Many of youagreed with methatlast week’s episodewas a pleasant rebound from aclunky, awkwardseason premiere.
Numbers don’t lie.
Longevity and lore, folks.SNL50.
Ariana Grande on ‘SNL’.Saturday Night Live/YouTube
Grande last appeared onSNLa few months back but as the musical guest.
She has hosted before though, back in season 41.
(TheTidal breakdown sketchremains a late period classic.
Her with Ariana hosting is appointment television for me."
Stay tuned for more below!
We have former cast member Gary Kroeger also bringing some quotables on this momentous night and season.
Kaitlan Collins (Chloe Fineman) is over at CNN.
She describes Donald Trump’s fear of facing off against Kamala Harris except forFamily Feud!
Steve Harvey asks Harris what she keeps in her glove compartment.
After spewing her boilerplate stump speech, Harvey cajoles her to say “glock.”
That is a shame.
Doug Emhoff has expressed approval ofAndy Samberg’s impression so has Kamala Harris regarding Rudolph’s portrayal of her.
I asked Gary Kroeger if Samberg’s take is too soft.
The fact that Emhoff liked Samberg’s impression is nice, I think.
One point: She is just here to host, stay low key and NOT sing.
With that, she immediately breaks out into song.
And yes, she impersonates Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and Gwen Stefani during her number.
As noted earlier, she did this in 2016 in an actual sketch.
With modernSNL, though, it’s just a box they check.
Grande and Bowen Yang have a nice moment commenting onWicked.
She summons a chorus line of dancers at the end of her song for the grand finale.
And thus, a spoof of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” commences.
He grows increasingly concerned.
I like that the singing is a little off-key it’s not supposed to be good.
But wait, Marcello Hernandez makes a surprise appearance as Domingo, too!
“My Best Friend’s House”
This is a Dan Bulla short, folks.
Grande shows up at her best friend’s house, which marks her third time singing tonight already!
She reflects nostalgically on the smell of this home: the brothers deodorant, the dad smelling sauce.
It’s cute, until things take a dark turn.
Seems she missed a few cues.
Sarah Squirm as a severed human head is sly casting.
FYI Bulla has produced severalAdam Sandlerfilms such asThe Ridiculous 6, Murder Mystery,andHubie Halloween.
He has written for the show since 2019 but was just named as the writing supervisor.
The mom (Grande) grows very competitive and mean.
She keeps disparaging Yang.
Clearly, the show sees Yang as its star these days.
There’s a fake body moment, then a polyamorous kiss.
Jane Wickline remains a bit awkward, no?
“They’ll take your soul, they’ll take your power, unless you save it.”
As noted, Nicks first played 8H way back in the early ’80s.
When she came on the scene 10 years earlier, I was in my teens!
Was I a fan of Stevie Nicks?
Of course I was!
She was one of, if nottheGoddess of Rock and Roll.
I was too nervous to say hello.
Only that I was too shy to say anything.
She was terrific on the show."
Sheryl Crow plays guitar and bass, and sings on this track, which she co-produced.
(And yes, she has played at 8H three times.)
More Trump jokes Jost makes a brutal abortion joke, then dings NYC Mayor Adams.
“It’s the ’90s, Colin,” calls back Che (twice).
A few Diddy jokes tonight!
She works so much, she invented her own day, and hooks up with drones.
Pretty funny commentary on the modern tech workforce/economy.
Joel and Liam Gallagher come on to discuss their Oasis reunion.
Tonight they are played by Sarah Sherman and James Austin Johnson.
They discuss what they agree on: cartoons.
Oasis also played 8H back inOctober 1997 with host Matthew Perry.
Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg appear in this sketch.
I have said it before, but these glorified celebrity appearances are not mere guest cameos.
Call them what they are: real cast members!
Dana Carvey, too.
It is not just semantics.
What are we doing here exactly?
They castrated him to perfect his voice for the local royalty (Dismukes).
Antonio appears dead inside, despite the protestations of his parents.
Grande sings Twist and Shout here another sketch where the show leans on her voice.
“Edge of Seventeen” is on the menu, and I know somewhereJoan Cusackis pleased.
I am a fan of this!
Another sign of Nicks' longevity: 45 years ago today, Fleetwood Mac released their albumTusk.
“Maybelline”
Chloe Fineman and Grande perform dueling Coolidge performances via the mirror.
Fineman previously played Coolidge during theAustin Butlerand Aubrey Plaza episodes.
Heres a goofy surprise: Fineman removes the mirror and Dana Carvey appears.
(Reminder: Just call these celeb appearances what they are being part of the cast!)
This one goes on a bit long, for the premise.
“The Hotel Detective”
SNLgoes black and white.
Grande and Johnson spit ’40s dialogue, as they and Dismukes accuse one another of being frauds with badges.
Goofy rat-a-tat deliveries, oh my.
Michael Longfellow “selling” the ending as Rod Serling and commenting onSNLin the process is a curious touch.
Final Thoughts
Welp, how did you feel about this one?Vote here!
Thanks as always to Gary Kroeger!
Check out theThe Gary and Kenny Showon YouTube!
Heres theirlatest episode with Paul Shaffer.
