“Bathroom bumps is happening tonight”
Cold Open: Alien Attack
3 Stars
Aliens have invaded and Trump has to give the speech to the army ala Independence Day. He’s excited that California was vaporized (because now he’s won the popular vote), accuses Leslie and Sasheer of being aliens, and has business deals on Zorblat 9. I’m probably heaping too much praise on this just for having a premise instead of just being a presidential speech to camera but I thought this was fine. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.
Scarlett Johansson Monologue
2 Stars
It’s Scarlett’s 5th time and Kenan has put together a clip reel of her first 4 times. All the clips are of Kenan. Clips of Deep House Dish and Virginiaca Hastings should not be allowed in the monologue, this is making me the opposite of excited. They also throw in that sketch where Kenan keeps falling down which I haven’t seen since that episode aired but remember hating. Then Kate comes out to promote the film Rough Night coming soon to theaters…I mean…do a little banter. Then they sing a song for Scarlett’s 5th time but it’s just the $5 footlong song from Subway commercials. Kate’s incessant mugging was starting to get to me in this one.
Good Day Denver
4 Stars
Animal photographer Danny Bangs is accidentally billed as an animal pornographer which makes statements like “I started with amateur stuff online” and “I finished on a zebra” plus his website dannybangsanimals.com seem shocking. Fun stuff. Reminded me of Mikey’s Matt Schatt sketch from the premiere where he plays the straight man with everyone reacting to him.
Cherry Grove
2 Stars
Apparently there was a show called Fire Island about 6 gay guys living together. This is the lesbian version which follows a house of affluent lesbians all with adopted children. Not a lot of laughs after the premise is revealed.
Pet Translator
4 Stars
Scientists have invented a helmet that allows your dog to speak. Unfortunately for Scarlett she learns that her dog is a staunch Trump supporter. I like that the joke was more on the people outraged than the dog. The dog is able to coherently articulate why he likes Trump which is funnier than if he was just a dumb dog who liked Trump. An actually fun gaffe happens when the dog is able to get the helmet off. It was fun because everyone played along and kept the sketch moving without giggling.
Olive Garden
3 Stars
Beck directs actors in an Olive Garden commercial to have bigger reactions which then leads to making them kiss, sticking their face in a bowl of pasta, and simulating orgasms. Fun performances from all. I liked Beck’s casual racism when directing Leslie and that they didn’t dwell on it too much.
Complicit
1 Star
Scarlett as Ivanka Trump in a commercial for her new fragrance. The scent of a woman who could stop all this, but won't. Not funny and I don’t quite understand the political context. I remember at the time being upset with the view that Ivanka was just a nice girl with an evil dad and that maybe she could keep the prez in check. I pretty much knew right away that there were no level heads anywhere near the White House.
Lorde
"Green Light"
Weekend Update
After Melissa pulled out a Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon impression last episode, Alex continues the trend of SNL alum impressions with Sen. Al Franken and he’s joined by Jeff Sessions. Al tried to question Jeff but he refuses to take the oath. Because he’s a liar.
True Tales From The Sea
2 Stars
2nd appearance of Shud, Kate’s mermaid who is 15% maiden and 85% blobfish. This time she’s joined by her best friend Krunk played by Scarlett who is part woman but mostly anglerfish. Can’t say I needed a second helping especially when the joke is just I’m gross, do you want to have sex, no.
Shanice Goodwin: Ninja
2 Stars
2nd appearance of Shanice Goodwin. This time she’s joined by a fellow ninja played by Scarlett…wait, didn’t we just do this? I can't say I remember the first one of these from the Russell Crowe episode but haven't seen it since 2016. Leslie is clumsy, Scarlett is a good ninja, they have some purposefully bad choreographed ninja fights, not a lot of laughs are had.
Lorde returns with "Liability"
A Sketch For The Women
4 Stars
With the female cast participating in a Day Without Women, Beck and Kyle wrote a sketch for the ladies. The sketch consists of Beck and Kyle discussing women’s issues without giving the women any lines. Loved Kyle walking over to a table full of the entire female cast and then quickly walking away. It was a little jarring seeing all the women together. I don’t recall seeing all of them in the same shot together before.
Funeral Service
4 Stars
Kenan and Scarlett sing a tribute to a dead man. They sing songs he wrote himself which are all club tracks about gay sex. I enjoyed this, especially the cutaways to the dead man's portrait as they sing lyrics like "Here is my butt as I lean against the wall" and "All the gay boys saying 'Hey!'".
FINAL ANALYSIS
“Oh lawdy, I must be in Heaven”
Average
2.8 Stars
MVP
Beck Bennett
Alien Attack, Cherry Grove (VO), Pet Translator (VO), Olive Garden, True Tales From The Sea, Shanice Goodwin: Ninja, A Sketch For The Women
Best Sketch
Pet Translator
Worst Sketch
Complicit
How I Would Have Lorne Michaels-ed It
Pretty solid lineup actually. Good sketches up front, weak recurring stuff in the middle, solid stuff to end the show. Lorde was a good musical guest. You could have cut both desk pieces from Update and I wouldn't have missed them. This show was better than the 2.8 average would have you believe. It was brought down by the monologue, both commercials, and both recurring pieces, but aside from those everything else was pretty good.
Host Analysis
Solid performances throughout. She provided good straight man roles in Good Day Denver and Pet Translator, got to make some goofy faces in Olive Garden, got to sing songs about butts in Funeral Service, and even though I didn't care for the sketches seemed to be having a grand old time in True Tales From The Sea and Shanice Goodwin: Ninja.
Final Thoughts
Again, the 2.8 average is a bit low for this one. This was enjoyable, despite Kenan's attempts to stifle it up front by reminding us that Deep House Dish and Virginiaca Hastings were a thing.
Up Next
Louis C.K. hosts for the 4th and (probably) final time.
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