Pete Martell

I actually would have kept that in over a few things that got on the air. I do wonder if three would have been a record. I saw that this was the first episode since Rachel Brosnahan in season 44 to have two game show sketches (that was Millennial Millions and the somewhat infamous "hamberdler" Deal or No Deal sketch). At least with Palin there was a great deal of interest in seeing the show's take on her, as she was close to being VP or possibly even President. Haley, on the other hand, I never heard anyone ask about being seen on SNL. She has no chance. Yet she got such a high profile, not even just a brief cameo or getting to talk on Weekend Update, but a whole sparring session. Either SNL/NBC were just desperate to get any politician to agree to be on their show, or someone at NBC is going to hire her to be one of their fill-in anchors in a month.

Chloe Troast and Molly dressing room tour:

Ayo was very likeable and threw herself into everything, but I don't know if she got an episode she could do anything with. Even the sketches which did use her more didn't have the best construction, which seems to be more and more common of late. The writing needs a lot of help. I'm starting to hear more about people unhappy backstage (last week Ego apparently liking a tweet about her lack of airtime, this week Bowen making then deleting a shady post about Nikki Haley being on the show). I try not to be as negative on the show because I've come to accept recent years of SNL probably aren't going to be what my expectations want to see, but I'm feeling more and more disconnected from the show's current output. I think I liked the first game show sketch (even if that may have just been whipped up because of Ayo's past comments about JLo's singing) and the news sketch the most. I'm tired of the Colin Jost roast pieces but this one was more entertaining for me because there was a more good-natured air and Colin joined in. (this was Colin's 200th episode as a cast member - congrats to him) As for the cold open and that cameo, I will just say it's a good thing the site was down the night the episode aired because I was not happy. Cut from the show: (this is courtesy the Saturday Night Network hot take show) Michael Longfellow was on Update as Elon Musk's first human recipient of his neural link technology. (PDD) - Ayo/Punkie/Ego as a fake PDD. Devon is watching them online, including their pieces with Bad Bunny, Dakota Johnson, and their hard seltzer. Whenever PDD say anything sus, Devon raises an eyebrow and records with his phone. (Boat) - A boat tour. Heidi and Ayo are Boston natives, Sarah and JAJ have a child, Molly is a friend who goes swimming, Kenan is a boat driver, Chloe is a tour guide. Ayo and Heidi talk a lot about Boston, the Red Sox, Johnny Damon. Molly is swimming to catch up with the boat. (Pantry Raiders) A game show sketch. Andrew is host, Kenan/Bowen are a team, Marcello/Ayo/Ego are a team, Molly and Sarah are judges. Contestants need to make a meal in 20 minutes with food that starts with a C, like carnival food. Ayo's team freaks out. Ayo says they should use clowns. Ego keeps drawing clowns on the notepad. I have heard of her but haven't seen most of her work.

I felt like the live sketches let the episode, and surprisingly good pre-tapes, down (they came across as very unfocused to me, there was a lot of sloppy direction, and I thought the cast use was off), but I agree about Dakota. I thought she was better than her last hosting appearance as I felt like they knew how to write for her. She was terrific in the PDD short, but even in a number of the live sketches I thought she was better than I had expected - she was the best part of that strangely lengthy cup sketch for me. I'm so fatigued with seeing Bowen and Heidi on Update, but I did appreciate them each trying something different, and I enjoyed some of the new touches (like Heidi's tarot cards). I just wish these had not been so long - four minutes each. It feels like they have taken the role Kate McKinnon used to have of just going on Update as long as they want. Learning an Andrew Dismukes Update piece was cut while they got to take up eight minutes left me feeling disappointed. Individually I like most of the current cast (some more than others), but the last few episodes have made me realize they just aren't clicking for me. I don't think they work well together and I don't think they are well utilized (for instance I thought Sarah and Molly were all wrong for the waitress sketch - Molly just doing their Chris Farley tribute yet again). Add in how flabby the writing is and it's making the show very frustrating for me right now. It should be better if any care was taken.

A rundown of the other cut sketches (if a more detailed dress rehearsal report goes on Reddit I'll link to that). This is summarized from watching the Saturday Night Network podcast after the live show. (these are my sketch titles, not the actual titles) AI-sha: Ego, Mikey, Michael, Dakota, Andrew, Kenan - Ego an AI robot for a company in need of diversity. Mikey and Dakota answer questions about the robot. Ego ran across the studio to play an audience member who asked why the robot looked like her. Basement - Sarah, Mikey, Dakota, Molly, Andrew. Sarah recognizes Dakota at a coffee shop years after they were abducted and held hostage in a basement. Couples talk show - Dakota, Mikey, Andrew, Ego, Sarah, Michael, Bowen. Dakota and Michael host a talk show where they trash their friends as soon as they leave the set. The other couples confront them from behind the camera - they blame their asexual producer (Bowen).

Jane Curtin interview for her recent film, Jules: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/18/3rd-rock-from-the-sun-frasier-jane-curtin-harriet-sansom-harris-jules-cosmetic-surgery A trailer for Adam Sandler's upcoming film, Spaceman, with SNL host Carey Mulligan: Victoria Jackson and Jim Breuer were in the film Jingle Smells, and Victoria has a new comedy album. https://www.fox4news.com/video/1390547 Dennis Miller has a new show about infomercials. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/dennis-miller-fox-nation-docuseries-1235783450/ Honors for Garrett Morris, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. https://variety.com/2024/film/news/abff-honors-taraji-p-henson-jeffrey-wright-garrett-morris-mara-brock-akil-1235886487/ https://www.bet.com/article/zdwkwt/garrett-morris-to-be-honored-with-a-star-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame Andy Samberg has a role in new Hulu film Self Reliance, starring SNL host Anna Kendrick. Andy also had a role in last year's movie, Lee, starring SNL host Kate Winslet. Bill Hader lists his favorite films of 2023: https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/directors-best-movies-tv-2023-bill-hader-lulu-wang-robert-eggers/mcdzoof-ec034/ Will Ferrell has a documentary about the journey of his friendship with former SNL co-head writer Harper Steele. https://variety.com/2024/film/festivals/will-harper-documentary-sundance-film-festival-premiere-standing-ovation-1235882281/

The SNL movie has found its Laraine, Jane and Gilda: https://deadline.com/2024/01/snl-1975-jane-curtain-laraine-newman-gilda-radner-1235805534/

Marcello looks back on his first Update appearance:

Marcello: Sarah: Kenan: This has two clips. Andrew (audio only):

They did in her previous episode.

Apparently, they did this last week too. I guess they want to make as little effort as possible. I saw someone point out that what they are doing now is the exact reason SNL was created all those years ago (as that slot was originally just Johnny Carson repeats). The only interesting part is wondering what they will cut.

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/snl-ayo-edebiri-jennifer-lopez-host-musical-guest-1235886225/ Ayo Edebiri is hosting the February 3rd episode, with JLo as musical guest. Ayo has had a big few years, winning many awards for her role in "The Bear," and was in a number of films released last year. She has a comedy background as well. SNL is so clearly trying to get the younger viewers with some of these hosts. I have my doubts about whether younger viewers will ever care about the show - although there are always exceptions - but if Ayo is as good as I've repeatedly heard she is, hopefully the show will give her a good night. I've seen some fan speculation that Ben Affleck will pop up...I also have my doubts there, but we'll see.

The PDD short cut at the last minute. I don't think this is anything great, but it's a much better performance than Jacob Elordi gave the rest of the night. I wish SNL wasn't so afraid of having more dramatic performances amidst comedy.

Apparently, Sarah also had that line in dress rehearsal, when she had more applause. I assume it was written for her and it came off worse live because of the subdued crowd. I've heard a few podcasts with JAJ doing Trump, the same riffing he does on the show, and I think it works better in that format. The main problem is I just don't find anything about Trump funny. I never did, but more than ever, I can't watch it. And the impression is running into everything that Jason Sudeikis' Biden impression did where it no longer resembles the man himself. I say this as someone who genuinely enjoys JAJ as a cast member in many areas of the show. I wish he was not so closely tied to this one impression because I think it's going to work against him. I saw some people saying he's losing weight for his new movie (where he's playing Frankenstein's Monster). I think he may also just look better on film. I don't think Elordi was one of the worst hosts ever, but I think he was an extremely limited host, no comedic timing or talent whatsoever, and no real charisma either. The last I saw who was so limited was Jonathan Majors. When you have a host so limited, you need to be in a much stronger creative position than SNL has been in a number of years. The other problem for me was that I just didn't think Elordi was more attractive than most of the men in the cast, so when this was a major premise, I immediately checked out. The sketches that did have some interesting premises (like the lip-reading or the acting class) felt very bogged down in execution, although I liked elements of them. I think the bowling sketch was the only one I would watch again from this episode. Beyond the writing issues, I maintain that the current show does not seem to have any real faith in or ability to use most of their cast. We get so much Bowen, sometimes I think down to the show not trusting a lot of cast members who aren't as popular or established. And even after five seasons Chloe Fineman still doesn't seem natural to me - during that women's support group sketch I kept thinking how much better Aidy Bryant would have been in the same part. At first, I was against that whole bit because it's hard to laugh at what happened, but Punkie has such a great energy and warmth, maybe the most of anyone in the cast right now. Speaking of Update, that rambling "both sides" bit at the start just left me feeling annoyed the whole rest of the time.

Taran Killam career interview. https://www.vulture.com/article/taran-killam-snl-comedy-interview.html Kate McKinnon is joining the new Minecraft movie. https://deadline.com/2024/01/minecraft-kate-mckinnon-jemaine-clement-1235796568/ Season 2 of Nasim Pedrad's sitcom Chad is now on Roku. Cecily Strong's sitcom, Schmigadoon, has been canceled. Bob Odenkirk talks about his love of The Royle Family. https://variety.com/2023/tv/columns/bob-odenkirk-the-royle-family-favorite-tv-show-1235833329/ Michaela Watkins has a small role in a movie whose title I probably can't type out. https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2023/12/15/xlnuonpslzldoiqfct79ufzzh7jm1d New Jenny Slate show. https://deadline.com/2024/01/jenny-slate-michelle-williams-dying-for-sex-fx-1235795295/ A fun recent interview with Conan O'Brien while he was visiting Ireland. Tina Fey on Seth (one of two clips) Rachel Dratch I am probably posting too many clips as it is so I'll just say there are also interviews on there with Amy Poehler, Robert Smigel and Fred Armisen from the past month.

The other promo for this week was already posted in the media thread. Here's a fun Instagram promo (no spoilers but it is a spoof on a big scene from one of Elordi's recent films): https://www.instagram.com/p/C2Sb3m-ujHu/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/brian-mcconnachie-dead-sctv-saturday-night-live-1235783464/ Brian McConnachie wrote for SNL in season 4, reportedly due to being offered the opportunity after a piece he had written for National Lampoon or somewhere else was used in an early episode (I think it was the police lineup runner in the Richard Pryor episode). He was involved with a number of sketches, like one from the Frank Zappa episode where an everyday family kept a prison in their home because they needed the money, and another where Elliott Gould, drunk and on the streets at Christmas, dreamt of various "spirits." This is the one that is most easily available to see, one that left Michael Palin, the host, very impressed, according to his diaries.

Marcello talks about food: https://www.eatingwell.com/marcello-hernandez-snacks-on-set-saturday-night-live-interview-8419977 Chloe Troast profile: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a46440397/chloe-troast-snl-2024-debut-season-interview/ Chloe Fineman: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tropical-smoothie-cafe-announces-2024-partnership-with-snls-chloe-fineman-in-new-national-advertising-campaign-302031300.html https://www.travelandleisure.com/chloe-fineman-snl-solo-celebrity-travel-paris-california-8424407 Kenan on NPR's Fresh Air: https://www.npr.org/2023/12/07/1197959144/snls-kenan-thompson

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/dakota-johnson-snl-justin-timberlake-guest-1235879015/ The January 27th episode will be hosted by Dakota Johnson, with musical guest Justin Timberlake. Johnson hosted in early 2015, the first episode after the 40th anniversary. That was not a very well-received episode, although I'm not sure how much of that was down to her. Here's a quick list of that episode: http://www.snlarchives.net/Episodes/?20150228 Dakota does have a place in pop culture (her promos for that new Madame Web movie have gone viral) but I wasn't too sure she'd be hosting again. I wonder if they may have wanted Sydney Sweeney, who is also in that movie and has had some other recent successful projects. Still, if the show uses Dakota's deadpan the right way, especially in pre-tapes, it could work. This is Timberlake's first appearance since the 40th anniversary. I'm surprised he has come back, but then his career isn't what it once was. I think he made the right choice to not host again, if it was his choice. Andy Samberg seems to not have any real interest in returning to SNL (although he did return for one short when Natalie Portman hosted again, so you never know), but I could see Jimmy Fallon coming back and doing a sketch or two with Timberlake for nostalgia's sake. That we got this announcement so late and also didn't get one for the third episode makes me wonder if they're scrambling to get bookings right now. In other news, an interview with SNL's guitarist, Maddie Rice. https://www.vulture.com/article/snl-guitarist-maddie-rice-interview.html Casting announcements have started for the SNL 1975 biopic being directed by Jason Reitman. https://deadline.com/2024/01/the-fablemans-gabriel-labelle-lorne-michaels-snl-1975-cooper-hoffman-rachel-sennott-1235797505/

Steven Castillo, who wrote for SNL from season 45-mid 47 (and returned for Tiny Horse 2), has announced he's back on a permanent basis starting with the next episode. https://www.instagram.com/p/C1upC6KgwPz/

Tonight's Vintage is another repeat of the SNL Christmas special Merry Christmas, everyone.

Molly Kearney's Update piece. You don't get many cut for time Update pieces (there were a few in season 47, then you start getting scraps earlier on like Tom Hanks from season 42, etc.).

She hosted back in season 47 and did a nice job - you can find most of her sketches on Youtube. He was also the male lead in the Kissing Booth movies, although he has said how much he dislikes them. I was watching the aftershow on Saturday Night Network, and they mentioned that there was a cut sketch with Trump, Rudy, Clarence Thomas, Don Jr, and Biden (Andrew Dismukes played Biden, as Mikey was playing Don Jr). I have a feeling they are on high alert after the backlash to the last cold open. This cold open was more "oh that's relatable...I guess," than humor, although I was glad to see most of the cast get a turn. There were a few funny moments, like Michael holding the big dog, and Devon's deep embarrassment over his girlfriend. The whole thing reminded me of this old sketch, which was better. Still, I don't mind something that is safe filler opening up an episode over more dazed and confused political material. I know they didn't actually say it, but the implication of Kate, Maya and Kristen being contemporaries on the show threw me (as you said, Kate and Maya were never in the cast together, unless you count season 46, and Kristen and Kate only briefly overlapped). Then in the tampon pre-tape, you also had Paula Pell, who was leaving SNL by the time Kate joined. I wonder if this means Cecily and Aidy won't be coming back anytime soon (especially Cecily after whatever happened last week). This may be an episode I would enjoy more on a rewatch. The first half I couldn't get into because everything just felt like something I'd seen better versions of on the show before, or just felt too padded, or both (I liked Pongo, but I went from thinking they were going to redo the Christmas robe pre-tape with Kristen to waiting for it to end). I did enjoy Update (even if Ego's piece also felt too long - again, I liked it a little more on a rewatch) and most of the back half of the episode, aside from Cinema Classics, which seemed to greatly suffer from timing issues due to going between sets. The office gift sketch, aside from SNL's usual flaw of not having an ending, was creative and the main piece I will take away from this episode. I will give Kate some praise for not bringing back all her greatest hits. They uploaded one of the cut pre-tapes. I would have kept this in the episode over the tampon pre-tape, which I'd guess had to stay in because of the cameos. I've enjoyed more of the season than I haven't, but I hope they use the break to reassess what is working and what isn't. And to stop finding someone who is always overused - I like Mikey, but I'm just tuning him out lately because he's on so much.