From the cold open to the monologue, the musical guest performances, and the iconic Weekend Update, this column dives deep into every new episode of Saturday Night Live. I’ll be talking about sketches, cast member highlights, the show’s weekly impact, and what might’ve flopped.
A television institution for 50 years, NBC’s Saturday Night Live (SNL) is known for its iconic sketches, celebrity hosts, and consistent structure steeped in tradition. This year, it’s celebrating its 51st season, with the first episode airing on Sept. 27, hosted by Bad Bunny and featuring musical guest Doja Cat.
This episode proved to be a good start to the season. Some of the highlights included “Jeopardy with Bad Bunny” and “Parent Teacher Conference.” “Jeopardy with Bad Bunny,” the first sketch of the night, is about a Jeopardy! game where contestants, Lucas (pronounced “Luck Ass,” played by Kenan Thompson), and Cynthia (Veronika Slowikowska) are taking answers from Duke (Bad Bunny), who struggles to phrase the answers as questions, much to the chagrin of the host (Andrew Dismukes).
I thought the sketch was absolutely hilarious, and it felt surprisingly unique for a usually overdone premise. Bad Bunny played his part perfectly, and Andrew Dismukes really stood out with his encouragement and sarcastic comments. I thought the pronunciation of Lucas was the most underrated part of the sketch since it was said with such seriousness and conviction, and the punchline of Bad Bunny finally getting a question right after saying, “What is The Who?” was the icing on the cake.
The sketch “Parent Teacher Conference” was the second-to-last sketch of the night and was about a kid (Marcello Hernandez) getting in trouble with his teacher (Andrew Dismukes) and the principal (Ashley Padilla) for creating drawings detailing how he’s going to kill the principal. This results in his father (Bad Bunny) coming in to discuss the issue with them.
It takes a turn when the principal develops a crush and goes awry. This sketch was absolutely carried by Padilla, proving what a comedy powerhouse she is. This is only her second season on SNL, but from all of the sketches she’s appeared in, she’s demonstrating how well she fits into the cast and the show. Her delivery is stellar, and although the audience doesn’t seem to appreciate it, I certainly do.
Another highlight of the episode is “Weekend Update.” This is one of, if not my absolute favorite, parts of the entire show. Michael Che and Colin Jost, the segment’s long-running anchors, are absolutely hilarious and deliver their jokes with such ease. They have incredible chemistry and banter that’s especially apparent.
After a long break, Jost and Che are back and just as great as ever. Some of my favorite jokes from the episode include, “The FDA quietly approved a generic abortion pill just before the shutdown, and I don’t have a joke, but whenever I mention a product on the air, they send me a box for free so…,” said by Che, and, “It was reported that Elon Musk has become the first person to be worth more than $500 million. Wow, shoutout to Tylenol,” said by Jost.
“Weekend Update” also includes features by other cast members, and the absolute stand-out was Bowen Yang as Dobby the House Elf discussing J.K. Rowling’s controversial views on trans rights. This was one of, if not the best part of the entire episode. Yang is often known for his iconic appearances at the update desk, and this was no exception. He offered commentary in a clever way, making it seem like he was taking the author’s side while providing passive-aggressive comments.
During the feature, there was also a costume malfunction, and Bowen handled it perfectly, adapting and making it fit seamlessly. Dobby also “hitting his head” on the camera when saying the wrong thing was an amazing touch and a great way to break the fourth wall.
It’s also worth noting Kam Patterson’s appearance at the update desk. As a first-time cast member, he did a great job, and his delivery was well executed. I’m excited to see what he does next!
Some other high points of the episode to mention are the appearance of KPop Demon Hunters in the sketch, “KPop Demon Hunters,” which was very cool to see, and highlights their current cultural impact.
The monologue was very strong, especially the message that Bad Bunny gave to the audience about his Super Bowl performance in Spanish. I also thought the way all of the new cast members appeared in the show was great! Giving them some screen time at the start will help them get more comfortable with the format and find their place on the show.
The musical performances by Doja Cat were also amazing. She performed her songs “AAAHH MEN!” and “Gorgeous.” Although I don’t listen to her music often, I definitely enjoyed her performance and loved the theatricality of it, particularly the Madonna-esque nature of “AAAHH MEN!”
While most of this episode was good, I do think some aspects and sketches fell a bit flat. The first was a 10-to-1 sketch titled “El Chavo Del Ocho (English Version)” which was an homage to the show of the same name. Although it was funny, I didn’t grow up in a Hispanic or Latin household, so I didn’t particularly understand the reference and would’ve enjoyed it much more if I did.
I thought the sketch, “The Donor,” was a bit strange and didn’t particularly land for me. I think it would’ve played better as a 10-to-1. I also think the format of the cold open (a freeze frame with James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump cutting in and breaking the fourth wall) has become a bit repetitive and overused.
The cast members on the show could’ve also been utilized better. It felt like the same people, Chloe Fineman and Marcello Hernandez in particular, in everything, and that didn’t give enough time for everyone else. This is especially true considering cast member Jane Wickline didn’t make a single appearance, except at the end of the show’s “Goodnights” where they roll the credits.
Overall, I thought this was a strong start to the season! I thought most of the sketches were great and thought it showed a lot of potential for what’s to come, especially with the newer cast members. I would rate it 7.5 out of 10. Stay tuned for more SNL insights!
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