I have been watching Saturday Night Live since the late 80s. I remember holing up in my bedroom. lights out, tiny television ON and my eyes wide open. At first, I was drawn to the goofy stuff and, as a teenager growing up in (very) rural Georgia, shocked by what they were allowed to get away with. This shock eventually turned into curiosity. The writing became more than jokes; it became a jumping-off point for learning about things outside my limited worldview.
Saturday Night Live was a weekly peek into a world I could only dream of. One where people could speak their mind and get laughed at. Wait, no… not at. Laughed with. That doesn’t make as much sense. Oh, well… it’s staying anyways.
I grew up in a family that (looking back through much more educated and kinder to herself eyes) was pretty fucking racist, homophobic, and anti-woman. Devouring books (with my eyes, calm down), I learned that wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Movies (especially any that my parents and I had to sneak to watch when the other parent wasn’t home) helped drive those feelings home for me. And as SNL grew up, I grew with it.
Except, I fear I’m growing faster than SNL. There is all this terrible stuff happening in the world and it feels like they are softballing it. When Hillary wasn’t elected, we got Kate McKinnon at a piano in her HRC getup playing (earnestly) Jeff Buckley’s Hallejuah. It was a poignant moment.
Four years ago, the February 26 show opened with the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York performing a “Prayer for Ukraine”. I cried. The music was gorgeous, and it was a moving tribute to a horrible thing that happened.
What happened to that spirit, SNL? I know the short answer is capitalism, because that seems to be the short answer to almost every terrible thing. But the DGAF attitude is one of the things that really spoke to my counter-culture heart. I miss it and I’m very disappointed in you. (I’m a mother, so that should really hurt.)
I’m writing this on Sunday, January 25, before I start the Teyonna Taylor episode. I’m taking notes because I think this might be the last episode I watch. The episode aired the night ICE straight-up murdered an ICU nurse in the streets. I need to see a glimmer of something that they know how serious things are right now.
Here are my thoughts:
Cold Open: The Trump Awards
Literally almost turned this off immediately.
What a fucking shitty way to open tonight’s show.
I mean, I love awards shows. Awards season is my favorite season, but this is not even funny.
And James Austin Johnson’s Trump is too goofy, almost lovable. I understand how much it must drain him to play Trump week after week, but making him come off softer and nicer and not fucking insane is not the solution.
Here’s what I think the solution is: Stop portraying Trump on screen altogether. WE DON’T WANT TO SEE IT. SNL, you can still skewer the Orange Blob by writing skits lambasting the things Trump is actively doing to the rest of the American Citizens. There are tons of things to mine from:
- Trump looking into Ilhan Omar’s wealth:
- Sketch: The DOJ Vibes Unit
- Premise: A new Justice Department task force doesn’t investigate crimes… they just “look into” things based on vibes, tweets, and cable news tone.
- They announce investigations like:
- “We’re looking at Ilhan Omar’s wealth.”
- “We’re also looking at Pete Buttigieg’s bookshelves.”
- “Someone said Taylor Swift has ‘too many houses’! Flag it.”
- Trump’s 100% Tariff Threats on Canada
- Sketch: “Trade War Summer Camp”
- Premise: Personified countries are forced into a summer camp where trade disputes are handled like petty camper drama.
- Dear Mom, today America took our lunch money but said ‘no hard feelings. Love, Canada
- Trump’s affordability crisis
- Sketch: “The Affordability Focus Group”
- Premise: A political messaging team desperately tries to figure out what “affordability” even means.
- They unveil the final slogan: “AFFORDABILITY: YOU’LL KNOW IT WHEN YOU FEEL IT.”
And those are with very little thought on my part. But the thing is, y’all, the Blob is a narcissistic egomaniac. He LOVES that he gets the cold open almost every week. He probably brags about it. I think it would bother him so much to be completely absent from the show every week. And he’s probably too dumb to understand that sketches like the ones I outlined above are about him (until someone smarter on his team told him on Wednesday, probably).
Two things I liked about this sketch: Jeremy Culhane’s JD Vance & Marcello speaking Spanish.
Monologue: Teyonna Taylor
Bragging about two houses and a lavish lifestyle seems a bit tone deaf in the current climate, but you get yours, Teyonna. I’m thrilled for your Oscar nomination.
I just wish the monologue had touched on the tragedy that happened earlier that day. It seems a glaring omission.
Sketch 1: Flight Delay Singers
Generic Flight delay sketch where the gate attendants sing the updates, seems like a weak choice for first sketch.
”Pete Booty Greg” made me guffaw out loud.
As did Kenan’s example of a normal plane (arms out, wings) vs. their plane (arms down, no wings).
James Austin Johnson, as a pilot, made me laugh out loud multiple times. I’m really starting to enjoy him outside of his Trump drag.
This was a solid sketch by the end. And this is why I don’t want to stop watching. It still makes me laugh on the regular. I’m simply having a hard time supporting things/people that don’t seem interested in speaking out about what’s happening in a tangible way.
Fake Commercial: One Battle After Another Action Figures
I didn’t like the movie, but laughed at this fake commercial a ton. They nailed this.
Sketch 2: NFL on ESPN
Quefs intersitials… this feels like the early 2000s.
I don’t know enough about football for this to be funny.
Jane Wickline is so tall.
Sometimes I don’t have important things to say.
Sketch 3: The Power of You Confidence class
Ashley Padilla has SUCH a presence
”A few years ago, that comment would have made me eat a burger in my car.”
This show still makes me laugh, but it doesn’t skwere like it used to
Ahsley Padilla would make a great Mary! I heard a rumour that Maya Rudolph is gonna be the next Mary and I think she will KILLLLLLLLLL it.
The QR code didn’t go anywhere. Shoulda gone to the GoFundMe supporting the family of the MN fella who was murdered earlier that day.
Musical Guest Geese
Excellent lighting
Chill old school vibe. Not really for me.
Weekend Update
Almost always my favorite part of each episode (bc of Michael Che). This is gonna be the real test for me.
Yes, Michael Che. ICE agents are Dicks. Thank goodness. It could have been harder, but also, I know they have layers upon layers of people they have to go through to get jokes to air. I would love to read the original thought before it got softened.
Marcello Hernandez, Gen Z translator: Loved this. They love giving Colin a hard time, but it works.
Jeremy Culhane as Mr. On Blast!!!!! I clapped when my lil Dropout buddy showed up.
Delightful. I hope Mr. On Blast comes back
Sketch 4: Wedding
Ashley Padilla as a Bride with Kam Patterson, her groom, and Kenan, his dad, and Teyoon as his grandpa.
Gramps got into the music, dancing to Earth, Wind, and Fire, et al. Standard. Flares at the end.
Sketch 5: Backstab Island
Survivor + Traitors send up. Solid premise. Good execution.
“I am here to make friends. I like people.” Girl, same.
Ahley Padilla is talented as fuck, Jesus Christ.
Musical Guest: Geese
Fine. Better vibes on this song. Good lighting again.
Sketch 6: PBS Beyond the Headlines
THIS WAS A GOOD SKETCH.
This and Weekend Update are the reasons I’m staying.
Sketch 7: Blowing It Pretape
My jaw is on the floor 42 seconds into this sketch, and it stayed there the whole time.
Okay, this pre-tape made me happy, too.
Goodnights
I love this part.
Tommy Brennan had on a Minnesota Timberwolves jacket. Thanks new guy. (he is from Minnesota)
The Verdict
I’ll keep watching for now. It’s been too big a part of my life for far too long to let it go just yet.
But seriously, Lorne, Alison, Erik, Streeter, Kent, and the rest of the writing staff (not that they would ever read this), please consider keeping the Gross One out of an episode. You might be surprised at how angry it makes him (and how happy it would make the viewers. We are tired of seeing him.)
All that said, thank you for continuing to be funny through this literal hellscape we’re living though. I know it’s not easy. And I also know (most of you) are doing your best. Thank you.
