Cold Opening – Biden Headquarters
personal space invader Joe Biden (JAS) receives sensitivity training
- I still remember what a big shock it was seeing Jason Sudeikis being back as Biden. Back then, I assumed the show would have Beck or Mikey in the role.
- Jason is very solid as always, but this cold open feels very…. odd. It is how confused a take this one is (is Biden supposed to be bad? Is he goofy & fun? No one knows) or how Jason’s Biden comes off so outdated by now. It might be the much-sharper Woody Harrleson take that is making it come off to me that way or the one by JAJ (excluding the poor Mikey Day experiment), but the Jason take is just odd to watch after his run.
- Kate McKinnon receiving a huge applause break for walking into a sketch….
- Kate cannot even keep a straight face in most of this sketch, when she is supposed to be the straight man to Jason’s Biden. I am not as sick of Kate as many were by that point, but she is just a bad straight man to Jason’s.
- The Alexa running gag is falling very flat with me.
- This cold open is going on longer than it needs to be. The Biden touchy-feely sequence where he ends up being punched is putting me off and this is a poor use of Leslie, though I cracked up at Leslie clapping his cheeks.
Rating: **
Monologue
Emilia Clarke, John Bradley, Rose Leslie [real] seek spoilers from host
- After all these years, it’s still so odd hearing Kit speak in his natural posh accent, after getting used to his Yorkshire accent on GoT.
- Standard host jokes, but Kit is great here and is coming off so likable, charming and fun. His brief talk about his other credits is funnier than some other hosts would make it.
- All the Q & A from the audience regarding the Game of Thrones ending feels odd now knowing how it ends. The Gary Richardson “I’m not here for sketches” line was very funny.
- Seeing Emilia Clark here, as her natural lovable self, makes me sad she never hosted the show during the entirety of GoT’s run and her brief stardom run in the movies.
- The GoT cameos are coming off endearing and fun, despite the running joke of them wanting to know how it ends. Loved John’s “You’ve changed!” delivery.
- Quite an odd use of Pete as the Night King, but him being as Pete-y as possible is cracking me the hell up.
- Rose & Kit interacting here is more adorable than flat-out funny, but like the other cameos, she is coming off very likable and fun.
Rating: ***
2019 Nephew Pageant
Nephew Pageant celebrates siblings’ sons (host), (KYM), (MID), (CRR)
- I always enjoy these dumb pageant sketches and who is better than Aidy playing these mom roles? She is easily my favorite cast member in recent years when it comes to playing moms.
- Kit is already funny & cute, though his American accent is the usual one routinely used by British actors. I cannot put my finger on it, but his vocal tics are uncanny to some other Brits in such roles.
- I love Kyle Mooney, but I do not know why he uses the same voice and characterization in these kid/teen roles. He sounded the same in last episode’s 10-to-1.
- Aidy’s lines throughout this sketch are cracking me the hell up – loved her “That’s gorgeous!” and her subsequent glare to the camera – Kit’s confused look afterwards was as funny.
- Poor Chris Redd. I can tell he is trying to milk as many chuckles as possible from the crowd with his looks to the camera as he can.
- Kenan is so funny that he is getting laughs by just standing up from his seat.
Rating: ***1/2
HBO
Game Of Thrones spin-offs include Ice-T & Mariska Hargitay [real] vehicle
- Knowing how many ASOIAF-related spinoffs are in production nowadays, makes this short age well, as I remember some thinking the franchise is dead after the infamous ending.
- Heidi is so good as the female White Walker in the first clip. She is always great playing such troubled characters.
- The subsequent clips aren’t too funny, though I really cracked up at the Wild-N’-Out-esque one with Mikey.
- Mariska Hargitay & Ice-T! Very fun seeing them on the show, especially as a person who was always a fan of both. Strange neither of them ever hosted, especially Mariska.
- All-in-all, some good gags, fun performances and the usual strong voiceover work from Beck, but this was more miss than hit with me.
Rating: **1/2
Sinatra Impersonator
Michael Jackson impersonator (host) perfunctorily pivots to Frank Sinatra
- This is a bit of a divisive sketch, much like Teacher Fell Down and the Leslie/Emma sketch from the penultimate episode of the season. Yet, unlike those other two, I’ve always been in the “hate it” side of the discussion with this one, sad to say.
- Already, this sketch just feels off. The opening conversation with Beck, Leslie and Heidi is poorly-structured that even the “I’m not deaf” bit by Leslie fell very flat with me.
- Kit, like the consummate professional he is, is going all out with this one. I understand he wanted to do the oddest, most bizarre concepts the writers had (and we’ll see some later on), but the “reaction” portions with the other cast members are just…. horrible. Treating us like total fools, and explaining to us how these are, believe it or not, not actually Sinatra classics, but ones by Michael Jackson. Geez, thanks SNL, I don’t think I would’ve gotten this “joke” on my own…
- “Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra aren’t brothers!” & “This guy is obviously a Michael Jackson impersonator.” Wow, Heidi & Beck, thank YOU for pointing these out to me…
- And now, as if the sketch wasn’t already so dead, poorly-written and structured, we now get the “twist” Kit was a Michael Jackson impersonator just a while back.
- We end this with a random Leslie Shouts?! Oof.
Rating: *
Earthwar 3
(PED) endures nonplayer-character office politics in virtual reality game
- Poor Alex Moffat…..
- I love the premise of this short, making fun of the endless side-quests & unskippable conversations with unwanted characters. Kit’s accent and voice are great in this.
- I love how the whole short is now turning into Mikey & Kit’s characters talking about each other from behind their backs. I got a huge laugh from Mikey’s character wide eyes after his “What do you think?”
- Pete is a really solid and funny straight man throughout this short. The escalating frustration with the characters is very well-done, especially Ego’s scene-stealing moment when she begins to gossip about Damien & Ethan.
- An overall fairly strong short, per usual of this season.
Rating: ****
Musical Performance – “Fire”
Weekend Update
hallucinogen-user Terry Fink’s (ALM) film reviews cover unreal cinematics
gambling loser Charles Barkley (KET) enjoyed Auburn’s Final Four run
- Che’s opening rant about Biden & misconduct allegations cracked me up, especially mentioning the old lady who he lets touch him because she’s hot. Jost’s talk about the Biden allegations is no slouch either, especially the part about nothing puts women at ease than an old man sitting at a leather couch without his tie.
- Loved the Irony joke from Colin.
- Che’s FBI/Putin rant was very good, especially the “put crack in his shoes!” part.
- Each time I see these Trump clips I cannot just imagine how this guy was our president for four fucking years. The sassy “Ok?!” by him did make me laugh, and the whole Jost deconstruction of the clip is hilarious.
- In a season that’s been really rough for him, it is sweet seeing Alex finally getting to show us that he is actually funny. This piece I remember rightfully getting tons of praise from fans, and I always found this character the best thing Alex ever did in his disappointing six seasons on the show and a great “What If?” for him had he not been so wasted.
- The Dumbo movie being a terrifying journey to Hell description is fantastic, particularly Alex’s Terry not stopping chewing the guy next to him.
- The whole “Oh, Colin: you still believe in time” line is fantastic.
- The ratings system was mainly fine here, though the “Two Ketchups and 36 missed calls from my wife” rating stands out to me as priceless.
- The Lori Loughlin mention by Che reminds me of the Kate impression randomly showing up in a pretty flat cold open next episode.
- The Star Wars orgy joke by Jost is fantastic and has always been one of my personal favorite jokes he ever told on Update.
- Kenan’s Charles Barkley is always fun and is actually one of his few actually accurate impressions.
- Great energy by Kenan as always. I’m not really finding myself laughing, especially how Kenan is clearly more amused by this material than I am (though I’m assuming that’s due to Che laughing next to him).
- OK, I liked the Hogwarts joke by Kenan’s Barkley, and he is a lot of fun per usual throughout this piece.
Rating: ****
Bachelorette Party
at (CES)’s bachelorette party, fiance (host) performs a burlesque routine
- Aidy’s quiet “What?!” when Cecily mentioned her real friends was such a solid, little Aidy Bryant moment.
- I expected a sketch with Kit stripping back when this episode originally aired, but the twist with his character being Cecily’s fiancée is good and makes this sketch different than the usual “hot host” sketches.
- Love the Burlesque turn with Kit’s character, and his total commitment is very fun to watch, knowing how he is more known for stoic, often one-note characters before this hosting stint.
- The back-and-forth doesn’t feel as labored as the one in that wretched sketch from earlier tonight, but it is dragging this sketch a bit for me.
- Did we really need the lengthy sequences with Kate in that wrinkly old lady make up (those neck prosthetic….)? I assume she is here to “save” the sketch for us.
- Great twist with Melissa and Kit turning out to be siblings, especially after she routinely lusted over his body.
Rating: ***1/2
A Day in the Life of Theresa May
musical guest’s “She Used To Be Mine” chronicles Theresa May (KAM) pathos
- Our third and final Theresa May piece with Kate. A desk piece, live sketch and now a full-length, lavishly-produced short.
- Great vocals from Sara as always, but I had hoped she would be in an actual sketch or short that uses her better than this frankly propaganda piece.
- This short is nothing but Kate’s Theresa May being more and more insulted, humiliated, attacked, with bird shits, getting mud on her clothes, and having the middle finger in front of her face. Where the FUCK is the comedy here?! I sincerely cannot comprehend how such a scant, thin, laughless piece would not only be pitched, get into production, but get on the air had it starred a less-popular cast member than Kate McKinnon. This has always been my #1 example of the absurd favoritism Lorne showed Kate in her latter seasons.
- Was I supposed to laugh at Kate’s May dancing in a Union Jack unitard? And WTF at the Churchill making out sequence? Kit looking more Al Capone than Churchill in this short which is the closest to me even smiling at this dreck.
- Meh at the “Fuck You. At least I’m trying!” ending.
- All-in-all: just wretched. I will never comprehend how such a scant, cowardly piece with zero satire or point even made it into the air, besides starring a “star” cast member and a security blanket such as Kate McKinnon.
Rating: *
Graphics Department
nerdy co-workers (host), (BEB), (KYM) LARP to be employee of the month
- I remember this sketch getting attacked from some online nerds I believe who felt offended by this sketch’s depiction of those who work in such companies. I always enjoyed this piece as a silly, fun Beck/Kyle sketch.
- I really like the voice Kit is using in this and the unexplained gag with all of them still committing to Medieval manners is providing me with good laughs. The whole fireballs dodging running bit is very funny.
- Cecily’s “WTF?” face in the background during the “action” sequences is making me laugh out loud.
- I’m not sure the whole Mikey is masturbating turn is working for me and is taking this sketch into a route I’m not sure works at all.
Rating: ***1/2
Musical Performance – “Saint Honesty”
Exam
patient (host) vets long-fingernailed proctologist (LEJ)
- Cecily has been in practically all the live sketches tonight. This episode is a solid microcosm of her utility strengths. I really loved her “after your anal exam?” line.
- Big laugh from Leslie entering as the doctor with those very long fingernails. Even her usual confrontational turn is funny and makes sense in the context of the sketch.
- What’s with the shaky cam when we cut back to Cecily? That was plain weird.
- This sketch is energetic, even when the gag with Kit still worrying about her nails is dying out, the size difference between Kit & Leslie is providing laughs.
- Second sketch in a row ending with a weak twist. I didn’t care for the whole Undercover Boss turn, despite good performances.
Rating: ***
Goodnights
Segments Ranked From Best to Worst
Earthwar 3
Weekend Update
2019 Nephew Pageant
Graphics Department
Bachelorette Party
Monologue
Exam
HBO
Biden Headquarters
Sinatra Impersonator / A Day in the Life of Theresa May (tie)
Final Thoughts:
- Not too bad an episode as a whole, besides three bad pieces (two of which are some of the worst of this entire season), there were mostly good sketches and a few standout pieces throughout the night. Kit Harington also helped the episode as he was a very fun, solid host and committed to even the weakest pieces with complete energy. Also, the musical performances by Sara Bareilles were fantastic and have always been not only my favorites from this entire season (which says something, considering the high-quality music in it), but in recent SNL history, particularly the epic first one.
My Favorite Moments of the Episode, Represented with Screencaps:
Up Next:
- Emma Stone / BTS.
My full set of screencaps from this episode is here
As always, yet another great review Blood!
This episode is quite peculiar overall, as it’s really too inconsistent to be called a good episode but doesn’t have enough lows to qualify as a bad episode. That said, woof at these lows!
I really despise when SNL treats its audience as a bunch of mouth breathing idiots and that Sinatra sketch is easily one of the worst such examples. Having such talented cast members be reduced to “explaining the joke” (a joke which isn’t really even all that funny in the first place imho) is just sad to watch. I’ll give Kit props for trying though.
The cold open and the Theresa May sketch highlight the confused and muddy political humor typical of this era. It’s like the show doesn’t have the courage or balls to viciously attack these political figures, so it tries to do a sort of “kid gloves” approach and treats them as “oh look at these lovable doofuses!”. Honestly, no matter what your politics are, my philosophy is that if you’re gonna mock a person in power, go all the way. If you want to do a sketch on Biden’s awkwardness, that’s fine, but find an angle and stick with it. Stop trying to do in different directions because you wind up with a confused and muddled sketch that both says too much and nothing at all.
As for the rest of the night, honestly, many of these sketches for me fall into the category of “this is decent, but I don’t think I’ll remember anything about it tomorrow”. The Bachelorette Party, Graphics Department, and Exam sketches are all examples of this. It’s tough cause I can’t really call them bad, but I can’t really call them great either. There’s honestly not much I can really say about them.
Despite this episode just being average (imho anyway), I gotta give props to Kit for really putting in 100% and being super professional and committed to all the roles and managing to elevate plenty of the material. Like Sandra Oh, I wish they had utilized him more and had stronger writing to back him up, but given the episode we have coming up, perhaps I shouldn’t be too greedy lol.
Thanks as always. I echo the comments about how much Kit’s likeability and willingness to do anything (he even told the writers to give him whatever other hosts wouldn’t do). To this day this has been one of his few chances to have fun, along with that tennis movie on HBO.
I am glad to hear someone out there enjoyed the Sinatra sketch, as I sure didn’t.
You say it all about the sheer waste and vanity project nature of the Theresa May pieces, especially this one.
I like the twist in the nerds sketch over Mikey as it flips the narrative of just who is weird, but I can see why people wouldn’t care for it.
This cold open is a great reflection (well, a not-so-great reflection) of just how much the show was torn over how to write for Biden after all the stories about him at the time. I’m not surprised they mostly give up beyond Woody’s few turns in the part.
SNL continues a good streak of unique sketches for a first time host; especially with the burlesque and video game sketch. Can even excuse the nephew sketch for being a great way to utilize the male members of the cast.
I will say that there was backlash about the Theresa May sketch in part because it was being sympathetic to the Tory Party which was pushing conservative policies (aside from it just being a bad sketch)
In almost every episode from this season, there’s at least one sketch I have no memory of (usually the musical ones, as they were shortly taken off YouTube after being uploaded). And shocker, none of them are funny on rewatch. I have a theory that the musical sketches from this era were never meant to be funny from conception, and were written specifically as a reason for the cast to sing more on the show.
When I look at this Theresa May piece or the Bezos pretape from the Carell episode or many other examples from this timeframe, I cannot blame people who stopped watching the show because of the oddly infatuated need to humanize figures who have no right to be portrayed as sympathetic. I’m surprised they never wrote sketches glorifying human scum like Netanyahu or Putin. Add to that they would bring on human scum to come host their show (*cough season 41 cough*, *cough season 46 cough*). When I’ve talked to comedians and they’ve stated that this is why they don’t want to be on SNL, I get it.
I mean this as a compliment: I love the awkwardness Kit brought as a host to the episode. His charm and charisma gets him through the entire night and unlike the previous week, the writing staff utilized him correctly. Side note: I really hope John Bradley hosts one day. He’s naturally funny in the monologue and elsewhere in his career. I think he would fit like a glove if he hosted.