And Hozier returned as musical guest.
Holly jolly holiday greetings, Conehead nation - itsSNL in Review: the 50th season anniversary recap.
The show that is closing out 2024.
Martin Short delivers his ‘Saturday Night Live’ monologue.Saturday Night Live
The show that unofficially rests one era of American politics, and beckons the next Trump term.
Oh, and it isMartin Shorts official entrance intothe Five Timers Club.
Short has specialized in December host gigs since he co-hosted with hisThree AmigospalsChevy ChaseandSteve Martinway back in 1986.
His last hosting gigwas also with Martin, also in December.
Now, he is a member.
Saturday Night Live
I am joined tonight by the best of the best, formerSNLcast member Gary Kroeger.
He recalls that he “first met Marty atSNLin 1984.
If you have to replace Eddie Murphy, that’s a pretty good line up.
I hadn’t been watchingSCTVin recent years and didn’t know Marty’s work very well.
Well, long story short I quickly realized that Marty was brilliant and there would be no competition.
Ed Grimley paved the way to an understanding that Martin Short lives in another dimension.
I was happy just having the best seat in the house.”
He was a real human being, empathetic, always giving whatever time was asked of him.
Needless to say, I admired him very much.
After that season, I only saw Marty atSNLreunion shows, and one time around 2003.
He gave me a warm hug and he told me about Jiminy.
He looked at me as if I was being sarcastic, but I wasn’t.
Hozier is our musical guest tonight - scroll down to read the recap!
Cold Open
Cameo overload!
As expected, Short gets inducted into the Five Timers Club - this time fromTom HanksandPaul Rudd!
Short and Rudd do the famous “Youre Great!”
handshake -Tina FeythenAlec Baldwinfollow.Scarlett Johanssonasks Hanks whether his gift this year is another book on World War II.
He meekly replies, No, outer space.
With that, her Bridesmaids co-star Melissa McCarthy appears, as does Emma Stone.
I love McCarthys pratfall.
Shorts old FOX sitcom co-star John Mulaney says congratulations, and they joke about the shows failure.
Want a self-deprecatingJimmy Falloncameo?
Monologue
Short jokes about Matt Gaetz and being forced to play an elf ten times tonight.
He says he and Lorne are like Trump and Elon Musk without the sexual tension.
Shorts lucky number is 5.
He is a Five-Timer, and they are starting the fifth season ofOnly Murders in the Building.
Sarah Shermancomes out, she is full of holiday dread.
She is joined by other cast members, who ask that he cheers them up.
This triggers a fun song about anxiety this time of year.
I love this because he moves around the studio - reminds me of the classic monologue songs of yore.
(We even get a Lorne cameo!
Though, I dont recall any Fallon kisses back then.)
“Dont smoke snow!”
But he always knew when to stop short.
(I asked him what his favorite SNL Christmas moment was and he adds: no favorite Christmas memory.
That sketch still makes the rounds.)
“Parking Lot Altercation”
The universal language of parking lot frustration!
This is a repeat of the 2023 sketch whereMikey DayandQuinta Brunsonhad a traffic altercation.
She decides to give Ricardo a fresh start - a shave, a gold watch.
She takes him out to dinner.
Heres the pay-off - its Christmas Eve and she has missed her family!
Her husband (Day) calls upset, and Kenan only escalates things.
A funny riff on good intentions, with a mean final line about Fox News tossed in.
Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Paul Rudd cameo.
This basic template has been seen a few times, so meh.
He welcomes a group from Turkey.
Hozier performs “Too Sweet”
Gary Kroeger shares: Iloveme someHozier!
‘Take Me To Church got my attention years ago.
I love the Irish tradition as it blends into rock.
Van Morrison comes to mind in that vein.
Too Sweet is on my personal A rotation!"
“Weekend Update”
Bowen Yang playsa New Jersey droneand belts out a huge show stopper!
Jost is at a loss for words.
After Che tells a dark joke about suicide, Jost announces it is time for them tojoke swap!
Buckle up - and get ready for a ScarJo cameo!
Meanwhile, Che defends Jay Z and Diddy!
I feel like I have a bad seat and can’t hear from the crowd.
Youthful high spirits become depressing under such circumstances."
Similar vibes, with Dana Carvey popping up for good measure.
Rudd enters from the audience.
His characters English is very good luck!
- he missed his flight home and coming to this was his ticket.
The song is an Irish folk-style ballad and was written as a duet.
Bill Murray memorably sang it in his 2015 Netflix specialA Very Murray Christmas.
I like Dismukes as Schroeder.
Final thoughts
“What did YOU think of the Martin Short SNL?
“See you in 2025!
