He’s joined by musical guests Black Star, a.k.a.
Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli.
The pride of Silver Spring, Md.
Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey of Black Star, Dave Chapelle, and Ego Nwodim.Rosalind O’Connor/NBC
Our favorite show has bumbled its way into a culture war.
Hello, folks, it’sSNLin Reviewtime.
I am joined tonight by formerSNLcast member Gary Kroeger.SNLboycotts are fairly rare, give or take a Nora Dunn.
Of course, he adds: “Eddie Murphy rode to the rescue and hosted the show.”
Cold open
Here we go it’sFox & Friends.
Heidi Gardner and Mikey Day are joined by Bowen Yang as Brian Kilmeade.
“What happened to that red wave?”
Cecily Strong is back as Kari Lake, the far-right Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona.
She oscillates on whether she is making an allegation of voter fraud.
Next up: James Austin Johnson as a man named Trump.
This segment grapples with the GOP’s disappointing election results this week.
This sketch ends with Kari Lake replacing Gardner in the studio.
I like the concept, but the execution is a tad awkward.
Overall, a tad on the lame side.
Monologue
Chappelle comes out to music and applause.
(Ye also performed inBlock Party.)
It is glaring for Chappelle to discuss Ye’s cancellation while mostly ignoring his own controversy.
He seems to nod to his critics at the very end.
He labels Trump an “honest liar” and recalls his original debate performance.
This gets a huge laugh.
Next up: Trump stealing classified documents as well as the war in Ukraine.
Kroeger notes: “I’ve learned to never try and predict a Chappelle monologue.
His gift, like only a few others, is his clarity.
He is a genuine comedic monologuist.
He is topical without the constraints of being ‘topical.'”
Kroeger adds, “I don’t look for things I approve of or don’t approve of.
Comedy is a personal taste, and satire has personal parameters.
There will always be things one person likes and another hates.
There will always be things one person finds offensive and another doesn’t.
I like comedy to stand apart, as best it can.”
At 16 and a half minutes, Chappelle’s monologue back in 2020 was one of the longest inSNLhistory.
A lot to unpack, but as Kroeger says, no one does it quite like Chappelle.
This tickles the vapid (white) talk show hosts.
Even the weather girl and sports anchor get in on the puns, it’s all goofy fun.
Until Hawkins reveals the awful truth about the slave origins of potato holes.
They’re a symbol of oppression.
Lorne Michaels has secured a preview for the new season.
Donnell Rawlings and Ice-T appear alongside Chappelle reprising their characters from"The Playa Haters’ Ball.
“Chappelle’s Rick James also appears Chappelle is going back to the hits.
Man, those characters were alongtime ago.
Look, there’s Tyrone Biggums too why?
Not sure we needed this, particularly since we got a similar box-checking retread that spoofedThe Walking Deadin 2016.
Skip this unless you’re aChappelle’s Showcompletist or really loveGame of Thrones.
Today they’re focusing on Kanye West, Stacey Abrams, COVID-19, and other topics.
He hopes he is not offending anyone.
Black Star perform “So Be It”
Black Star are one of hip-hop’s great duos.
Back then they embodied pure artistry.
Rawkus Records was the ultimate stamp of approval for a suburban fan such as myself.
Anyway, flash forward: Their second album,No Fear of Time, was only released in May.
“Brooklyn’s finest,” as Chappelle says.
(Both rappers performed onChappelle’s Showback in the day too.)
Weekend Update
Latino voters turned out huge on Tuesday.
Jose Suarez (Marcello Hernandez) wants to run for president one day, he’s inspired.
“Everything is basically fine” would be his campaign slogan.
To him, people need to stop complaining.
He grew up in Cuba without Wi-Fi they had real troubles back then.
Sarah Sherman also shows up to spoof “Update” with “Sarah News”!
She wants more jokes about her and less focus on boring topics like the midterms.
This is so refreshing and funny!
I hope it’s an audition for a post-Jost/Che “Update.”
Believe the podcast stans noted this segment was cut from last week’s episode.
Glad it made it back on, it was clever.
Watch this segment for sure.
He is increasingly uncomfortable saying these culturally specific lines.
I do like the breaking of the fourth wall here, as Day and Chappelle keep interrupting the proceedings.
But it’s not as natural or organically funny as it should be.
“You were onWild ‘n Outseason 1!”
That’s a cute call-out.
Produced by Madlib, it was released last year.
Good percussion, sharp lyrical content.
“Sexual chocolate!”
Bey says at the end of the performance.
like Don’t Destroy Election Night
Somehow Molly Kearney finds herself running for attorney general of Ohio.
Steve Kornacki makes a cameo.
“I gotta stop tweeting drunk!”
Strong Farley energy, crossed with Andy Milonakis.
There’s only one thing to do: Declare fraud.
This is cute, I especially like Sarah Sherman playing Kearney’s campaign-approved wife.
Final thoughts
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