The Host: Louis CK A
“I’ll give you an example [of mild racism]. If I go to a pizza place I’ve never been to, and it’s run by four black women, I’ll go ‘Huh’. See, it’s very mild.”–Louis CK
Holy fuck, that was the best monologue I’ve seen all season. That might even be some of my new favorite Louis CK bits. How ballsy is that, to speak for eight minutes on racism and child molestation, and still have the audience on your side? It really set the tone for the rest of the episode, which had some of the season’s best writing. And of course, Louis (back to host for the third time) rocked hosting duties. He seems more at ease than last time, allowing himself to have a bit of fun (clearly enjoying the audience reaction to his monologue, and breaking the tiniest bit in his sketch with Leslie Jones). Excellent host to end the season.
And if I may say so, Louis CK has a pretty great French accent in his back pocket.
Really Delightful
Summertime Cold Open; Hilary Clinton A
“I have the perfect peaceful day planned. On the final day of my eight years as President, my soul will leave my body, shoot into the sky, and become an eternal ball of bright white light. Then, and only then, shall I know peace.” –Hilary Clinton
I believe this is the first time all season that a Cold Open has made it to my Really Delightful section. I legitimately laughed out loud a few times. It ran about a minute too long (though it was worth it to get everyone in on the fun for the finale), and I wanted Hilary to interrupt the song earlier and earlier so we didn’t have to keep listening to it, but that wasn’t enough to turn me off from it. It was truly a delightful surprise when McKinnon showed up as Hilary after the first song; I honestly did not expect it.
And I’m excited that McKinnon got the spot for the Hilary impersonation; I love the calm psychosis hers entails. SNL is typically at its best during election season, so if it can figure out how to use its claws, we could be in for an exciting season 41.
TV Gems: Whoops! I Married a Lesbian; All Players A
“Why did it fail? I do not know. That is not why I am here. I am not a good guesser!” –Reese D’What
REESE! D’WHAT! This is easily, hands down, my all-time favorite Kenan character ever (including everyone he’s played on All That). I get so tickled when he says his own name. Guys, he’s just not a good guesser! Plus, I get love when Kate McKinnon finally gets to be a lesbian in sketches, so I was sold from the start.
This was such a deliciously silly idea: all male writers who have never met a lesbian in their lives decide it’s a good idea to write a show about lesbians. Complete with the lesbians deciding kissing men is best after all. And it is incredibly well cast; these hams play 50’s sitcom stereotypes to a tee. Can we just have Bryant and McKinnon awkwardly pecking each other on an endless loop?
Weekend Update; Riblet A+
“OHHHHHH SHIMMY SHIMMY YO SHIMMY YO SHIMMY YAY. GIMMIE YO JORB SO I CAN TAKE IT AWAY.” -Riblet
Damn, Riblet is funny as hell. Calling a waiter to serve him a mic so he could put on a napkin and drop it in front of Che? CLASSIC. CLASSIC RIBLET. I’m hoping this means Moynihan might be joining the Update desk next season, because let’s be real... Update needs a shakeup and Riblet needs a jorb.
Less Delightful
Cabana; All Players B-
This sketch was a little dry for me, but I also have trouble seeing anyone other than Dwayne Johnson play the aggressive boyfriend. Louis CK is a comedic force, but aggressively, in-your-face man is not really in his wheelhouse (one of many reasons why I dig him). I really would’ve rather seen this one cut, and replaced with another weird sketch of him and Kate McKinnon making out at last call.
Also…that wig with the beard. I don’t know if that’s part of the character choice, or just sloppy, but I do not like it. No no no. Thank you anyway.
Police Lineup; All Players B
This wasn’t even not delightful, it was just predictable. Still enjoyable! But predictable. The actors were very funny in how seriously they took this “audition,” but from the minute the police officer mentioned they were all actors, it was fairly obvious how they were going to play it.
The Louis CK Episode A
This was some of the best SNL gave this season, and I don’t doubt that Louis CK’s presence had a lot to do with that.
Demerits
- This is more of an NBC demerit, but…when I search for SNL clips on the mobile app to rewatch some of these as I’m writing, typing in “Saturday Night Live” brings up clips from The Night Shift, then clips from The Voice, then news footage, and then FINALLY SNL. What the hell.
- I loved the IDEA of the ‘This is How I Talk’ sketch, and the escalation of having him keep up the voice for five years was hilarious, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Yes, Jones did flub another line pretty badly, but I thought she recovered great (which is more important). But it just didn’t tickle me.
- I am sad that we didn’t get Kate McKinnon and Louis CK sloppily making out at the bar as our 10-to-1 sketch; that would’ve made this an A+.
- And we didn’t get a weird Beckett/Mooney video for the finale? We haven’t seen them do something strange and hilarious in forever!
Extra Credit
- THE WOOD PSAs, I JUST CAN’T
- “Ahhh, my last vacation was in 1953. I played a round of hopscotch with a friend. I found it tedious. I mean, why hop when you can march - straight to the White House?”–Hilary Clinton
- “Ahhh haha, fun thing to hear for almost 20 years.”–Hilary Clinton
- “Billary. Rodham. Clinton. What do you think you’re doing?”–Hilary Clinton
- “You know what else is cool? In two years, I’ll be 69. Bill told me to tell that to young men.”–Hilary Clinton
- “You’re running on the beach in a wool suit jacket.”–Summertime Cold Open
- “I’ll give you an example [of mild racism]. If I go to a pizza place I’ve never been to, and it’s run by four black women, I’ll go ‘Huh.’ See, it’s very mild.”–Louis CK
- “Everything’s different than it was in the seventies. Except the Middle East. That is EXACTLY the same.”–Louis CK
- “Because child molesters are very tenacious people.”–Louis CK
- “I think this is my last show, probably.”–Louis CK
- “Did my mom see an NBC executive run over a kid and then drive off?”-Pete Davidson
- “The show’s creator claimed to have met a lesbian once, but it was actually just a drugstore Indian.”–Reese D’What
- “This according to a grilled cheese sandwich I just ate at Che’s mama’s house.” -Riblet
- “Well then call me a Snickers because I’m about to satisfy.” -Riblet