Cold Opening – Executive Orders
President Trump (JAJ) signs many executive orders
- I’m a bit surprised we are getting this many JAJ Trump cold opens by this point of the season. Guess I cannot complain, as they always give JAJ airtime to open the show. With that said, I did expect we would have like six or seven cold opens from November till the season finale, instead of the impression showing up almost weekly.
- Mikey is cracking me up so much as Stephen Miller. I’m sure he used that voice before, but it is a good take on that ghoul.
- That “I’m a Hufflepuff! No bitch, you work at Staples!” line was freakin’ hilarious! These JAJ cold opens of late seem to have at least one excellent zinger in them.
- I’m enjoying the fun energy of the cold open with the President signing executive orders at a rapid-fire pace.
- I’m more and more growing to enjoy Marcello’s take on Marco Rubio. At least he isn’t used anymore as a voice of reason in these opens, like he was initially.
- Surprised this ended the way it ended, but it was short, sweet and had enough fun lines. We’ve been having some really good cold opens this second administration so far. I’d give JAJ major credit for that.
Rating: ***
Monologue
host sings about being short
- I wouldn’t expect Quinta Brunson to be doing a musical monologue, nonetheless one about being short. I’m not sure this premise is worthwhile anymore, as I feel it’s been run to the ground. Nor do I feel it is a good use of Quinta’s comedic talents.
- A good, committed performance from Quinta, though the lyrics and premise are nothing special.
- Was I supposed to go wild at the Sabrina Carpenter cameo? I’m not in that demo, I guess, and I’m generally very tired with how overhyped and overexposed she is.
- And now we get Marcello again, in a night l’m sure would be full of him to make up for the last episode.
- Who the hell is that tall guy? The audience also seems as lost as I am.
- All-in-all, this wasn’t exactly bad. But it had a tired feeling and I’m about done with the whole “short king” meme by this point, even when I personally relate to it.
Rating: **1/2
Will & Todd’s Radical Experience
Fredrick Douglas (KET) & Harriet Tubman (host) won’t go back in time
- A Bill & Ted parody? And in 2025? Never cared for this movie nor the overrated Keanu Reeves for that matter.
- I thought Kenan was Cornel West at the start, before I remembered this is a time travel sketch.
- Marcello doing that voice reminds me so much of a prior cast member but I cannot really remember which one at the moment.
- I’m not caring for the turn with Kenan & Quinta refusing to go back in time. This type of race-related premise feels really old by this point.
- The revelations about the other historic characters’ fate were amusing, I guess. I find it kinda funny this is the second time in three episodes Emil played someone from classical antiquity, after The First Play sketch.
- Yeah, solid work by Kenan & Quinta. The other performers performed adequately, but this washed over me.
Rating: **1/2
OnlySeniors
seniors version of OnlyFans
- Poor Devon Walker. Guess it is his time now to get some face time, considering we have a black host this week.
- Good work from Kenan and Quinta, but wow, I’m not caring at all for this hacky, lame premise, and I’m usually all in for offensive humor. This, in some shades of it, reminds me of that fucking wretched car short from earlier in the season.
- Ugh at the whole “chat babies” portion in this. Not even the visual of Kenan & Quinta made me laugh. I can see some saying this is a “dark” piece or that it could’ve went “darker” but there’s nothing here outside the desperate visuals. Again, like that horrid short some months ago. Betting this was co-written by that one’s writers.
- I can really tell whoever wrote this are giggling to themselves over the “daring” and “ballsy” premise, much like that terrible aforementioned short, with scatological humor and various positions, but it comes off to me desperate, endless and not that daring. This feels like something a high school frat would think of when bored during class.
- Not only am I finding this short deeply unfunny, but something about it just feels very uncomfortable, insulting. And no, I’m not talking about the premise here. This just feels like some person’s unprocessed sexual hangups airing live on a network TV show, which seems to have happened quite often these past few seasons with the show.
- At least nice to see another Heidi & Mikey pairing, considering we are probably losing both soon. Otherwise, this short was everything I hate about modern shorts wrapped neatly in one single piece.
Rating: *
Leadership Summit
pitches for product go haywire
- This sketch reminds me of the one they did the first time Shane Gillis hosted. I liked that one, but not sure having repeats of same settings/structure would work for me.
- Chloe Fineman doesn’t work in these types of roles. I’m also puzzled at the surreal pairing of her and Emil, especially that I feel the latter is a goner soon.
- This sketch is washing right over me that not even the whole moment with Andrew worked for me.
- Ugh at the Kenan look and portion with Marcello – still pushing that supposed “duo” between both of them, SNL? I thought these types of “quirky” characters were something for the past.
- No comment about the return of that Bowen Yang character. That worked for me just once.
- Wow, overall, this was just pointless and dull. Failed attempt at random, absurd humor.
- This episode isn’t starting off hot so far.
Rating: *1/2
Ferry Altercation
traffic causes tension between (MID) & (host)
- Wow, the night keeps getting worse then, huh? Like I said when they brought this back in the awful Martin Short episode, you just cannot recreate this premise again. Its freshness and originality were why it worked so incredibly well the first time.
- I have been positive on him, and I still love the guy, but stuff like this is why I sure hope Mikey Day is out (and Chloe Fineman, too – did you all know she is not a nobody? Just ask her!)
- The Kenan part at least was interesting. He’s been all over this episode so far.
- The random Colin Jost usage was cute, as Colin always is in his rare non-Update appearances. Yet, it feels very inside and I’m so tired hearing about that fucking ferry of his. We had a full-on desk piece a few seasons ago about it, for crying out loud.
Rating: **
Forever 31
clothing line to keep you at 31 years-old
- I got a laugh from the visual of Chloe awkwardly dancing at the start of this.
- Is that Heidi doing the voiceover work? If so, that’s yet another example of how underrated she is in such a capacity. She is really elevating her lines in this.
- A fine premise, even when it feels we are getting a bit too many commercials on the show with similar style. This whole “so relatable” style gets tired after a while.
- I do like the structure of the pretape, as overlong as these pieces often are, and especially some of the visuals, such as Ashley in that oversized coat.
Rating: ***
Two Bitches vs. a Gorilla
two women (host) & (EGN) attempt fighting a gorilla
- Wow, a first person POV sketch? Since when did we get those of late on SNL? This reminds me so much of stuff you would see on In Living Color or MADtv. Debra Wilson would’ve aced such a sketch.
- Very fun & fitting pairing of Ego and Quinta. I also love their energy in this.
- This is such a dumb sketch, but Ego & Quinta are carrying it for me. I admit also laughing at that GloRilla reference as well.
- Even in a small role, JAJ gives it his all. I also like that voice he is using. Pretty sure he never did it before.
Rating: ***
Musical Performance – “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else”
- A very fun way to involve the host in the musical performance, and Benson Boone is one that is ideal for such a change of pace, with how out of the ordinary his performances are always staged.
Weekend Update
MIL talks about Real ID
Applebee’s barflies (BOY) & (SAS) on bankruptcies
- This whole “oh hell no!” bit was fine. It isn’t as funny as “Hear Me Out”, but it is OK.
- Nice to see Michael Longfellow keeping up a quietly solid back half, as he finally gets another desk piece.
- I’m enjoying this piece so far. Michael is so damn charismatic as himself, which bewilders me why he often is underused.
- I laughed more at that penis bullet line due to that lady in the audience’s shocked reaction than Michael’s still-solid delivery. She did NOT expect that line.
- An OK mention of how underused Michael is on the show, as overused as SNL’s meta jokes are, this one worked for me.
- I’m surprised how long this Update piece has been going, but I’m liking it, Michael is funny as always, and the interactions between Colin and Michael are fun.
- An overall good desk piece from Michael.
- Blah at this Bowen/Sarah piece so far. Pure indulgence with endless cracking up from both, especially Bowen, whom I sure hope is out two weeks from now, but I’m not exactly sure if he’ll ever leave.
- At least Benson Boone came off adorable once again, as he did well in his whole part in this. It also helps that he looked really good in that getup.
Rating: ***1/2
Addicts Anonymous
a man (KET) loses control during AA meeting
- Kenan’s big night continues. It is nice to see him in an actual role here and not some of his tired tropes.
- I got a big laugh from Kenan enquiring Marcello where to buy his drugs. A great little moment Kenan always makes funny.
- Kenan is very fun in this part, and while this sketch seems rather thin on surface, as Kenan’s character enquires where to get drugs, he is making it work. The writing is also good, with some funny lines here and there.
- I just love the whole Kenan/Quinta portion in this sketch. This whole piece is running on a solid premise, and Kenan is perfect for this part. Easily one of his best in an otherwise forgettable season for him.
Rating: ***1/2
Musical Performance – “Mystical Magical”
The Greats
boxing pioneer (host) suffered many injuries
- Quinta always makes drag roles come off very funny, which is more than female cast members have done over the years, besides Amy Poehler, in my view.
- WTF with the random Jane in drag role? Did they really desperately needed to have her in anything tonight? She is given almost always either silent or nothing roles, outside of her Update shtick.
- A great utilization of JAJ in this “Glue” role and I love his delivery throughout this sketch. Very Phil Hartman-esque, in my view. I might be thinking of stuff like that great Wolfman/Edison sketch from season 16.
- This in some ways reminds me of the Conan sketch from season 26 when he also played a boxer that would constantly be beaten up. This is taking a different route and I also love how more and more down Quinta’s character is after every fight. The excellent, subtle delivery from JAJ is also helping the premise work. He is quietly truly holding this sketch together and elevating it.
- I loved the whole phone part. Quinta was excellent in this. Easily her best utilization tonight.
Rating: ***1/2
Goodnights
Segments Ranked from Best to Worst
The Greats
Addicts Anonymous
Weekend Update
Executive Orders
Forever 31
Two Bitches vs. a Gorilla
Monologue
Will & Todd’s Radical Experience
Ferry Altercation
Leadership Summit
OnlySeniors
Final Thoughts:
- While not exactly a terrible episode, this was by far my least favorite episode this entire back half. Lots of forgettable and, at times, awful material dominating the show’s first half, and despite some good stuff with Update onwards, there was nothing I felt deserved more than ***1/2, for the billionth episode this season.
- Quinta Brunson herself certainly committed, gave several strong performances, was utilized well, but compared to how many great, memorable highlights (and performances) her first episode had, this one was unfortunately milder in that aspect as well. I still would love to see her occasionally host every few seasons, as she is a real pro and elevates the material.
- I’d at least like to mention Benson Boone, while I’m not exactly a listener of his, I really enjoyed his energy tonight, especially the very fun way his first musical performance began.
My Favorite Moments of the episode, Represented with Screencaps:
Up Next:
- Walton Goggins / Arcade Fire
My full set of screencaps from this episode is here
WE’RE BACK (I’m gonna stop doing this lol)
Overall, I’m kinda mixed on this one. I think this was a consistently good episode. There was some solid highlights throughout, and the only 2 sketches I didn’t care for were just sub-par, rather than flat-out bad. But, for some reason, there was a weird, low-energy, empty vibe throughout the show that I didn’t really like.
I think the audience contributed to that, as they were really quiet for a majority of the night, and many big laugh lines either got very little, or straight up NOTHING.
It also felt like a majority of the cast didn’t appear much throughout the show. Bowen and Marcello, two very popular cast members didn’t do much in this one.
Another issue I have with this one was Quinta. It might be the fact I had high expectations for her, since she was very solid in her first hosting stint. But I don’t know man, something was off with her performances throughout the show. She got good laughs, but it felt like she wasn’t fully committing, even in the few sketches where she could shine. Her performances honestly matched the low-energy vibe that the audience had throughout.
Forever 31 was my favorite sketch in the episode. It was a very funny concept, and was executed well.
The Greats was pretty one-note, but JAJ and Quinta elevated it with great performances. But the audience was dead throughout, and it kinda hurt the energy. (Something that was a recurring theme for MANY other pieces throughout the show)
Will and Todd’s Radical Experience was a great lead-off sketch, with Kenan and Quinta being a great duo here.
Blah blah blah, Update was very good again, blah blah blah, the commentaries were fun, blah blah blah. Ok here’s something new I have to say about Update, Colin’s “Oh Hell No!” segment was HILARIOUS. It might honestly be my favorite moment from Colin all season.
Longfellow’s commentary was funny, as expected. He seemed to be having a lot of fun here, and his dig as his lack of screen time was very funny (I couldn’t help but feel bad though).
I know you’re not on Twitter anymore, Blood. But ever since I think around the time of his commentary in the Dave Chappelle episode, SNL twitter stans have been VERY vocal in believing that Longfellow should take over Update after Colin and Che leave. So I’m curious on your thoughts about Longfellow anchoring Update, and if he’d do well. I’m personally in the middle. I do think Longfellow would be a fine anchor, but I also think that he would need to co-anchor with someone, instead of solo. I also feel like if he was solo, he would get one-note very quickly. I’m not sure who he would co-anchor with, but I’d prefer it over him solo.
The cold open was carried by JAJ being fantastic as always, and writing in particular felt better than usual for these opens. And that’s saying something, as these were already good before. It was also kept at a good length, which is something that is rare for these cold opens.
The monologue started off with some strong jokes by Quinta, but then it went into a musical number out of nowhere. It was still fun though, despite unnecessary cameos from Sabrina Carpenter and Dwayne Wade.
Leadership Summit was a fun ensemble piece, with a great straight man performance from Emil. Kenan was doing a very Kenan role here, but he made it funny, like always.
The only 2 sketches I didn’t care for was Traffic Altercation 3, and 2 Bitches vs a Gorilla.
Traffic Altercation didn’t need to be reprised, and it honestly felt insanely dull. The dull feeling was increased by the dead audience throughout. But the ending with Colin was hilarious, and bumped up the sketch a little bit for me.
2 Bitches vs a Gorilla simply just went on too long. It would’ve been fine if it just got the joke over with, but it got really one-note towards the end.
Ha, Benson Boone with those damn backflips. Benson was a fun presence throughout, with his musical performances and his appearance on Update. I think if he ever does double duty, I’d welcome it. I think he’d be very similar to Justin Timberlake as a host. Very fun and game, but also very pandering. Unlike other people, I like Timberlake as a host, so I probably wouldn’t mind Benson as a host either.
Overall, good episode here, but had an off vibe throughout, still liked it enough though.
First off I just wanna say hey Blood, first time I think all season I’ve commented on one of your blogs for season 50 and just decided to do this one because, well, why not.
This overall episode I think was just decent. Nothing really impressed me but nothing really made me angry either. Quinta did her expected good job of hosting and I can easily see her being someone who frequently hosts in the upcoming years.
I do agree with you that I didn’t really care for the kind of predictable premise of the Bill and Ted sketch, it was very been there done that despite some occasional funny lines from Kenan and Quinta.
And I wouldn’t necessarily say I disagree with you on your reading for only seniors as it’s another done this 1 million times premise where there’s nothing really new to add, but I am very surprised you gave it one star as to me it was just dull.
I actually liked the leadership summit as it was a good ensemble piece with I feel everyone giving their time to shine. I also really enjoyed Emil as a straight man here even though I feel he’s getting a little too many of those roles and would like to actually see him be funny in a sketch.
While I understand the rating for the traffic altercation reprise, I enjoyed it mainly thanks to Colin randomly being there at the end.
(Looks like I have more disagreements than I thought with you lol)
The one disagreement I had with you in terms of you liking something and me not (and seems like most people like this too) Addicts Anonymous as I just found Kenan’s character super annoying here and I felt like another Kenan character he’s done a handful of times and honestly felt like there was barely any redeeming factors to this, that said though, I don’t think it’s bad just kinda meh.
But like I said overall, just an OK episode not one I’m gonna remember when the season’s over, very solid review from you and maybe I’ll do another one of these. See you till then!
As always, another great review from you Blood!
I agree that this episode was easily the weakest of the back half of this season. The writing felt very lacking and many of the sketches felt like they were trying to coast off of the commitment of Quinta and/or the usual Kenan schtick. And both could only go so far.
I’m a bit surprised at your one star rating of the OnlySeniors short. I personally didn’t really feel they were going for a dark or uncomfortable vibe (I mean, okay, elderly people doing sexual stuff is uncomfortable, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary for SNL) nor did I get the vibe that someone was trying to write their unprocessed sexual hangups with this. I see this as nothing more or less than satirizing how easily some people lap up content on OnlyFans. I enjoyed Kenan and Quinta’s lines and delivery in this and, while it’s nothing special and will probably be forgotten by me in a couple of days, it gave me a few laughs, even if this is the sort of premise that SNL has done quite a bit before and in a better way.
Leadership Summit sums up all the problems with the writing of this era at its worst. It’s confused, muddled, and seemingly trying to go for random absurdist humor, but winds up missing the mark and instead just seemingly relies entirely on certain performers being “wacky” to carry the sketch. And I certainly don’t need to see any more of Marcello or Bowen being wacky. Easily my least favorite sketch of the night and the one I’d say came closest to being flat out terrible.
The night definitely got better from Update onwards (I even enjoyed the Sarah and Bowen bit fine enough, though I can see where you’re coming from with your criticisms), but even then, nothing really rose above the level of fine/decent. The performers were good and gave it their all and it definitely elevated the material, but there was still a certain “X factor” holding many of these sketches back. The crowd being mostly dead certainly didn’t help, even though at times, especially in the first half, that deadness was well deserved. That said, this is a recurring issue with this season as a whole, especially in the first half of it: there’s a vibe of everyone just kind of going through the motions and many of these sketches just came and went with no impact on me. I won’t be surprised if I remember nothing from this episode in a few days.
All that said, Quinta was once again an outstanding host and committed and game throughout. I can absolutely see her becoming a future Five Timer. She’s just so good. Shame she didn’t have a better episode this time around, but that’s par for the course for SNL at times.
Gonna do something different and say how I would’ve made sketches better:
Executive Orders
Change it to where trump is talking to his supporters and they all bite their teeth about tariffs and the economy. Also have JAJ Slur his words.
Monologue
Quinta says how she would’ve given a graduation speech in Alabama
Will & Todd
They try to get all of the people to go back in the Capsule instead of just Frederick Douglas and Tubman
OnlySeniors
Do something like Gal Gadot’s episode and instead of Sex they have to eat pickles or spin in a chair. Maybe even have Kenan be named Grady Wilson?
Leadership Summit
Get blander with the Positives and more personal with the negatives (I may be speaking from experience). Also have everyone do it instead of just going to Kenan and Marcello and Bowen for a punchline
Ferry Altercation
SCRAP IT and replace it with Tesla interviewing Celebrities for a new CEO (Impression Showcase)
Forever 31
Change it to Forever MAGA or Forever Canada?
Two Gals Vs A Gorilla
Change it to 3 Valley Girls Vs A Gorilla? Maybe add Ashley/Jane as a 3rd Valley Girl?
Applebee’s Barflies Change it to Ashley similar to her Joann character but as a Hostess/ Change it to Jane as a character who was there when her dad drank at the bar?
Addicts Anonymous
Make it like AA with Kristen Stewart where they’re talking about crazy drug stories
The Greats
Have Quinta play a Woman, Have Jane in the Kenan Role, Have Devon in the Jane role and have Squirm in the Devon Role.
Nylan h already said this, but the “tall guy” is Dwayne Wade, though I didn’t exactly know that until Quinta said so.
Thanks as always. This is an episode I liked a little more after reading various reviews and comments, but your reviews are often where I most connect with sentiments I can’t quite put into words myself. The biggest this week is that OnlySeniors pre-tape, which I did not like at all, and you express why many times over. As you said, it represents so much of the worst of pre-tapes for modern SNL. While watching SNN I saw that they mentioned a Please Don’t Destroy pre-tape was cut (and as of my typing still hasn’t been uploaded). I don’t know how much Lorne and co have turned against PDD to put this bloated and confused wankfest on the air instead.
There’s been a certain flatness through this back half of the season (the first half was, for me, worse overall, but also had a bit more life – what a strange show SNL always is), which sometimes can be hidden by a host (like Jack Black) and more often can’t. An episode like this is where one of the “just like the cast” hosts can be a double-edged sword. I appreciate how many times Quinta was willing to not take big parts in order to showcase cast members (this was clearest in the drug sketch with Kenan – overall the best sketch of the night), but other moments, especially the monologue, I kept wondering if they had no real confidence in her.
(speaking of that monologue, the lack of response to Dwayne Wade is just another reminder that the studio audience, and much of their audience, is never going to be what the show wants it to be…still, I’d rather see him again than Sabrina Carpenter, who reminds me more of one of the women on Hard Copy or A Current Affair in 1992 every time I see her))
The boxing sketch was the sketch that truly allowed her to shine. She took a premise that felt very early ’00s SNL and made it her own, bringing in a great deal of pathos where I felt more sad than amused. That isn’t a bad thing, as I appreciate seeing different flavors on a very formulaic show. That’s also why even though the gorilla sketch wasn’t great, I’m very glad it got on, as compared to modern SNL it was trying something different and was a chance for Ego to get out of her usual parts in what may easily be one of her final episodes.
Speaking of final episodes, I do think Emil is also going, even though he doesn’t deserve it. At least he is getting a few parts instead of being fully shut out beyond mute roles, unlike Aristotle, Lauren Holt, Molly, etc. at the end.
I didn’t love the Bill and Ted sketch, as it needed more heft in the back half. Maybe have the characters, like Julius, fight more to not return to their times – maybe they would kill Bill and Ted and the end would show how they’d changed the world [possibly a final shot of Devon’s character, now having horns or been replaced by some kind of evil space alien – I don’t know]. Still, I found the performances adequate enough, and Andrew’s Keanu wasn’t too bad. If this is also his last season, as I suspect, it’s not exactly the role I wanted to watch, but I’ll never say no to him getting lead parts all the way to the end. Never thought we’d be here in season 48.
I share your views of the car reprisal. I did enjoy the end. I shouldn’t have, as I’m not a big devotee of SNL meta, but Colin was so gleeful in sending up his ferry folly, I couldn’t resist. He was also clearly loving his likely last days at the desk. I know I should find this smug or entitled, terms often thrown around about him (often deservedly), but I just can’t. I was, several days ago, watching the Amy Schumer Update from 48, and both Jost and Che acted like zombies. He’s much more invested as we say goodbye (and Che is too, for all his grumbling and played out catchphrases).
I enjoyed Bowen in the meeting sketch. I zoned out of most of the sketch, but that character was used very effectively, as he was in the plane sketch in early season 49. He’s much better showcased in small doses than in that gigglefest with Gosling last season.
The Bowen and Sarah Update piece wasn’t awful, but I zoned out of that too. I also got the sense that they were trying to show us who our new star team will be as a number of cast file out. (I hope I’m wrong as I really want Bowen to leave). I rolled my eyes at the “edgy” moment where Bowen half-assed a homophobic slur. As he was recently asking why SNL can’t use profanity, clearly this is a cause for him. That he thinks “ironic” homophobia is some big revolutionary moment for SNL reinforces for me, along with his love for the likes of Gays in Space, that he is still stuck in the Tina Fey era of the show. It’s time to move forward, instead of exhuming James Anderson-style writing for gay men decade after decade. And if you want to say the word, then just fucking say it. Seemingly everyone else is these days if you go by social media.
I’m so glad Michael got his confidence back after last season. I’m not sure what it says that I have no idea if he is coming back either, after he’s delivered great moments several times over this season and has such a compelling, charismatic style. He threads the needle between arrogant and innocent in a way few SNL players can. I don’t care if he’s anchor or not, I just hope he comes back.
Last and definitely not least – I probably should have more issues with the Trump takes than I do, especially the continued use of him rattling off one-liners compared to the puddle that the man currently is. It’s just tough because JAJ is so terrific. He does the most with whatever he’s given, and his sharp writing breathes new life into a limited format. What I took away most in this past episode is the utter sincerity JAJ brings to his work as Trump. It’s almost impossible to not play such a central role year in and year out and not become a bit smug, no matter how even keeled you are. Carvey did, Ferrell did, and so on. Maybe because the show doesn’t ever give JAJ the star treatment, he hasn’t gotten to that level of loftiness, but whatever the reason is, his natural touch still shines even in the ugliest of times with this country.
Emil gives me “Seth Meyers in his final season doing regular sketches” vibes, with his constantly playing lots of bland straight man roles most of the time in sketches. He was particularly channeling him in that meeting sketch.
Hey, I’m late but at least I’m here.
First observation – boy, people LOVE handicapping potential cast departures. We are OBSESSED. I wonder how silly some of the comments will look a year from now when 85% of the cast has stayed.
Second, overall, one of those ho hum episodes that doesn’t really bottom out (that’s where I disagree with Blood), but doesn’t really ascend in any way either (that’s where I agree with Blood).
The strength of the night was the entirety of Update, which saw Jost and Che delivering a strong set of jokes (just ignore the moribund audience) and Jost leaning into his very best version. Longfellow, a natural successor to the Update throne, was a joy to watch in his rambling, discursive commentary. Bowen and Sarah had a generally agreeable vamp themselves. What can I say? The “Asian Glaze” joke got me.
The pre-tapes were a good idea (Forever 31) and a marginal idea (Only Seniors) stretched out two minutes past their respective best before dates. I thought Only Seniors was more dull than truly abhorrent and I don’t really see the sexual hang-ups that Blood is prescribing to the piece, but it was undeniably a low point for the episode.
The Bill and Ted parody had the potential to be a lot of fun (because the Bill and Teds franchise is really fun – sorry Blood) and I enjoyed the performances, but I have to agree that the entire premise felt like extremely well-worn material for SNL.
The Two Bitches had “calamity” written all over it, but some performers just have the ability to make the audience feel secure. Ego is that cast member. It doesn’t really matter how “Finesse Mitchell” a sketch feels – Ego can land it. I also give it bonus points for simply looking and feeling different than most modern SNL.
The Addictions sketch was a bit of a surprise – a fine performance by Kenan attached to a strong, slightly edgy concept. On a better episode this would have been some agreeable filler, but here it stands out.
The boxing thing was just that old Conan bit but with more telling than showing. That said, Quinta in a mustache is entirely funny.
It’s hard to go back to a sketch like Traffic Altercation, because everything that seemed fresh and inspired in the first version now just feels rote. That’s the complaint about all these types of sketches, but these repetitions just drain all the ingenuity out. That said, the performances are lively and the inclusion of Colin makes this a salvageable enough entry into a well-tapped sketch.
The compliment sandwich thing was very reminiscent of the airplane and HR sketches from last season’s Bargatze and Gillis episodes. On paper, I thought it was perfectly fine, but it undeniably lacked a little bit of the pop those other sketches had. I think one of the issues is that this one felt even more distracted by all the “other stuff.” These sketches are really fun games, but I don’t really like them as backdoor character introductions.
Anyways, so so episode. Frankly, I’m kind of whatever on what the final episodes have to offer us. If John is right and…everyone…is leaving, we might have some fun here, but I doubt we lose any more than three people. SNL has surprised me before (2022, anyone?), but I’m not sure two mass exoduses in three years is really that likely.
You have to keep in mind those 2022 departures were actually delayed several seasons due to Covid happening. Several players said they would’ve left after S45 had Covid not happened, such as Kate & Aidy. I imagine Cecily as well as she had a really reduced airtime that season IIRC while Ego & Heidi began to gain steam in the back half. So, it isn’t really two exoduses in three years, but more of the usual 5-6 years, when you keep in mind the Covid factor.
Yes, that, and also that, presumably, Jost & Che and Mikey were planning on leaving in ’23 but didn’t due to the writers strike so then they stayed along for the 50th, and now Heidi and Chloe would be joining their departures.