S50.E19: Quinta Brunson / Benson Boone

[Galileo908]

This week's host is Quinta Brunson with musical guest Benson Boone

Airs 5/3/25

[buttersister]

I barely watch anymore. But Quinta! And a tribute to short people. Maybe she wrote a lot of this—we’ll see.

LOL, I have no idea who Benson Boone is.

eta: Can we have a Quinta/Keenan show? I’d watch that.

Edited May 4 by buttersister

[Galileo908]

Cold Open: Felt like 100 years, indeed. So did this sketch. Okay, laughed at the slam at JK Rowling and Harry Potter obsessed millennials. "I'm a Hufflepuff! No bitch, you work at Staples."

Monologue: Quinta looking like she just got off stage from the Betty Boop musical (I heard good things about it). I'm a sucker for Quinta is short jokes. And hi Sabrina Carpenter! And...Dwyane Wade? Okay. 

Will & Todd's Radical Experience: Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass not wanting to go back to their own time. That's the part Bill & Ted didn't show us. But 1987 was better than their time. And somehow, now.

OnlySeniors: Okay, I saw where this was going: Elderly OnlyFans to replace life insurance. What's sad is that this is becoming a more real possibility every day. But I like how they did NOT hold back on the horny. And the cake for sittin'.

Compliment Sandwich: The audience cracked up just at Kenan's look. Just a lot of weirdos and sociopaths trying to act like regular people. That Bowen cameo was weird, and there should've been more surreal ones like that.

Cars: Oh, another of these "two people in cars yelling at each other" sketches. But this time they're on a ferry. And I HAD A FEELING that this was Colin's ferry the moment they established the sketch taking place on one.

Forever 31: first of all, how dare you. "My parents are older now, and I think about that a low." "Big ol' David Byrne suit." I'm a guy (and closer to 40 than 31), but man did this speak to me.

Two Bitches vs A Gorilla: Oh hell yeah, commenting on this dumb meme. Laughing just at the premise. Loved that this was all POV. So far, this was my favorite of the night.

Benson Boone 1: Starting with a backflip and singing to the host. That's new. Apparently the backflip is what he's known for? He looks like Timothee Chalamet in a mullet wig.

WU: Getting a lot of mileage out of Pope jokes. Loved the runner with Colin and his 30 dolls. I thought this was a good crowd, but not enough of them laughed at the Tubman or Bin Laden jokes. 

Really liked Longfellow's bit, and the Squirm AND Bowen feature. They actually went there with "Asian Glaze." And Fuddrucker's isn't around anymore (RIP), so you can turn it into a slur. Shocked they got away with "Fudraggot." And rare time the musical guest shows up on Update!

Addicts Anonymous: Addict using AA to find where to buy blow. Didn't really hit for me.

Benson Boone 2: Now I know who he resembles: Daniel Radcliffe playing Weird Al in that movie.

The Greats: They saved a "Quinta is Short" sketch for the END?! I wanted to like this one, but I did like the graphic of her character literally knocked out of the ring.

Well, that'll learn me for having high expectations for this show. This was just...fine. There were worse shows this season.

Next week is Uncle Baby Billy Walton Goggins and I am unbelivably HYPED for it.

Edited May 4 by Galileo908

[MrWhyt]

i dunno i thought this was one of the best shows in quite some time, QB could easily be a member of the cast. Is it wrong that i loved the series of WU bombs?

[Galileo908]

1 minute ago, MrWhyt said:

Is it wrong that i loved the series of WU bombs?

Is "it's the 90s" no longer a thing? Because each week Che has lots of opportunities to say it and doesn't.

[vb68]

15 minutes ago, Galileo908 said:

Benson Boone 2: Now I know who he resembles: Daniel Radcliffe playing Weird Al in that movie.

I kept wondering who he looked like.  And this is probably just me, but the second song sounded so much like Olivia Newton John's Physical that it was a little weird. I listened to it a second time and yes that's what I was hearing everyime he said "magical".

I thought the show got better as it went along up to Update.

Edited May 4 by vb68

[JeanJean]

i always like Michael Longfellow's WU bits.

[Psychobunny]

I like this host. Not a bad show. Keenan killed in the Aa skit.

But what was up with the musical guest? He was like every singer you were shamed for liking in the late 70s-early 80s. Honestly not a type of music I’d ever think would come back with vibes of Air Supply, Randy Newman and Barry Manilow. 

[peeayebee]

Never heard of Benson Boone. I listened to his first song and found it so boring that I FF'd past the second.

Quinta is an excellent sketch comedian. Loved her on Black Lady Sketch Comedy, as well as Abbott. Having said that, I wasn't all that impressed by the various sketches.

The only thing I liked in the CO was the mention of the NYT's Connections game. I play that daily, and usually I can figure out all four sets. The other day I did not get any. But, yeah, sometimes the categories are ridiculous.

The monologue song was cute.

I liked Andrew and Marcella as Will & Todd. I cracked up the first time Kenan/Frederick Douglas said, "We're not going back." Why at the end did Will & Todd get into the phone booth time machine?

Only Seniors. Meh.

I liked the different characters in the Leadership Summit sketch. Kenan's esp cracked me up. BurSweeto is a good idea, though I'm not sold on the proposed contents. Still, a dessert burrito is a winner. 

I always get a kick out of the hand-signals-from-cars sketch. However, I wish they didn't have to have Chloe always doing blowjob miming.

Forever 31 was amusing, but is that at all based in reality? Do women in their thirties wear big baggy clothes?

Just yesterday I heard about the gorilla vs 10 men thing, so I'm glad I knew it before this sketch. It was ok. Quinta's and Ego's characters were good.

I don't usually like Michael Longfellow's WU bits, but I did here. As far as the Applebee's barflies bit, I somehow liked hearing Fuddruckers mentioned. I used to love that place. My main memory of it was finding a giant spider near the crates of produce. My mother was with us, and she thought it was a leftover Halloween prop. Nope. Apparently it was a wolf spider.

Addicts Anonymous was funny at first, but it didn't go anywhere.

The Greats was ok, mainly for Quinta's performance.

 

[possibilities]

I thought it was a very funny show.

[Galileo908]

1 hour ago, peeayebee said:

Why at the end did Will & Todd get into the phone booth time machine?

Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman pushed them in and closed the door.

[cdnalor]

1 hour ago, peeayebee said:

at the end did Will & Todd get into the phone booth time machine?

In the Bill &Ted movie IIRC, they operated/steered the time machine.

Benson absolutely looked like a throwback to the disco 70s in that first outfit, not to mention the pornstache and mullet.  Never thought I'd see that again!

[Crashcourse]

I liked Quinta's short people monologue with Sabrina Carpenter and Dwayne Wade.   

I thought the Cars sketch went on too long.  

The rest of the show was just meh.

 

[heatherchandler]

1 hour ago, Crashcourse said:

I thought the Cars sketch went on too long.  

The first one was funny but this one was meh.  They do this all the time, something hits and then they feel the need to do it again, but they should just leave it.  Like the Marcelo with the bridesmaids singing.  I didn’t even like that the first time around, but I digress.

[Ottis]

This show was so meh (despite a very good host) I'm not motivated to comment. It was alright. I laughed out loud once.

As much time as the cast gets off between a show or two, it should be funnier.

[ahisma]

16 hours ago, vb68 said:

16 hours ago, Galileo908 said:

Benson Boone 2: Now I know who he resembles: Daniel Radcliffe playing Weird Al in that movie.

I kept wondering who he looked like.  And this is probably just me, but the second song sounded so much like Olivia Newton John's Physical that it was a little weird. I listened to it a second time and yes that's what I was hearing everyime he said "magical".

Can’t unsee DanRad’s Weird Al, and can’t unhear Physical!

Colin usually breaks, but he really committed to the doll bit. Loved it.

Wasn’t the best of the season but I laughed several times. Quinta was great even when the material was mid.

[Joimiaroxeu]

Cold Open:
The Belichick Law. OMG, I doubt he wanted SNL to weigh in too after the week he had.
Yeah, the piercing babies' ears thing is a controversial issue. Almost as much as circumcising infant boys, a topic which was hugely debated on reddit last week.
Why are ghosts a problem now? Was that a jab toward CBS' primetime comedy, or the movie, "Sinners"? (Which has a predominantly Black cast and has been killing it at the box office. DEI, natch. 😉)

Monologue:
Loved Quinta's 2025 Betty Boop. Slay, queen.
She's shorter than Simone Biles? And I didn't realize Sabrina Carpenter was so short too.

Marcello and Andrew do a great Bill & Ted.

OnlySeniors: Protect your family by getting buttball naked for the chat babies. Brainbleach for your adult kids not included.

The compliment sandwich still seems to me like an elaborate version of saying "with all due respect" when you take a verbal dump on someone. BurSweeto: basically an emetic masquerading as a sandwich.

Those Forever 31 clothes weren't all bad, actually. I'd wear a few of those outfits. Yep on plain cotton tees selling for more than $100 each. It's insane.

Two bitches vs. a gorilla was a tad risky. I don't think SNL could've done that bit without someone like Quinta basically giving them permission. 🎶You not like us!🎶 Drake still catching strays, lol.

Sigh, Benson Boone. Did he have something to prove after his Grammys backflip debacle? He kind of looked like Paul Mescal to me, minus 100 pounds. (I've been watching Mescal in Gladiator 2 and dang, he was built.)

Weekend Update:
Colin is way, way into dolls. Okay.
Now Kanye's blaming his assholery on nitrous oxide addiction? Chile please.
Michael Longfellow just went on the TSA watch list, lol. You can make fun of them but not about terrorizing an airport.
Slightly tangential: I was surprised to learn last week that there's a whole conspiracy theory about OBL being rescued after his body was dumped in the ocean. Supposedly he's now living in South America with some aged WWII nazis.
What is Che's problem with Harriet Tubman?

Benson Boone has good stage presence but I don't get his act at all. Over on reddit he's being called an industry plant.

Quinta wore some fantastic outfits in the interstitials. Wonder if she gets to keep them?

Goodbyes:
Guess Sabrina Carpenter had other places to go and things to do after her cameo during the opening monologue. It seemed like most of the cast wasn't interacting much with Quinta. Hmm.

Quinta again brought a lot of energy and probably some of her writing skills too. She can come back to host. Two down, three more to go. (Though I wonder if she feels like she needs a Five-Timers jacket.)

[SomeTameGazelle]

14 minutes ago, ahisma said:

Colin usually breaks, but he really committed to the doll bit. Loved it.

I am often frustrated with Colin's persona but I loved his commitment here and the angle. 

7 minutes ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

What is Che's problem with Harriet Tubman?

I didn't think his comment was personal but a reference to the delayed plans to put Tubman on the $20 bill combined with the ending -man sounding like a superhero name.

17 hours ago, Galileo908 said:

Cold Open: Felt like 100 years, indeed. So did this sketch. Okay, laughed at the slam at JK Rowling and Harry Potter obsessed millennials. "I'm a Hufflepuff! No bitch, you work at Staples."

That was a funny line but I thought it clashed with the Trump character. In general I hated Mikey as Stephen Miller -- not odious enough, and it appeared to make Trump more likeable in comparison. Or maybe that was the audience laughter at the various executive orders.   

I didn't know Benson Boone and I normally FF through the musical guest, but I watched both numbers and enjoyed them. 

 

[Trini]

They need to invite Quinta back for a third time, because I liked nearly everything!

LOL at Dwayne 'NBA "short"' Wade cameo.

Someone's going to have to explain Benson's deal to me though. Never heard of him until now. He was fine despite him reminding me of other celebrities.

------

Speaking of,

22 hours ago, Galileo908 said:

Benson Boone 1: Starting with a backflip and singing to the host. That's new. ...

I'd been thinking to ask here if anyone knew of a host being included in a musical guest's performance, and I think this counts. But I doubt that's the first time, so anyone know of another instance?

[Tachi Rocinante]

Cold open was OK.

QB's monologue dress was not very flattering, at least with the lighting.

The time travel sketch was funny.

The car sketch is played out. Please don't do any more.

The boxer sketch was terrible and went on too long.

The rest were OK I guess.

WU missed more than it hit.

[MrWhyt]

On 5/3/2025 at 11:01 PM, Galileo908 said:

He looks like Timothee Chalamet in a mullet wig.

 

A slightly more butch Timothee Chalamet in a wig.

[peeayebee]

16 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Why are ghosts a problem now? Was that a jab toward CBS' primetime comedy, or the movie, "Sinners"? (Which has a predominantly Black cast and has been killing it at the box office. DEI, natch. 😉)

When he first mentioned 'ghosts,' I thought it was about the TV show, but after that, I didn't get it. Maybe you're right about it being about Sinners. There's also a Kevin Bacon show called The Bondsman, where he's a dead guy brought back to earth to work for the devil or something. 

Quote

Michael Longfellow just went on the TSA watch list, lol. You can make fun of them but not about terrorizing an airport.

But with hard-boiled eggs, or rather with the threat of hard-boiled eggs.

Quote

Quinta again brought a lot of energy and probably some of her writing skills too. She can come back to host. Two down, three more to go. (Though I wonder if she feels like she needs a Five-Timers jacket.)

If she does get to the Five-Timers club, I hope they give her a jacket that's way too big.

15 hours ago, SomeTameGazelle said:

That was a funny line but I thought it clashed with the Trump character. In general I hated Mikey as Stephen Miller -- not odious enough, and it appeared to make Trump more likeable in comparison.

Yes, that's one problem I have with how Trump's portrayed on SNL. The jokes are often too clever for him. And Mikey's portrayal of Stephen Miller doesn't work for me either. I don't know if anyone in the cast can do him well. Maybe it's a case for a guest to do it. Any suggestions?

44 minutes ago, Tachi Rocinante said:

The car sketch is played out. Please don't do any more.

I do enjoy the hand-signing. Mikey does it well, and Quinta is very good at it, too. Maybe a variation would be acceptable. I can imagine a sketch where people are inside, maybe a restaurant, and someone is outside a big window making the gestures. He's mouthing the words, but we can't hear what he's saying. The people inside are interpreting, maybe wrongly at first.

[proserpina65]

That was a pretty good episode.  Although I didn't like the musical number in the monologue, most of the rest of the show was funny.  And I like Benson Boone as a performer, so the musical segments were good too.

17 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Did he have something to prove after his Grammys backflip debacle?

What Grammys backflip debacle?  The only talk I heard about him at the Grammys was about the jumpsuit he was wearing.

[proserpina65]

1 hour ago, MrWhyt said:

A slightly more butch Timothee Chalamet in a wig.

Isn't everything more butch than Timothee Chalamet?

[MrWhyt]

18 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Why are ghosts a problem now? Was that a jab toward CBS' primetime comedy, or the movie, "Sinners"? (Which has a predominantly Black cast and has been killing it at the box office. DEI, natch. 😉)

Ghost are a problem because trump is a stupid person, there doesn't have to more too it. Plus Sinners (which is excellent and everyone should go see) has vampires.

Edited May 5 by MrWhyt

[The Solution]

3 hours ago, peeayebee said:

Yes, that's one problem I have with how Trump's portrayed on SNL. The jokes are often too clever for him.

I forget what, but there was a word in the sketch that made me say "uh-uh, Trump does not know that word!"

[iarwain]

22 hours ago, Ottis said:

This show was so meh (despite a very good host) I'm not motivated to comment. It was alright. I laughed out loud once.

Not only did I not laugh even once, I was actually bored watching it.  That's not a good sign.

I couldn't but wonder what would happen if Benson Boone had landed on his head when doing that backflip.  I guess there might not have been a musical guest.  I wonder if they have some sort of backup plan if someone gets incapacitated like that?

[peeayebee]

I think Kieran Culkin can look a bit like Stephen Miller, but he'd have to stand on a riser.

[Joimiaroxeu]

4 hours ago, MrWhyt said:

Ghost are a problem because trump is a stupid person, there doesn't have to more too it. Plus Sinners (which is excellent and everyone should go see) has vampires.

I haven't seen Sinners yet but it was my understanding--based on the reviews I've read--the storyline includes contact with "haints." In AAVE vernacular, those are ghosts and undead spirits who are mostly evil.

[Joimiaroxeu]

5 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

What Grammys backflip debacle?  The only talk I heard about him at the Grammys was about the jumpsuit he was wearing.

After he finished the backflip he grabbed his crotch. Now there's arguably a time and place for that sort of thing but the live broadcast of the Grammys wasn't it. Allegedly he claimed he did it because the fabric of his jumpsuit had bunched up and he was trying to straighten it out. I've seen him perform on TV a couple of times since then and his clothes have been looser-fitting. Who knows?

[SomeTameGazelle]

On 5/4/2025 at 6:29 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

Loved Quinta's 2025 Betty Boop.

Boop! the musical opened on Broadway in April.

[iarwain]

3 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

After he finished the backflip he grabbed his crotch. Now there's arguably a time and place for that sort of thing but the live broadcast of the Grammys wasn't it. Allegedly he claimed he did it because the fabric of his jumpsuit had bunched up and he was trying to straighten it out. I've seen him perform on TV a couple of times since then and his clothes have been looser-fitting. 

I have no idea who the guy is.  But that sounds reasonable. 

[SomeTameGazelle]

8 hours ago, The Solution said:

I forget what, but there was a word in the sketch that made me say "uh-uh, Trump does not know that word!"

Conclave? Or acting like he knows or cares anything about the NYT Connections puzzle? (I don't think this was intended as the joke, but I amused myself by pointing out that Trump in the sketch complained how hard it is to get the 4th one when by process of elimination as soon as you get the 3rd, whatever is left is the 4th one, so if you can't get that you must be very slow indeed.)

[ItCouldBeWorse]

On 5/4/2025 at 6:29 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

What is Che's problem with Harriet Tubman?

On 5/4/2025 at 6:45 PM, SomeTameGazelle said:

I didn't think his comment was personal but a reference to the delayed plans to put Tubman on the $20 bill combined with the ending -man sounding like a superhero name.

This. 

On 5/4/2025 at 6:29 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

Quinta again brought a lot of energy and probably some of her writing skills too. She can come back to host. Two down, three more to go. (Though I wonder if she feels like she needs a Five-Timers jacket.)

I don't think they make them in her size.

16 hours ago, peeayebee said:

If she does get to the Five-Timers club, I hope they give her a jacket that's way too big.

Yup.

On 5/4/2025 at 6:29 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

She's shorter than Simone Biles?

No, Quinta's 4'11 and the photo of Simone Biles said 4'8".

On 5/4/2025 at 6:29 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

Why are ghosts a problem now? Was that a jab toward CBS' primetime comedy, or the movie, "Sinners"? (Which has a predominantly Black cast and has been killing it at the box office. DEI, natch. 😉)

16 hours ago, peeayebee said:

When he first mentioned 'ghosts,' I thought it was about the TV show, but after that, I didn't get it. Maybe you're right about it being about Sinners. There's also a Kevin Bacon show called The Bondsman, where he's a dead guy brought back to earth to work for the devil or something. 

14 hours ago, MrWhyt said:

Ghost are a problem because trump is a stupid person, there doesn't have to more too it. Plus Sinners (which is excellent and everyone should go see) has vampires.

He explained it; he's being visited by 3 ghosts on xmas eve, which is a reference to A Christmas Carol, which makes him Scrooge, which refers back to his announcement that kids will have to make do with fewer dolls (gifts) this xmas, as a result of the amazing tariffs he has imposed.

15 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

And I like Benson Boone as a performer, so the musical segments were good too.

He an sing, I can understand what he's singing, and he seems to enjoy what he's doing (high energy).

 

[Joimiaroxeu]

15 hours ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

He explained it; he's being visited by 3 ghosts on xmas eve, which is a reference to A Christmas Carol, which makes him Scrooge, which refers back to his announcement that kids will have to make do with fewer dolls (gifts) this xmas, as a result of the amazing tariffs he has imposed.

I tend not to pay attention as much when JAJ does his cold open bit now, but I listened enough not to hear anything as labyrinthine as this explanation. Maybe SNL needs to put the bit in a timeout for a while forever.

[possibilities]

I love Quinta Brunson, but I never have and probably never will understand the appeal of Betty Boop. 

I thought the Xmas Carol reference was very obvious. Maybe people  missed it would have gotten it more if it had aired in December, though.

 

Edited May 7 by possibilities

[peeayebee]

Yes, the Christmas Carol reference was obvious, but it came out of nowhere. Most of the other EOs were out of the news in some way, except for the Latina babies getting their ears pierced (just something for Rubio to be humiliated over) and the NYT Connections game. Plus, Christmas is months away.

[possibilities]

He was talking this week about the economy and how kids don't need so many gifts for xmas. That, plus the way he's been saying he doesn't care if prices go up, or shelves are bare, and his administration has been laying off thousands of people from their jobs, is what made them compare him to Scrooge. The reality is, xmas is not til Dec, but businesses need to be ordering merchandise now, and the news has been full of reports that companies are NOT ordering, because of the tariffs. The Scrooge comparison didn't come out of newhere, it was ripped from the headlines. But if you don't follow the news, I see that it would seem out of season.

[Kimmmmmm]

On 5/4/2025 at 5:49 AM, Psychobunny said:

I like this host. Not a bad show. Keenan killed in the Aa skit.

But what was up with the musical guest? He was like every singer you were shamed for liking in the late 70s-early 80s. Honestly not a type of music I’d ever think would come back with vibes of Air Supply, Randy Newman and Barry Manilow. 

Hell of a lot better than most of the non-talents on display here... i.e. Sabrina Carpenter, Ice Spice, Billie Eilish, and so on and so on.

[ItCouldBeWorse]

4 hours ago, Kimmmmmm said:

Hell of a lot better than most of the non-talents on display here... i.e. Sabrina Carpenter, Ice Spice, Billie Eilish, and so on and so on.

Billie Eilish has an amazing voice (in my opinion) and also co-writes her material. Some of her stagecraft is impressive.  I think she's supremely talented. (And I'm waaay older than she is.)

[Kimmmmmm]

7 minutes ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

Billie Eilish has an amazing voice (in my opinion) and also co-writes her material. Some of her stagecraft is impressive.  I think she's supremely talented. (And I'm waaay older than she is.)

To me, she sounds like.shd needs a respirator...but, to each his/her own.

[MediaZone4K]

Quinta is racing toward 5 timers status!

[Tdoc72]

3 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

Quinta is racing toward 5 timers status!

She’s short so her 5 timer jacket could be a dress/robe. 

[The Solution]

20 hours ago, Kimmmmmm said:

Hell of a lot better than most of the non-talents on display here... i.e. Sabrina Carpenter, Ice Spice, Billie Eilish, and so on and so on.

I'm just waiting for them to ask Joni Mitchell amd/or the real Bob Dylan to come on and do a pole dance. (Yeah, I'm old.)

[Arkay]

On 5/4/2025 at 6:29 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

Sigh, Benson Boone. Did he have something to prove after his Grammys backflip debacle? He kind of looked like Paul Mescal to me, minus 100 pounds. (I've been watching Mescal in Gladiator 2 and dang, he was built.)

That’s so funny. I just watched Gladiator 2 yesterday while on an airplane, saw SNL on tape today and thought he looked like the OTHER Star, Pedro Pascal.