Last week’s episode of “Saturday Night Live with Jerrod Carmichael” featured one of the best monologues in a long time, but also a lot of mind-wracking decisions about which skits to air and how to play them before and after. Surely there wouldn’t be any confusion about how to handle Jake Gyllenhaal’s second hosting of SNL this week, right?
What’s the deal for last night’s SNL Cold Open (4/9/22)?
The show continues to try to throw plenty of characters into this season’s cold openings, even in a week like this, when they seem to have just one news event at the heart of the premise: Ketanji Brown Jackson wins US Senate confirmation to become the next Judges of the US Supreme Court.
James Austin Johnson gets a week off from playing Trump (which seems odd even if you type in the year 2022) to play President Joe Biden and congratulate Justice Jackson (Ego Nwodim) in the Oval Office of the White House. Chloe Fineman interrupts to urge the President to his next appointment, but not before his desire to talk about the past rubs off on the judge, who first conjures up the ghost of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Kate McKinnon gets another chance to fire off RBG zingers, including jokes at Ted Cruz’s expense. Kenan Thompson reappears as the late Judge Thurgood Marshall, surprised at how much hasn’t changed; Punkie Johnson’s Harriet Tubman, on the other hand, is amazed at how much has changed; and Chris Redd’s Jackie Robinson warns the racists will likely still be throwing batteries at them. All in all, it’s not just a nod to the nation’s strides in breaking racial barriers, but also how far SNL has come since a 2013 cold open with Kerry Washington in the White House, which saw SNL poking fun at its lack of cast diversity had to do .
How did SNL innkeeper Jake Gyllenhaal fare?
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in new movie Ambulance, but he didn’t even mention it! I’m sorry Michael Bay. No plugs for you. Our man Jake is too busy recalling how he first and last hosted SNL way back in 2007 when he dressed in drag in this monologue for a Dreamgirls part, “and that was actually the least problematic part of this episode.” Jake also disses his job as “a really dumb job. It’s fake and it’s fun and it should be joyful.”
And the guy who says “Mr. Magic” on John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch would be upbeat and musical tonight, singing four different times in the episode, including that monologue – with Chloe, Ego and Cecily Strong supporting him (with their backup pre-show dancer). dresses) to Celine Dion’s It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.
For a guy who said in the monologue that he didn’t want to go Method, he wasn’t asked to portray real people that we would recognize, with two exceptions. The first is this pre-recorded The Property Brothers parody, which stars Jake and Mikey Day as “dream house cousins” who want to give that to a couple played by JAJ and Heidi Gardner. Only mother-in-law Bea (Kate) has other ideas, and the cousins have completely remodeled their home to Bea’s specifications. Even importing Bea’s green electric range and toaster into the kitchen circa 1978. And remove all the bathroom windows so “perverts and traffickers” can’t see Mama Bea “doing her dirt.” Kate knows how to play old lady cray cray. But still. whoops
Mikey is also introducing The Singers Four (Jake, Kate, Cecily, Bowen Yang) for their first major reunion gig in five years, so you’d expect something special. And yet. You dedicate this song to the people in the middle, neither winners nor losers, who might be bad at sex but at least not scared or excited? This sketch, on the other hand, wishes it could be in the middle.
The midnight “Spring Flowers” sketch, on the other hand, wouldn’t be a shrinking violet when it came to getting her shot the way it’s remembered. What about Bowen’s bee limping all four flowers (Jake, Sarah Sherman, Cecily, Chris), a dog peeing on the flowers, Kyle Mooney as an unwanted weed (how much does he star in this meta comment on his role in the show, I’m wondering especially after seeing his once again cropped cut for time). And then there’s Chris’ Blume, a late bloomer looking to make up for lost time. This sketch certainly drew equal parts laughter and groans, but did it deserve it?
This pre-taped portion, meanwhile, felt like a 10-to-1 idea that somehow moved up the ranks as the hour went on. It begins in a women’s restroom with colleagues gossiping. SNL recently filmed a similar sketch in the men’s room, but this time the plot twists as the ladies realize Chucky (yes, the doll from the Child’s Play movies) was in the cubicle overhearing everything. Chucky (Sarah) starts stabbing the ladies (Chloe, Ego, Melissa Villasenor) like Chucky is used to. They are all called to Human Resources where Jake’s character calls them for bullying and stabbing respectively. And everyone hates Janet (Aidy Bryant), who takes notes and eats tuna.
However, the best examples of how great Jake can be came in the last half hour. Cecily Strong plays an anonymous host of “Lights, Camera, Achoo!” and shares a clip of Jake beating Val Kilmer’s version of Doc Holliday. Jake’s Doc Holliday, who has tuberculosis, coughs up blood and sneezes at the bad guys, Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo (Alex Moffat and Andrew Dismukes). And while this sketch drops all sorts of modern references to Pedialyte, CVS, and Valtrex, Jake’s dedication to the character’s resilience stands out in this sketch.
This was followed by this part, in which he read aloud the lyrics from the “Couples Counselor” (Punkie), to which his and Melissa’s characters had their first therapy session, only to find themselves in Punkie’s even more heated conflict with her friend (ego), who threatens to show up and kill her. Luckily, no one gets hurt in this sketch, and after Jake was warned not to raise his voice when reading “gurl,” all is well.
How relevant was musical guest Camila Cabello?
L’Oreal considered booking their ad with Cabello as the company’s spokesperson during the show, so that’s particularly relevant. Though not that important in terms of timing as Cabello is releasing her new album Familia on Friday. Her album release party “broke” TikTok this week. Their performances included two of the album’s new songs.
First came “Bam Bam,” which certainly sounded like an Ed Sheeran song, even though Sheeran didn’t appear. Cabello and her dancers more than made up for it with their energy. Also, their second song was an even bigger deal.
That’s because Willow is on board for Psychofreak, which has so many autobiographical references and meta-metaphors. It’s also a smash hit that’s sure to be a smash hit.
Which sketch will we share: “Why did you like it?”
Speaking of things on SNL that will hit millions of viewers, Kenan hosted a game show with contestants (Chloe, Chris, Jake) who were forced to admit why they really did double-click on certain Instagram photos and accounts. have typed. Chris’ character keeps trying to “overtake” his train. Jake is under more pressure as his girlfriend (Ego) is in the audience admonishing him because they clearly liked the photos they chose for one reason and only one. They hoped someone would see their own kind and want to have sex with them. If anything, the sketch could have hit even harder with a solid escalation of stakes. The closest they got was just a quip, which ended with a possible third-round question: Why did you respond to her Instagram story when you’ve never met her? which unfortunately made me reconsider my use of Instagram. Which is good!
Who stopped in the weekend update?
Just one visit to the update desk this week and it was the two trend forecasters (Aidy and Bowen) reminding us what’s IN and what’s OUT right now. But most importantly, they emphasize what we should stop doing. On the OUTS: jog to Kelly Clarkson (because she’s too busy with her talk show to motivate you); Waiting for your partner in front of the changing room; and before sneezing, making a noise that sounds like an orgasm.
Her catchphrase: “Go to bed, bitch!” Sounds a little menacing, like warning viewers of what’s coming?
Which sketch filled the 10-to-1 slot?
What came out at 12:56 p.m. Eastern was a live sketch, which may or may not have been sponsored by Love’s Travel Stops, and is definitely aimed at the trucker lifestyle. Ego and Kyle play simple roadtrippers who are amazed at what they see inside for sale, but thank god Aidy is there to bring you this Johnny Goblin (Jake ) Truck You, You Truckin’ Truck 42-song CD collection . “Are all these songs about peeing?” asks Kyle. But wait, there’s more! Jake’s Johnny Goblin sings about sticking his hand down his pants after eating Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. He sings with Cecily and Andrew about blowing that horn for the kids and accidentally taking El Chapo (Melissa) with him? it all sounds like Clancy T. Bachleratt and Jackie Snad have found kindred spirits to drive on.
Who was the MVP of the episode?
Kate McKinnon played three big roles in the first half hour but then had the rest of the evening free. You knew Cecile Strong would pop up every time Jake sang. I Nwodim, however, carried the biggest load of the evening, from centering the cold open to instantly supporting Jake in the monologue, balancing the game show sketch and the 10-on-1, and being a key part for two other sketches. Her comedic fingerprints were all over the episode. Unless you want to stop for a moment to give props to Mr. Music himself, Jake Gyllenhaal. Which reminds me that the only way for an innkeeper to do more in a night is to…
Next week when Lizzo is both hostess and musical guest!
Sean L. McCarthy edits the comedy beat for his own digital newspaper, The Comic’s Comic; before that for real newspapers. Based in NYC but travels everywhere for news: ice cream or news. He also tweets @thecomicscomic and half-hour podcast episodes featuring comedians revealing origin stories: The Comic’s Comic Presents Last Things First.