Saturday Night Live
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This is Johns fifth time hosting, and like all five-timers, this should be a good show.
Johns got it all: comedy chops, star appeal, and the baggageSNLcan poke at.
I would have almost put money on Beck Bennett returning as Putin, butSNLopted for a respectful tribute.
Its an honorable decision, but I would have trusted the talented staff with some Russia jokes.
Ukrainians are eventelling jokes to the faces of Russian soldiers.
But Johns choice to talk about his ultra-personal struggles set a friendly tone for the night.
How much do you pay for Blue River?
Its not $80; its $73.99.
This sketch is inspired.
The jokes were all the same, cutaways to everyone making a funny, terrified face.
Best New Five-Timer
Steve Martin gamely returns toSNLfor another five-timer sketch.
Once again, Johns life givesSNLa lot to work with.
(Tina Fey: You wrote that character with Bill Hader and 800 other things that aged terribly.)
John even asks if Elliott remembers being on Mulaneys horrible sitcom.
(Elliott: Should I?)
In the biggest surprise of the night, Conan OBrien drops in.
(Conan, what are you doing here?
Im just here to sign up for Peacock.)
In a technical note, they bungled Conans entrance.
For the love of God,SNL, stay wide.
Conan is incredible, though.
(I hosted my own TV show for decades.
What do you do now?
I have a podcast.)
And she said, Michael, you no pay me to talk, baby.
Keeping Score
This was a terrific episode ofSNLin a very weird time.
An hour before you, a rat bit it too.
Thats a little much.
Theyre finding simple, strong premises and hitting them cleanly.
However, I still think the writers and performers can turn it up another notch and surprise us.
As crazy as it was, the Monkey Trial became almost too routine and was begging for a curveball.
The ending of Cupid Shuffle similarly lost momentum, and they even recycled the Chris Rock Robitussin joke.
However, after a couple of weak episodes,SNLfelt exciting again.
