We are now seven episodes into the 40th season of Saturday Night Live and things appear to be moving in the right direction. The good sketches are starting to outnumber the bad, and Colin Jost and Michael Che are starting to form some sort of chemistry on “Weekend Update.” Subtract the Chris Rock episode, and this has been a far better season than last season.
Cameron Diaz returned to host for the fourth time and was pretty good. Sometimes this show works best when the host is not a comedy legend, former cast member, or returning for the 15th time. It allows the cast to take over sketches, and that is exactly what happened this week.
Cold Open: Schoolhouse Rock!
For the second week in a row, the cold open features President Obama (Jay Pharoah), and this week he works pretty well as the villain. SNL gets attacked a bit for being a liberal show, which it is, so this takedown of Obama’s Immigration Executive Order is sure to make at least a couple people on the right happy.
Also, this sketch contains Bobby Moynihan’s lone appearance in a sketch for the entire episode.
Best Sketch: Back Home Ballers
Last season, one of the most talked about sketches was “(Do It On My) Twin Bed,” and the ladies are back again with this Thanksgiving sketch. The highlights this time around are Leslie Jones talking about the bowls her mom leaves out for her, the return of Jean, and that insanely long wifi password.
Second Best Sketch: Whispers of America
Why did we think we were so smart in high school? In high school, I thought Jerry Lewis was hilarious, Rob Liefeld could draw, and wearing my hat backwards was cool. I probably would have argued with you about all of those points because I was 16 and stupid. High school theater troupes also think they’re smart. They’re thinking about things you and I don’t even know about, like consumerism. They’re deep, man.
Weekend Update Moment: German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Kate McKinnon’s Angela Merkel joins Mike Myers’ Jean Chretien as one of the more absurd takes on a foreign leader from SNL. Myers had Chretien quoting KC and the Sunshine Band, while McKinnon’s Merkel has a crush on President Obama. Always weird, always funny, and this time it includes an almost “German kiss” between McKinnon and Colin Jost.
Standout Performer: Vanessa Bayer
Vanessa Bayer has been missing for most of the season, but had a much bigger role this week with appearances in “Nest-Spresso,” “HBO First Look: Annie,” and her third appearance as quirky poetry teacher Miss Meadows.
With the emergence of McKinnon, Strong, and Aidy Bryant, Bayer’s role has diminished the past couple of seasons. Much like Moynihan, she is always great when she actually appears on-screen, so it’s a shame that she doesn’t appear more often.
Other Notes:
“Dr. David & Buggles’ Animal Hour” seemed a bit similar to the classic Tracy Morgan “Brian Fellow” sketches.
Mystikal appeared with Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars during their second song, and it sounded like he dropped more than a few words to make the NBC censors freak out.
Last week, I mentioned that Michael Che and Colin Jost have been wearing the same suit and tie all season. Seth Meyers wore the same suit and tie during his entire “Weekend Update” run. This episode’s “suit and tie” pic can be viewed here.
Saturday Night Live returns in two weeks on Dec. 6 with host James Franco and musical guest Nicki Minaj.
