It’sSNLin Review: theanniversary (recap) season.
As always, honored to have you skimming along.
Last fall’sSaturday Night Liveepisodehost by Nate Bargatzewas a season 49 highlight, in particular the puntasticGeorge Washington sketch.
Nate Bargatze hosting ‘Saturday Night Live’.Will Heath/NBC
This week’s musical guest isColdplay, back for their eighth appearance at Studio 8H.
That’s Foo Fighters and Tom Petty territory.
I am joined tonight by formerSNLcast member Jeff Richards.
He cites the Strokes, Outkast, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band “loved those.”
He also considers Beck and Kylie Minogue to be inspiring.
The cold open was putrid.
Sometimes, I think, comedy premises and sketch structure are helpful tools.
Okay, Conehead nation, read on!
Rudolph fumbles her Bruce Springsteen line but lands the punchline.
I will admit, I am a fan of their 2000s-era chemistry!
They switch the TV to the VP debate.
Jeff Richards “loves Maya like everyone else.
She’s the best ever person and performer.
Her husband, Paul Thomas Anderson, is a close second.
Chloe Fineman is perfectly cast as moderator Margaret Brennan.
Tim Walz (Jim Gaffigan) makes a flub: He’s become friends with school shooters.
He connects with Sen. JD Vance (Bowen Yang), which is baffling.
He’s a knucklehead, he confused Tiananmen Square with Epcot.
Walz and Vance have a lot of common ground, they’re “vibing.”
Yang is nothing like Vance, but his chemistry weirdly works.
(FYI: Jeff Richards is working on his own Tim Walz impression.
And he alreadydoes Jim Gaffigan, for what it’s worth.
We cut back to Dougie and Kamala.
For some reason, Joe Biden (Dana Carvey) shows up in their home.
Still not loving this take, but it’s way better than last week.
To the Harris campaign, that is a huge victory.
Ruling: worth a watch!
Monologue
Bargatze notes that he’s back, then talks about going to community college.
He took all remedial classes one year, zero credits.
His courses included speech, nothing fancy like “business math.”
His pronunciation of “oil” is discussed at length.
And his preferred amount of virgin olive oil no “extra” necessary.
The first time he had a raspberry was at 40 years old.
He didnt see raspberries growing up, he didn’t grow up from money.
(He prefers processed food!
The audacity of DoorDash.
Jeff Richards doesn’t know Bargatze personally but has watched his stand-up before, and thinks he’s solid.
Washington’s Dream 2
We knew they couldn’t avoid scratching this itch.
Gen. George Washington is fighting to do his own thing with the English language.
Like a word for the number 12, a dozen.
Some words you’ve got the option to spell multiple ways.
And the name Jeff.
Err, the stupid way: Geoff.
Chickens are chicken, while beef gets other variations.
(The less said about hamburgers, the better.)
Puns about hot dogs!
The design of the dollar!
But they can’t let characters breathe in new scenarios right?
They make the same exact joke with Kenan Thompson.
I mean, it’s cute.
Watch, if you like puns.
Or watch the first one!
Golf Tournament
We’re on the Golf connection.
Brady Knoll (Bargatze) is taking a par 5 to green.
He takes a drive and smashes a bird likeRandy Johnson.
Knoll proceeds to have a bunch of bad luck with endangered eagles and eggs and iconic snapping turtles.
Lots of Heidi Gardner in the moderator role so far this episode!
Sabado Gigante
Marcello Hernandez gets a star turn!
He is very bad at speaking basic Spanish.
It’s surreal and confounding, including when a child appears as mini-me Bargatze.
In an earlier era, Bargatze’s role would have been played by Louis C.K.
Water Park
There’s a medical emergency at an amusement park water slide.
Should they carry the corpse down the 255 steps, past all the kids?
Or… should they let him go down the water slide?
“He did wait in this long line… seems respectful!”
Wickline is the straight role but does not especially land the dark comedy.
Longfellow is more deadpan, funnier.
This has a bit of a pretty-boy version of a John Lennon song.
For the folks who pretended to love theMusk episode, think about it!
Jost also notes that the VP debate was so white it made him look Haitian.
(Another highlight, the Jimmy Carter joke love theSNLlore here, folks!
The show has been commenting on Carter since the beginning!)
A new study on nightlife found that Gen Z isn’t going out as much.
New cast member Jane Wickline comes on to sing “Party.”
She intends to keep singing, Colin!
Tom Lehrer, anyone?!
“Two claps Che, no claps Jost!”
Mile High Burger Challenge
It’s an uncomfortable conversation: A family’s patriarch has dementia.
Waiter Andrew Dismukes busts out the mile-high burger challenge and milkshake to Heidi Gardner.
The grand prize is a trip to Hawaii.
So the family discusses this serious conversation, juxtaposed with Gardner crushing a huge burger.
She is a “silent resource.”
And yes, last season’sBeavis and Butt-Head sketch.
There’s some breaking here, the show seems to encourage this.
Also a photo finish, the second one tonight (following “Water Park”).
This is the second single off their new album,Moon Music.
Sushi Glory Hole
It’s the return ofthe Lonely Island!
So vintage Kenan Thompson and Maya Rudolph are here, for goodness' sake.
The late 2000s are back!
Just make Sandberg an official cast member at this rate.
A sushi glory hole is the topic of this song, which tracks.
Great to see Akiva Schaffer back!
No just Don’t Destroy?
Well, this is how it’s done.
Coach Alan
Dismukes with another stellar performance.
He’s the head coach of a high school football team trying to inspire his players to victory.
He’s too focused on the logistics!
Final thoughts
Thank you to former cast member Jeff Richards!
Check out hislatest album, damn it!
