Cold Open
President Trump interrupts a mayoral debate on NY1.
• “You’re watching NY1.” This is gonna suck!!!!
• Immediately we begin with Kenan doing a horrible meta joke about how his character is the “least famous person to be impersonated by SNL”. Can you please just leave already???
• Great to see our host appear in the cold open. Come to think of it, he was in the cold open of his last episode, too,
• This time he’s playing Andrew Cuomo. Okay, he doesn’t look or sound a thing like Cuomo, but I’ll give him a chance.
• We get some tired jokes about how he has a thing for women’s breasts.
• *sigh* A pointless appearance from Ramy Youssef as Zohran Mamdani. Say, didn’t you have a Muslim guy in the cast last year that you did nothing with and fired him for no reason? That was awesome.
• I sure love it when the characters explain every single joke and action for us, like we’re fucking blind.
• *double sigh* ANOTHER FUCKING CAMEO already??? This time from Shane Gillis as Curtis Sliwa?!??
• I think the top comment sums it up best: the actual debate is “more humorous than this could ever hope to be”.
Monologue
Miles talks about how he dressed up as the Roxbury Guys for Halloween.
• That’s odd. Just like last time, his monologue involves him reminiscing about an SNL-related incident from his childhood.
• The old photo of him and his sisters as the Roxbury Guys is pretty funny.
• Miles: “We just look like little Greek men.”
• Now we’re getting into more serious territory when he talks about how he and his wife lost their home in the Palisades Fire earlier in the year.
• A fairly short monologue and not as good as his last one, but at least it was quick.
Sketch: What Did I Do Last Night?
A game show where hungover contestants have to remember what they were doing the previous night.
• “Gay Fopay”???? UGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
• Funny visual of Miles dressed as an ear of corn.
• Kenan, referring to Veronika’s cat costume: “If you were at the shelter, you’d be put down, girl!”
• Kam looks almost unrecognizable as the guy who comes out and plays the sax.
• I love the video footage of Ben pissing on an ATM.
• While not the worst game show sketch I’ve seen, it definitely didn’t belong on the show this early.
Film: Property Brothers
The Property Brothers help Trump renovate the White House.
• I got an immediate laugh from Miles playing both of the Property Brothers.
• Uh-oh, I’m a bit weary with the turn this has taken towards making fun of Trump’s White House renovations.
• As much as I’m happy to see James get more screen time, I question the need to see his Trump more than once in a single episode.
• Okay, I’ll admit, he actually does have some funny bits here, and this is a nice change from his usual routines.
• A super hacky joke regarding Melania’s Halloween decorations, which is about 8 years out of date.
• Speaking of Melania, Chloe’s “impression” is just awful. Now I’m actually kind of relieved she didn’t do an accurate voice in that White Lotus parody last season.
• I love the picture of Trump as Master Chief.
• *sigh* Another joke trying to imply Russian collusion in the 2016 election…
• I won’t lie, I did laugh at Trump deporting all of his construction workers.
• Overall, I’m surprised at how many decent jokes were in this, but there were also a ton of old, outdated ones as well. Special props to Miles for playing both of the lead roles.
Sketch: Hockey PSA
PSA filming goes wrong.
• Ashley looks like Anne Robinson here.
• I laughed at Andrew’s line about how he and Ashley were responsible for the J.G. Wentworth commercial where they sing on a bus. I also love how they’re characterized as snobbish art film directors who would have no business directing a simple hockey PSA.
• Being someone who has no interest in hockey, I had no idea Nashville even has a team.
• Great running gag with Andrew’s character claiming responsibility for various horrible commercials that everyone hates. He deserves an Emmy for his performance in this sketch alone.
• Not caring for the main joke of this sketch so far.
• Nice dig at the infamous Kendall Jenner Pepsi commercial.
• The whole Predator confusion gets old after about a minute, but I love the kid’s gleeful delivery of “This is the Predator that forever altered the course of my life!”
Film: Gone Without A Trace
The story of three husbands whose wives mysteriously “disappeared”.
• Ben is all over this episode so far.
• I’m really liking where this is going, and I don’t even watch these Netflix documentaries.
• Funny reveal that their wives didn’t actually disappear at all, and were just busy doing stuff by themselves.
• Solid performances all around from everyone.
• Shockingly, Kenan probably had the best part of the entire sketch, when he encounters “two small men” (his children) who chase him into the hallway.
• I love the bit with Miles immediately going on Tinder when he thinks that his wife will never come back.
• Nice ending with Kenan getting “attacked” by his kids again.
• Overall, that was surprisingly good. The pretapes this season have been decent so far.
Sketch: Newspoint
Strange goings-on interrupt a news broadcast.
• Surprisingly committed pratfall from Mikey at the start of this sketch.
• This seems like a dumb sketch on paper, but I’m enjoying it so far.
• I’m shocked at how well Chloe’s doing as the anchor, especially compared to how little she’s given a shit in the last few episodes.
• Priceless visual of Miles’ character looking at anime titties on his computer, and punching the screen when Kenan takes notice.
• I can imagine the writer of this sketch coming up with the idea after noticing how many news broadcasts have these wide open views of the newsroom in the background.
• Great delivery from Bowen after his character gets electrocuted.
• This episode is on a roll with these last two sketches!
Musical Performance: “Church & State”
Weekend Update (featuring George Santos and Two People Who Just Hooked Up)
• Michael Che’s anti-women shtick is really getting tired at this point. I wouldn’t be surprised if he genuinely holds those views.
• Sick 9/11 “joke” regarding Giuliani’s poll numbers.
• *Bowen enters as George Santos* GYAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! What is this doing on Update again?????
• Thank God that Bowen is out of here in a few episodes because I’m tired of ranting about how awful his commentaries are.
• Finally, a genuine laugh from the joke about Kamala Harris losing the Cameroonian election.
• Pretty good slam at Kid Rock.
• Ah, another pairing of Ashley and Andrew after how good they were as a duo earlier.
• Just like before, their chemistry in this commentary is absolutely killer.
• Andrew: “Democrats need to say, look, it’s too big! Would you be willing to…try something smaller???”
• Even the brief bit of jabbing at Colin was amusing enough.
• I wonder if any of this was ad-libbed. Ashley and Andrew’s performances come off as a bit too casual for it to be just a sketch. If I’m wrong, though, major props to them for making it sound real!
• Well, it only took four episodes, but this is the first commentary all season that I actually enjoyed. That is unbelievable.
Sketch: Press Conference
A reporter hijacks a murder press conference to promote his comic book.
• You know a sketch is gonna be good when it starts with JAJ wearing a mustache.
• What a bizarre concept…but I love it.
• Something about Andrew’s delivery in this sketch is very Jason Sudeikis-esque.
• Ashley continues to prove how essential she is to the cast when she suddenly appears as a loud, screeching character telling JAJ to mind his own business.
• I love how this gradually turns into the reporters asking nothing but “Gar-Girl” questions.
• This whole part about radioactive turds entering the water supply and turning into rain is just amazing.
• The actual killer showing up just to ask Gar-Girl questions is great, too. I love his corny line at the end where he’s relieved that he’ll be able to get some reading done in prison.
• Overall, Andrew’s amazing night continues.
Musical Performance: “Human”
Sketch: Italian Restaurant
Two flirtatious waiters interrupt a couple’s romantic date.
• Here’s a fun game I just came up with: every time there’s a sketch in a restaurant, take a shot!
• Yippee, more bad Italian stereotypes…
• I’m surprised that this is the first we’ve seen of Marcello tonight. He was not missed at all.
• Boy, this is some really hacky shit. Is this a rejected Carol Burnett sketch or something?
• Now this is turning into another sketch where Mikey gets cucked? No thank you!
• Not helping matters is that this sketch seems to have been shortened for time reasons. You’d think that they would upload the full dress version online, but they did not.
Final thoughts: Color me shocked. That was actually a pretty good episode, much better than the last time Miles hosted. Is it too early to wish for him to become a potential Five-Timer?
Best sketches: Gone Without A Trace, Newspoint, Two People Who Just Hooked Up commentary, Press Conference
Worst sketches: Cold Open, George Santos commentary, Italian Restaurant
Next review: Nikki Glaser/Sombr