Zoe Kravitz on SNLPhoto: NBC
The standout sketch from this week’s Saturday Night Live, hosted by Batman star Zoë Kravitz and featuring musical guest Rosalia, is, as I said in my episode review, “an instant classic destined for compilations.” It’s also one of the best SNL commercial parodies in recent memory, an ad for Amazon Go, an online monolith convenience store chain where you can simply scan your ID at the entrance, select the items you want, and then exit without interacting with the checkout. or other payment device. What you choose is simply automatically paid by your Amazon account. Simple enough, right?
“Just take what you want, put it in your bag and go!” the commercial voice-over speaks brightly.
Unfortunately, one demographic may have an understandable problem with this policy.
“Oh, you want me to just take something and leave?” asks the character played by Kenan Thompson. “No, son.”
But it’s so convenient! says the voice-over, brightly again.
“Nice try,” Thompson counters.
The announcer explains that this innovation is possible thanks to artificial intelligence and sensor technology.
So where do you pay? says the matron type played by Punky Johnson.
“You do not know!” – the announcer replies fervently.
“No, I am. I always cry! Who do you think I am?” Johnson proclaims.
Meanwhile, a young woman (Kravitz) asks her boyfriend (Andrew Dismuks) to take her favorite kombucha off the shelf. “I am learning,” he says.
“Come on,” voice-over nudges a reluctant Kenan Thompson. “Leave. Just go.” Finally, he leaves, holding up a bag of chips and cash, insisting on leaving a few dollars (“tips,” as he calls it).
The show also boasted some other highlights, such as the cold opening of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and a failed game show.