ItsSNLin Review your definitive resource for all things season 49.
Ill always call things as I see them.
Here, nothing is watered down or on the take.
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in their ‘SNL’ opening monologue.Saturday Night Live/YouTube
Thats my promise to you.
Ryan Goslingis back for his third stint as host.
(Of course, he popped up during last weeks monologue as well!)
I am joined tonight by formerSaturday Night Livecast member Gary Kroeger!
Great performance that managed to convey the theme of the film: a discovery of who we really are.
Lets see how they utilize his comedy chops tonight!
Cold Open
Here’s a surprise: the Pentagon.
We’re talking verified alien abductions.
Ryan Gosling has hadanother close encounterand tagging along is hisBarbiecostar, Kate McKinnon.
Yes, Colleen Rafferty returns.
I love recurring characters, folks.
But this aint it.
The repetition of it, the self-satisfied giggles, Kate mugging.
Herlast appearanceas a cast member which used this template was a fitting farewell for Rafferty and Kate.
But, hey, lets focus on the positive: Gosling commenting on his same outfit is funny.
Monologue
The crowd loves Gosling.
You feel that kinetic energy.
Hes here to promoteThe Fall Guy, not joke about Ken.
Okay, well, he’ll talk about it a little bit.
Thats to say: He will sing about it.
Gosling singing a version ofTaylor Swifts All Too Wellis the throw in of stuff that breaks the internet.
(The song plays a role in his new movie, FYI.)
You have to move on, its time, she says.
She nails him with a bottle, then a chair.
Gosling is hilarious this is more my speed!
And Molly Kearney as Einstein while Blunt croons her ownOppenheimer-flavoredAll Too Well is very entertaining.
Its time to say “Farewell to Barbenheimer!”
But…Ken will never die!
Gosling shouts, as extras dance as Oppenheimer and Barbie.
Have I gone too far?
I don’t think anyone literally anyone will disagree.
They may simply add more superlatives.
His comedy is impeccable because it seems effortless, as well.
He doesn’t venture to be funny; he exists inside a comedic premise.
My favorite performance of his has to beCrazy, Stupid, Love.
The Engagement
Goslings Harrison accidentally proposed to his girlfriend (Chloe Fineman) after their dog died.
He regrets it, and confides in whisper to an acquaintance, Brad (Andrew Dismukes).
His plan to get out of it?
Start a new life with a new face in Istanbul.
What will Brad do?!
Click and find out.
Kroeger is a fan of Fineman and Ego Nwodim this season.
Get That Boy Back
The show goesCowboy Carter or is this more Carrie Underwood?
It gets elaborate, enlisting Gosling.
Seeing Marcello kill like this, eclipsing his featured player peers, is wild.
The crowd loves him.
The group of friends wants to hang with a bunch of famed dogs at the club.
The original dog fromBeethoven!
This is goofy but doesnt really click for me.
Is it a menace?
He has a blue shirt and blonde pompadour just like the ’90s MTV icon.
Things naturally escalate and Gardner breaks seeingMikey Days Butthead.
This is extreme breaking, too, not a quick smirk and accidental chuckle.
The show is very amused by itself, I guess with Gosling setting the tone.
I’ve been noticing lately how much I like Mikey Day… Heidi Gardner is emerging, Kroeger said.
Shout out Bobby Hill, by the way King of the Hillneeds its reboot to come out!
Fun fact: Beavis and Butthead onceappeared on Weekend Updateopposite Norm Macdonald back in 1996.
I think they also came on TV Funhouse once when Jon Stewart hosted.
The creator ofBeavis and Butthead, Mike Judge, obviouslycontributed shortstoSNLin the early 90s.
Chris Stapleton “White Horse”
This is Stapletons third time performing on the show.
Kroeger says, I love Chris!
The first time I heard him sing probably onSNL I was blown away by his voice.
I like his kind of country music.
I don’t like all country music.
But I don’t like all rock & roll, either.
Stapleton’s artistry is, to me, a recapturing of authentic country.
Weekend Update
Freemason jokes!
This starts off a bit awkward.Michael Cheis channeling Norm a bit with hisO.J.
Simpsonjoke also his (applause-producing) Mike Johnson one-liner.
Resident boyfriend Michael Longfellow comes on to discuss weaponized incompetence, which was popular on TikTok this week.
This is me… now, he deadpans as J.Lo.
He addresses the women directly, I am sure some members ofSNLTwitter will love this instant meme.
Good to see Longfellow get another decent shot here; his point about duvets hits home!
AnotherColin Jostcallback to his dorky high school years!
But Im burying the lede!
Caitlin Clark appears on Update!
Unlike Che, I support women, Jost says.
Doctor
Gosling andBowen Yangare strange medical professionals comforting a family grieving over the loss of their patriarch.
Chris Stapleton “Mountains of My Mind”
Stapletons latest albumHighercame out in November.
This was the album closer very gentle and soulful.
Erin BrockovichDeleted Scene
TCM is revisiting a scene from the filmErin Brockovich.
Fineman is Erin, with Gosling in the Aaron Eckhart role.
They evenhave the clothes down right!
Twenty-five years ago, Gosling wasnt inErin Brockovichbut he was filmingRemember the Titans!
Final Thoughts
What did you think?
!Vote vote vote!
Gosling is pretty infectious, though the incessant breaking made me roll my eyes.
Huge thank you to Gary Kroeger for his commentary!
If you are in the area, check it out!
(I am sad I missed his recent performance as Dean Martin!)
Last weeks episode was a resounding success, at least in my eyes.
Check out the poll results: almost 1,300 votes with61% selecting A for Kristen Wiig!
