Saturday Night Live Recap: Mikey Madison Puts in an Honest Effort

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In their debut as the host of Saturday Night Live, Anora star and Best Actress Oscar winner Mikey Madison had the chance to make a bigger impact on viewers by displaying her unique personality beyond her roles in Anora and other dramatic performances. This goal was successfully achieved through a monologue that combined various short skits. The audience got a glimpse of her past roles, such as playing two girls on fire, but in reality, Madison revealed herself to be quite relaxed. She shared stories from her “horse girl” past, creating an amusing backstory for her horse: “We were like jailbirds, arrested for the crime of stealing each other’s hearts. I know, it’s hard to believe I was homeschooled, right?” Even her twin brother made a surprise appearance during the show.

The episode seemed to be hindered by certain factors. It appears that Madison may not have been comfortable with comedy, as she came across as somewhat nervous and underutilized throughout the show. The script primarily kept her playing supporting roles, with only a few sketches where she took center stage. I can’t help but wonder if her struggle with comedy is genuine or if it’s simply because she’s not naturally funny despite her charm.

I admired the attempt to avoid stereotyping her as an Anora-related character, but I feel that a greater emphasis on this connection could have been beneficial. In a sneak peek for the episode, Sarah Sherman presented an “Anora Fedora” idea, to which Madison responded with a toothy grin and a hint of sadness, saying, “You guys will have other ideas, right?” This interaction was both heartbreaking and captivating. I would have enjoyed seeing this idea developed into a full-fledged sketch.

In terms of her acting abilities, it should be noted that she was thoroughly dedicated to each role she portrayed during the course of the night, ranging from a teenager who found herself in an unexpected group chat with Pete Hegseth, a girl attempting a risky dive into a pool only to miss, a top student in Marcello Hernandez’s acting class, a mob wife, and Barry the midwife’s adversary – just to name a few. I must admit, her debut in Please Don’t Destroy’s digital short was quite amusing, particularly when she nonchalantly donned a full Squidward costume (though the rest of the short may have faltered upon its transition into the live-action SpongeBob trailer, referencing the Bad Bunny episode). Her performance in the “So Like … What Are We?” sketch was commendable as well, even if her character’s portrayal veered more towards sadness than humor at times. Nevertheless, she consistently displayed a genuine effort in her acting.

The episode, though not heavily featuring Madison, was powerful, boasting remarkable performances from its actors, notably Bowen Yang and Andrew Dismukes. However, it’s uncertain if Madison is a born comedian. Nevertheless, she gave her all in every sketch. With her recent Oscar win and crossing SNL off her list, let’s allow her some well-deserved rest while we enjoy the show!

Here are the highlights:

Acting Coach 2

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=ERJxzGqnhME

It’s great to see that sketch has been revived again. Marcello Hernandez always delivers grand performances, especially as the renowned acting coach. Madison is his star pupil, much to the dismay of the rest of the class. Some memorable moments include the humor surrounding the acting coach’s past roles, such as Wipeout (“I cracked my face on a big red ball.”), What Would You Do with John Quiñones (“It didn’t help and was racially insensitive.”), and almost The White Lotus (“I auditioned for the incest scene with my biological brother, and I didn’t dislike it.”). Andrew Dismukes’ pretense of sleeping upon Hernandez’s demand was also surprisingly amusing.

Weekend Update

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=obf_fXwdQnU

During this week’s Weekend Update, Ashley Padilla truly shone as Joann from Joann Fabrics. Her portrayal of a booze-swigging, marker-inhaling, capri-wearing woman navigating through both comedic and heart-wrenching situations made it clear why she was brought on board. Devon Walker’s jabs at Michael Che about his absence from work and the integration of the Ashton Hall parody within the segment added an extra layer of energy to Weekend Update. Moreover, the exchange between Che and Jost over the Paddington bear skit, with Jost exclaiming “NO!” after being questioned about his well-being, had me in stitches, making this episode one of the funniest I’ve seen.

Pop’s Big Regret

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=p_uiNVtWzic

Peering through a pane, I gaze upon a gathering of my kin, led by Andrew Dismukes, who clings to life beside his devoted brood – James Austin Johnson and Marcello Hernandez. One of the many thoughts gnawing at me is the missed opportunity of delving into stand-up comedy. In jest, I toss around half-baked jokes, leaving my sons bewildered, as if trying to catch a phantom’s laughter. My wife enters, reiterating her signature line, “Make that make sense,” as she plays the part of the strong, no-nonsense matriarch that she is, in this chaotic comedy of life. Madison truly lets loose and shines as the diva she was born to be.

Barry the Midwife

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=xpQ4TLFr4u4

In a new twist, Bowen Yang reappears in a fresh take on his midwife character, now brimming with anger over being overlooked by an OBGYN (portrayed by Madison) whom he encountered outside a Hilary Duff Today Show event during the 2000s, both donning “prescription New Year’s Eve glasses.” The sketch was filled with amusing gags and clever time jumps that managed to cram a wealth of story into a brief span. Madison’s delivery of “serious” as “saaair-ious” and Yang’s portrayal of “furious” as “four-ious” were standout moments, making this one of the evening’s top sketches. The finale with the Hilary Duff dance routine was a fitting conclusion to the sketch.

Planning New York

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=8PqowwECuUA

In this episode, there were more pre-recorded segments or shorts instead of live action, but I’m okay with it. The animated short by Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell about New York’s urban planners in 1620 was particularly enjoyable. It humorously depicted the early planners (voiced by Bowen Yang and Michael Longfellow) making complex decisions that were confusing, using a straightforward concept and visual gags like a chaotic representation of the subway map and one of the characters circling “piss smell.

Cut for Time

Kudos to “Big Dumb Line” for delivering an excellent track and for the appearance of Joe Jonas. The British accents during the performance had me thinking Charli might make a surprise appearance. I also appreciated the clever nod to Amelia Earhart.

In the film “Spring Break,” Sarah Sherman’s sudden, shocking display of vomiting and shrieking can be described as a quick yet intense scene that combines humor with a bizarre form of physical terror reminiscent of an exorcism. Give me more instances like this!

As a fan here, it seems Morgan Wallen is back as a musical guest for the second time, yet there’s been quite a few controversies surrounding him. Shane Gillis, but with music, one could say. It’s intriguing that Wallen left straight after the show without interacting with anyone else, which makes me wonder what happened this week. Instead, I found myself yearning for Doechii during both his performances.

I’m curious if we could create a separate, self-contained performance showcasing Bowen’s “character from the future” from the “Jury Duty” sketch.

• New York should replace “Excelsior” with “B.O.N. P.A.G.O. L.O.C.O. H.O.M.O.”

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2025-03-30 21:54