Rosalind OConnor/NBC
Hey, everybody, a hearty welcome back toSNLin Review. Tonight'sSaturday Night Livehost has had a big week: On Thursday,Teyana Taylorreceived an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. As formerSNLcast memberJeff Richardsputs it to me, "Teyana Taylor is one of the best parts ofOne Battle After Another. She's electric in her scenes withSpicoli.P.T.outdid himself casting her." (It's true.)
Taylor is the latest host to visit Studio 8H amid awards season buzz. I am thinkingTimothée Chalametfrom last season, for instance. Or check out the somewhat infamousJeremy Irons monologue.
Anyway, Geese are this week's musical guest. Should be a fun show! Let's see…
Cold Open
It's the inaugural Trump Awards, the first ceremony honoring the best at being or succumbing to Donald Trump's many ego needs. James Austin Johnson's Trump is of course the ceremony's host. He notes that this is all a diversion from what the psychos at ICE are doing, and you feel the chill in the audience. It's a dark thing to say but right on a few fronts — tough to do broad comedy after seeing what's coming out of Minnesota.
"Speaking of your beard, how's your wife, Usha?" he hisses at Jeremy Culhane's toady JD Vance. Other participants include Amy Madigan's aunt Gladys fromWeapons, played by Sarah Sherman, and another terrifying figure: Stephen Miller (Andrew Dismukes).
I love the high concept here. Arguably this is a week late, as they joked about the Nobel Peace Prize embarrassment during "Update"last week. A lot of strong stuff here though, absolutely watch it. Easily the best cold open of the season, and not close.
The recent cold opens have been pretty stark — just Johnson riffing. This is darker, more complicated. It really captures the hellscape we're all in. It's an old-school cold approach, harking back to when guys like Mike Myers were on the show… Wait, speaking of Myers, there he is as Elon Musk, presenting a dystopian song honoring some of the groups and values we've lost in the past year, such as DEI. (Carrie Underwood and a guy from the Village People perform.)
Monologue
Taylor is a Harlem native but she's cold. That's why she bought a spot in Miami. Yes, half the U.S. is getting hit with a huge snowstorm.
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No surprise, she talks about her Oscar nomination. She learned about it while getting fitted for a bald cap next to Mikey Day, ha. She was on MTV'sMy Super Sweet 16! Taylor is very eclectic and describes her busy, challenging work schedule. She's also a mom and recalls looking up with pride during her Golden Globes win to see her kids… scrolling on their phones. They recreate that moment here in the studio, cute.
Shrimp & Grits
It's a big old winter storm at New York International Airport. The airline staffers Shrimp & Grits (Kenan Thompson, Taylor) share an update via song. Everyone is delayed. They don't make the rules, they just sing 'em. Good use of Taylor's background as an R&B singer. (Her fourth album,Escape Room, received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album recently.) I like JAJ's pilot too.
Toy Commercial
One Battle After Another, the critically lauded drama about revolutionaries combating racial tyranny, is now a toy line! (And video game.) We see action figures of all the characters, such as Ghetto Pat and Junglepussy, with Taylor reprising her role as Perfidia. I'm not sure the crowd entirely knows specific references to Benicio del Toro (whocameoed onSNLearlierthis season during the season premiere) and "few small beers" or Sean Penn's Col. Lockjaw, but I love the show putting trust in them. Again, very old-school move, like the excellent cold open.
This is a great commercial parody of the movie, and some nice references to other Paul Thomas Anderson movies, such asThere Will Be Blood(which reminds me ofBill Hader's great spoofof Daniel Plainview from back in the day).
NFL on ESPN
Troy and Joe — Dismukes and Johnson — are hosting commentary on the NFL playoffs. A show about queer chefs is streaming now on Hulu!Quefs! The hosts keep having to plug it as they toss over to Lisa (Taylor).
The Power of You
It's a confidence class hosted by Cassi (Ashley Padilla). She was once passed over for a job, which crushed her. Until she learned a job does not define her. The class becomes obsessed and very critical of her appearance and resume. Turns out she was a Dolly Parton impersonator and wanted to become Michelle Obama's speechwriter (she wrote the FLOTUS doing crowd work).
Padilla and this entire premise remind me of "Driver's Ed" fromI Think You Should Leave—"Tables!"Padilla kind of has a Tim Robinson air to her, seeing her get pushed into corners and react loudly out from the humiliation. Similar comedic DNA.
This recap will be updating in real time…
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