March 2, 2019 – John Mulaney / Thomas Rhett (S44 E14)

Cold Opening – Cohen Hearing

at House hearing, Michael Cohen (BES) testifies to Donald Trump’s faults

• The opening part with Ben Stiller’s Michael Cohen isn’t all too funny and is dragging on. I just do not comprehend why this rather generic role is given to a big-time comedian and not a cast member.
• OK, the Looney Tunes characters being the background to the Cohen/Stormy cheque gave me a solid laugh.
• Bill Hader! Not only is it great to see him back on SNL in what’s sadly (as of S49) his final appearance in a regular show, but him cameoing in a John Mulaney-hosted episode to boot.
• Bill is, of course, just fantastic as Jim Jordan and is having me in stitches. He is even making the recurring gag throughout the cold open with him being forced to ask more questions very funny. It’s been quite a long while since a cast member consistently wowed me since he left the show. (In more recent seasons, James Austin Johnson, Andrew Dismukes and Chloe Troast have certainly stood out the best to me and gave me the most “wow!” moments since Bill & Jason were on the show.)
• While I was never that big on him as a comedian, Ben Stiller is a good straight man throughout this cold opening & is actually giving me some chuckles with his reactions.
• An overall solid cold open, especially as soon as it focused on Bill as Jim Jordan.

Rating: ***1/2

Monologue

host does stand-up about subway announcements & police sirens

• As always with my reviews, I’m most excited when reviewing stand-up sets by comics, and especially when a said comic happens to be one my of favorite current stand-ups.
• John is already cracking me up with his very Mulaney-esque “greetings” to the crowd after they applaud his entrance.
• The “last April” gag only works due to John’s style of comedy, as well as his talk about New York fan encounters. His talk about experiencing the compliment and insult simultaneously afterwards is fantastic and pure Mulaney humor, especially when he goes on about being “cool” in the past, complete with doing cocaine.
• I know some feel John’s talk about his wife, his past drug use, aged poorly, for obvious reasons, but I’m laughing here, especially his talk about being a Catholic (which you can tell by how he walked into the stage), his relationship with his parents & his now ex-wife who happens to be Jewish.
• Loved “an exciting, not-new organization” bit regarding the Catholic Church, especially the “Don’t Google us!” caveat by the end.
• The Woody Allen/French bulldog bit is priceless and has always been one of my personal favorite bits John ever did on SNL, which says something.
• As a person who lived in New York for a few years, the male/female subway announcers part is another classic Mulaney bit that manages to be funny, relatable and hits the right spots in being charming & genuinely silly.
• The closing siren bit is excellent, especially as John is taking his various explanations of the different types of sirens so mock-seriously, in particular I love the dying gay cat impression, which ends this terrific (per usual) standup set perfectly.
• As much as I love this standup set by John, it is his upcoming one from the very next season that has always been my favorite thing he ever did on SNL. I cannot wait to review that one when the time comes.

Rating: ****1/2

What’s That Name?

female acquaintances cause contestants to draw a blank

• Bill! Vince Blight! I still remember what a wonderful surprise it was to see Bill bringing back one of his classic characters from his tenure, even when it feels silly in hindsight as he showed up in the cold open and our host being the one who co-wrote these in the past is a given they would bring it back.
• Bill is already fantastic here, which makes me realize how much I miss his gameshow host performances. In my opinion, after Phil Hartman, the best gameshow host in SNL history. I have been loving James Austin Johnson, in more recent seasons, as our new resident gameshow host, but I feel it is early for me to rank him yet.
• I have seen this installment so many times before this review, but I just absolutely love how it starts with mundane questions regarding various celebrities, Bill’s blunt delivery of what amount of money the contestants won easily, and then how he mentions the large sum of money they’re competing for next. Just brilliant sketch construction, complemented with stellar work by Bill.
• Cecily isn’t getting as many moments as John or Bill, but she is quietly solid, which continues the very strong year she’s having in general. I especially love her grimace in reaction to Aidy & Alex.
• The “Squad” part with the problematic bachelors is fantastic and you can tell Bill was fighting a laugh during it. Betting John was trying to crack him up.
• The “Terrible!” delivery from Bill, asking for the camera to get closer, and then saying he wouldn’t say anything, but listen is brilliant.
• The whole “Mara” bit is fantastic and one of the standout funniest moments of the entire season; the combination of John’s face, delivery and the random names he’s blurting out is killing me.
• The ending with Bill’s “Chaos!” is strangely epic, complete with his stern look to the side. Man, in just two segments tonight, I’m realizing how much I miss Bill Hader doing sketch comedy.

Rating: *****

Toilet Death Ejector

Toilet Death Ejector gives elderly a questionably more dignified demise

• I do not remember if this is another cut Mulaney/Rich/Sawyer piece brought back for this episode, like the two from John’s first hosting stint, but it doesn’t matter to me, as this commercial has always been a big favorite of mine.
• A hilarious, random premise and solid commercial spokesman performance by John. This commercial always is one I could’ve seen feeling right at home in the late ‘80s era. Maybe a sister sequel to Yard-a-pult from season 15.
• So many great moments accompanying John’s trademark delivery. I especially love how the Toilet Death Ejector is better than telling the grandkids grandma died from taking a giant dump.
• I really love the two older actors throughout this commercial; both likable and make this commercial like an actual wacky commercial you would see in some public access channel. I am reminded of Oops! I Crapped My Pants which also used older actors and involved bathroom humor.
• Loved the visual of the many older people being catapulted into their bedrooms, especially as they fail to be launched safely to their final resting place.
• All-in-all, this commercial absolutely holds up.

Rating: *****

Shark Tank – Legal Edition

scandalous celebrities seek representation

• SNL had a bad track record with parodying real-life gameshows, so I sure hope this one works out, as dull a premise as it has.
• I cracked up at the visual of John as Alan Dershowitz and Cecily is certainly fun as Judge Pirro, but where is this sketch going? It feels too repetitive and is certainly nothing more than a bunch of loathed humans being loathsome.
• I’d say the recurring gag between Kyle and Alex (who’s been beyond invisible as of late) as some sleazy associates is decent, but even that one feels repeated to death.
• All-in-all, this pretty much did nothing for me, besides some chuckles from Cecily as Pirro.

Rating: **

The Unknown Caller

(host) menaces unfazeable pool boy Chad a la Scream

• I never cared for this character, despite warming up to stuff I used to dislike in the past from around these years, such as some of Cecily’s sketches. But this character is so scantily-written and performed that it never works for me, besides very few sketches here and there.
• Heh, I just remembered one of those rage & clickbait YouTubers using this short as the prime example of how “awful” SNL is. This one is certainly weak, but not representative of how SNL is or its humor, but I guess they don’r care.
• A Scream parody would seem promising , but I do not think Chad’s responses to him could make me laugh much, despite Mulaney’s best efforts to milk as many laughs here as possible.
• John comes off actually believable in this role, and much like his spokesperson performance, is one I could’ve seen him typically playing had he been cast on the show back during S34.
• All-in-all, I know many consider this short to be one of Chad’s best by default, but I beg to differ; it did almost nothing for me.

Rating: **

Cha Cha Slide

Lisa’s (EGN) beau Daniel (host) fits right in at Black wedding reception

• A very famous & well-loved sketch, and, in my opinion, probably the finest moment of Ego Nwodim’s tenure on SNL. Ego, later on, would some things that never quite work for me (especially in season 48), but this is easily the strongest execution of her style of comedy in her whole tenure.
• Once again, John is just perfect here. His patented delivery, complete with his dance moves next to Ego are killing me. Ego, of course, is also coming off fantastic. When this originally aired, I remember being baffled how this performer was barely given much to do (which aged interesting, as looking back, Ego got many chance, culminating in the very strong stretch from the back half of season 45 to seasons 46-48, which represented her peak on the show in terms of prominence and success).
• So many great jokes and moments here, especially the great reveal John studied at Howard University – love how this is structured with the fun dance moves and random, hilarious one-liners and moments.
• The horns & the fans dance moves have always stuck so much with me and are still so much fun to watch.
• All-in-all, this whole sketch holds up as a real gem; deserving of its popularity and reputation.

Rating: *****

Musical Performance – “Look What God Gave Her”

Weekend Update

clips of Donald Trump’s CPAC speech document his strange behavior

animals at Starkie sisters’ (KAM) & (AIB) meat farm are unsympathetic

• I’m enjoying the Cohen hearings coverage, especially when Michael relates it to how he wants to leave SNL: dragged off in handcuffs like a boss.
• Colin isn’t have as many strong moments as Che, but I love him saying Trump’s weird hugging of the flag at CPAC is a patriotic #MeToo moment.
• The debut of the Smokery Farms character from Kate & Aidy. These worked for me once as a fun, silly one-off pairing of the two (who seem basically inseparable these past two seasons and later on especially), so we shall see if the debut holds up.
• As usual, solid delivery from Kate & Aidy, and the premise is indeed holding up as fun for me, especially with us being told what foul things these animals did. Hell, the memorable breaking of Kate & Aidy due to how badly the meat smells on air is charming, as a goofy & endearing moment, unlike how indulgent it would come off in the latter installments. That’s a bit unfortunate to me, as Kate & Aidy I feel had fairly strong runs that hold up as a whole (Aidy particularly).
• Solid edition of the desk as a whole.

Rating: ***1/2

Bodega Bathroom

(PED)’s pursuit of a gross bodega bathroom spurs educational theatrics

• The second installment of these epic musicals in Mulaney-hosted episodes.
• I laughed out loud at the appearance of Kenan in that cat getup. I’m sadly not too familiar with musicals as I should, but I imagine this is referencing Cats, right? Anyways, Kenan is always so good in these; I’ve always felt Seasons 43 and 44 were his overall finest – the MVP of them imho.
• Very fun set piece changes here, which gives this piece more of an Ebersol era feeling, especially the reveal of the giant toilet (voiced by Beck) and the great costumes of Melissa and Cecily (who’s a natural in these) as roaches.
• I absolutely LOVE the Oompa Loompa sequence! It brings back to me so many amazing childhood memories and is handled very well in this piece.
• Great ending with the cast leaving the stage to sing & dance as we go to commercial.

Rating: ****1/2

Cinema Classics – To Have and Have Not

awkwardness followed Lauren Bacall’s (KAM) whistle flirt

• Mulaney is beyond a natural for an Old Hollywood parody, and it helps that To Have and Have Not is one my personal favorite classic films and I’m always a sucker to see this era of Hollywood parodied on SNL throughout its run.
• Speaking of naturals, Kate is both for these sketches and is doing a wonderful parody of Lauren Bacall in the famous scene from the movie. I have always found this sketch a hidden gem of Kate’s in these rather hit-or-miss seasons of her tenure.
• A great idea to parody the famous scene from To Have and Have Not. Making this sketch better is that it works just as well without knowing its target parody.
• Kate’s delivery is killing me in this sketch – one of the best uses of her very Kate-y style of speaking, especially when going meta about herself, as well as the famous “it’s me from before” line, which remains a killer.
• The part with Kate’s mouth being filled with water is hilarious and very memorable. An overall fantastic sketch and one of Kate’s very best performances throughout her whole tenure, in my opinion.

Rating: ****1/2

Musical Performance – “Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time”

Cut For Time: Diane Feinstein Message

Diane Feinstein’s (CES) ad shooting goes wrong

• Oh, wow. I forgot about this short since the original airing of this episode. I remember it being another strong piece in what’s been shaping up to be a very strong season for Cecily.
• I’m not too familiar with how Dianne Feinstein sounded like, but knowing the strong impressionist Cecily is, I’m sure her take is spot-on.
• This piece is doing a great job skewing Feinstein, especially the creative spin on “commercial shooting gone wrong” trope, complete with the use of child actors prominently (with very few cast members).
• Cecily is a fantastic straight man here. I’ve always found her criminally underrated in that aspect. She is also doing a terrific job slowly becoming more and more agitated and frustrated throughout this.
• Loved the part where Cecily orders the camera man to cut off the filming.
• A huge laugh from Cecily Feinstein giving a fucking child the finger in response to their pressing questions
• All-in-all, this was just as strong as I hoped it would be. A true gem and a great shame it was cut. Sadly, I remember the upcoming John Mulaney episode from the very next season cutting a piece that’s even stronger than this one here: the talkshow sketch hosted by John.

Rating: ****

Goodnights

Segments Ranked From Best to Worst

What’s That Name?

Cha Cha Slide

Toilet Death Eejector

Bodega Bathroom

Cinema Classics – To Have and Have Not

Monologue

CFT: Diane Feinstein Ad

Cohen Hearing

Weekend Update

The Unknown Caller

Shark Tank – Legal Edition

Final Thoughts:

• A wonderful and era-defining episode; an impressively large number of fantastic pieces all night, with some of them being the best of this whole season, as well as another knockout monologue by John Mulaney. As for John, he performed even better this time around, becoming an increasingly comfortable and comforting presence as host. And while he didn’t take over the episode, the appearances by Bill Hader added a lot to the special feeling of the night and singlehandedly saved the cold opening.

My Favorite Moments of the Episode, Represented with Screencaps:

Up Next:

• Idris Elba.

My full set of screencaps from this episode is here