dog), passable commentaries, and mostly quick pacing to this edition of the desk, but this as a whole is probably my least favorite Update of the season, after the Chalamet edition. I still like Che and Colin, more than many fans it seems to be the case, but I cannot stress enough how much we truly need change behind the Update desk as soon as possible. (Seeing the very solid and likable Rosebud Baker in the monologue is renewing my hopes of her taking over the desk after this season.)

Rating: ***

Women’s Meeting AA

thirsty women want fine sex-addict (host) at Alcoholics Anonymous meeting

• Nice seeing an ensemble sketch with the female side of the cast for a change. The setting reminds of that great AA Meeting sketch from last season.
• A solid laugh from the ladies making some space immediately as soon as Jacob asks the same question as the kicked-out Mikey.
• I am noticing Jacob looking thinner than usual. He is apparently losing weight for his role as the Monster in an upcoming Frankenstein movie.
• This sketch is fine so far, but is the usual standard “hot host” fare. The ladies are fine in their roles, but I could’ve seen Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong doing a better job with this material.
• OK, the random turn with Punkie showing some cleavage gave me a huge laugh, and clearly made Chloe lose it next to her for the remainder of the sketch.
• An alright ending with Mikey being kicked out again. Mikey came off his usual likable self at the end.

Rating: ***

Musical Guest Intro

Rachel McAdams introduces musical guest

• Great seeing a Rachel McAdams cameo, which makes sense giving who our musical guest is. Seeing how extremely likable she is just introducing the upcoming performance, makes me remember how much I had hoped to see Rachel host SNL.

Musical Performance – ”Not My Fault” ft. Megan Thee Stallion

Acting Class

star (host) can’t relate to (Rachel McAdams) & other unsuccessful actors

• Bowen’s style of performing is perfect for the role of a typical pretentious acting teacher.
• Fun seeing Rachel in a sketch tonight and I like the meta gag with her being strikingly similar in looks to Rachel McAdams. She is also coming off a natural in a sketch.
• Our second sketch in a row with cast members fawning over Jacob Elordi? At least it makes sense here as they are playing aspiring actors fawning over the success of another.
• This sketch has been going on and on, and besides the very fun performance by Rachel, as well as her seemingly breaking in reaction to Mikey’s voice going high, nothing else is working much for me. The cast and Jacob are more than fine, but this sketch feels like a writerly one that needed a rewrite or two. Not bad, but one I’ll forget very soon.

Rating: ***

Garrett From Hinge: Wedding

Garrett struggles to restrain himself while interrupting (CHT)’s wedding

• (*Bowen enters the sketch reprising Sucka while Blood immediately reacts by throwing his laptop, and then himself outside of his bedroom window*)
• But seriously, what is to say here? I knew sooner or later this character of Bowen’s will be back, especially after it was cut from the Bad Bunny episode earlier in the season. I get why some people enjoy this character, but it, as well Lisa and Crystal (Heidi’s muggy co-worker), which all three are now officially recurring, represent one of my least favorite SNL tropes: a character acts weirdly while others mostly react to them with horror or annoyance.
• They are now repeating the same beats with Bowen talking to himself in front of the mirror, as well as looking like the Stewie shirt he’s wearing. To call this sketch lazy would be way too generous towards it.
• Bowen had a huge episode tonight, but almost all of his appearances prior to this sketch utilized his talents and delivery in a good way. This sketch, on the other hand, epitomizes what I’ve grown to dislike in most of Bowen’s solo showcases: the dull, cold feel of them, much like the God-awful Spaceship sketch from the season premiere.
• Bowen is committed as usual; the setting of this character is different and JAJ is getting OK airtime in a likable utility role. Other than that, this sketch is the epitome of being D.O.A.

Rating: *

Cut For Time: Please Don’t Destroy – Pimp My Ride

janitor’s (host) car is pimped

• It feels odd seeing Mikey Day in a PDD short, especially knowing how very obviously his part near the end of the de Armas installment was meant as a sendoff for him of sorts.
• I do not know if it is the Russian accent he’s attempting, but Jacob sounds a bit too restrained and low-key here; even more than how he was in the aired show.
• A Pimp My Ride turn? In the year 2024? I am not going to bitch, as it at least takes this short into a different direction.
• Some OK laughs from the various visuals of the revamped car of Jacob’s. However, besides the absurdist visual of the various buckets, none of these are really standing out to me.
• Great seeing an Xzibit cameo on SNL, and while the turn with his disavowing the PDD boys’ version of his show is tad predictable, it was decently executed. 
• Overall, this was alright with a likable performance by Jacob. I know I am higher on PDD’s shorts in general than some others seem to be, but this one was overall OK and nothing special; would’ve definitely placed it in the first half of the show over any of the material that aired there, besides Bowling Pins.

Rating: ***

Goodnights

Segments Ranked From Best to Worst

Bowling Pins

Weekend Update

CFT: PDD – Pimp My Ride

Acting Class

Women’s AA Meeting

Alaska Airlines

Monologue

Entertainment Tonight Lip-Readers

Crown Your Short King

Club Shay Shay – Extended Cut

Courthouse Address

Garrett From Hinge: Wedding

Final Thoughts:

• Sadly, it had to happen sooner or later, our first weak episode of the season. Although, it is impressive it took nine shows for this season to finally have a subpar effort for me. A lot of tepid, dull material culminating in the return of an absolutely wretched character to close off the night. Besides one single sketch (and the first musical performance, if we are counting those as well), most of the other pieces ranged from average to terrible. Jacob Elordi was a likable presence, but it was clear the show had no idea how to utilize his energy and talents, which resulted in an endless string of aimless, premise-less sketches and a dead atmosphere that dominated the night. At least, to say something positive of this episode, we got some good cast use for the most part.

My Favorite Moments of the Episode, Represented with Screencaps:

Up Next:

• The return of Dakota Johnson, as well as Justin Timberlake.

My full set of screencaps from this episode is here