Saturday Night Live Recap: Failure to Launch

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Okay, so everyone says this, but Miles Teller just has one of those faces you want to playfully punch – it’s a running joke about him, and it’s definitely not about who he is as a person! He actually seemed really excited and genuinely happy to be hosting Saturday Night Live again, especially during his monologue. It was sweet because he talked about being a fan of the show growing up, just like the first time he hosted. He really seems like a good guy who loves SNL! But honestly, the funnier the show was this week, the more he leaned into that slightly annoying, confident persona he has. It was weirdly perfect, and it got a lot of laughs!

Last night’s show didn’t quite hit its stride, and that might be because it started off feeling flat. The opening sketch was based on the New York City mayoral debate, which everyone had already discussed extensively online for over a week. It didn’t offer any new insights, and while Teller did a good impression of Andrew Cuomo (this was the third time a host appeared in the opening sketch this season), the other candidates were played by guest actors instead of regular cast members.

Ramy Youssef and Shane Gillis didn’t deliver performances strong enough to warrant taking time away from the show’s newer, deserving cast members. It’s frustrating that the show consistently chooses brief celebrity appearances over giving its already talented ensemble a chance to shine. These cameos are ultimately forgettable – you just think, ‘Oh, I recognize that person,’ and that’s it.

Saturday Night Live’s latest episode struggled to gain momentum after a slow beginning. This season, the show feels like it’s searching for a new identity. With the departure of established stars like Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner, the cast is clearly working to find its rhythm. While new players Ashley Padilla and Veronika Slowikowska are promising, and veterans Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang, and Mikey Day remain reliable, the season still lacks a certain spark. It’s still early, and a strong host, like Sabrina Carpenter, can help mask any weaknesses. However, last week’s host, Teller, didn’t quite have the energy needed to divert attention from the show’s current challenges; his understated style wasn’t captivating enough to overcome the growing pains the cast is experiencing.

Nevertheless, here are the highlights:

Hockey PSA

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

This sketch features Andrew Dismukes and Ashley Padilla directing a public service announcement for the NHL, with Miles Teller, Ben Marshall, and Tommy Brennan playing hockey players. The humor comes from Teller’s character being a member of the Nashville Predators, leading to awkward lines in the PSA – which Dismukes and Padilla wrote and directed. The sketch really shines because of how those uncomfortable lines escalate, and Teller’s increasingly frustrated reaction to saying them.

Missing Wives Docuseries

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

The new Netflix crime series follows three husbands – played by Miles Teller, Ben Marshall, and Kenan Thompson – whose wives vanish during work trips and family visits, and the husbands knew about these trips. The show’s trailer is particularly funny because of details like Teller’s character quickly creating a Tinder profile after his wife goes missing, and Thompson being frightened by his own kids.

Newsroom

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=QRY12mraV40

The sketch starts with a straightforward premise – a news broadcast constantly disrupted by activity in the open-plan newsroom – and then fills it with silly, over-the-top physical comedy. Teller shines as a deliberately annoying coworker who watches adult content on his computer. However, Bowen Yang steals the show with his total commitment to a particularly wild bit involving an electric shock.

Weekend Update

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=IoPOxas0ljQ

I don’t usually love the Weekend Update segment on SNL, but I really enjoyed Colin Jost’s opening bit about the White House Halloween event. He pointed out that President Trump once put candy on a child’s head, and said it perfectly represents his presidency – a complete break from what any other president would do. It wasn’t a traditional joke, but it was still humorous. Michael Che also deserves credit for calling Curtis Sliwa “the world’s only White Panther.”

Weekend Update: Two People Who Just Hooked Up

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

Andrew Dismukes and Ashley Padilla, portraying a couple who just met, visited the Update desk to jokingly discuss the government shutdown, their blossoming (and quickly escalating) relationship, and playfully bother Colin Jost. The most memorable part of the segment was the fantastic chemistry between Dismukes and Padilla – they’re both talented actors and completely convincing as a couple. In just a few minutes, they hilariously covered the entire arc of their relationship, from how they met to a fight, with a memorable scene taking place in Jost’s office. Hopefully, we’ll see these two work together again, as they’re a joy to watch.

Cut for Time

Chloe Fineman and Marcello Hernandez reprise their recurring sketch where they playfully embarrass a husband (played by Mikey Day) on a date, this time set in an Italian restaurant.

I didn’t really connect with the “Hungover Halloween” sketch, but the one where they asked who everyone kissed the night before, using the same choices as before, was genuinely funny.

• “Bill Clinton said that? He said that the best perk for him was the movie theater?”

Okay, so Bowen Yang did his George Santos impression on Weekend Update again. It’s not my absolute favorite of his characters, but I have to admit, the bit with him pretending to be on a prison phone was genuinely hilarious. He really nailed it with that recurring gag.

I think Ashley Padilla is poised for a breakout season, similar to Heidi Gardner. She consistently delivers strong performances, even in weaker sketches – her screaming in the “Murder Press Briefing” sketch, around the three-minute mark, was a real highlight and almost saved it.

• “But George, I was actually born very rich.”

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2025-11-02 21:56