Saturday Night Live Recap: Nikki Glaser Gets Weird

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Having a stand-up comedian host Saturday Night Live usually means they’re confident in their comedic voice, though they might not be as experienced in sketch comedy. Nikki Glaser, hosting for the first time, fit this pattern, but I didn’t think it hurt the show. Glaser is a seasoned stand-up with several specials and appearances on shows like Not Safe with Nikki Glaser and The Roast of Tom Brady. She’s known for writing clever jokes and delivering them with energy. Her comedic style – bubbly and approachable, but with surprisingly sharp and edgy humor – is what makes her unique. I anticipated a strong opening monologue, but I was curious to see how she’d handle the group scenes.

She performed really well, and the episode was a success! While it was clear throughout the night that Glaser didn’t have much experience with sketch comedy – there were a few mistakes – the show cleverly worked around this. They had her host two pre-taped digital shorts and cast her in roles where she played a more straightforward, supportive character in the group sketches.

As you’d expect with the quick turnaround of creating a sketch show in just a week, not everything landed perfectly. A sketch called “Beauty and Mr. Beast” might have been funny a year ago, but the joke feels dated now. I also thought “Sorority Meeting” aimed for lightheartedness, but the idea of hunting for someone sneaking into a sorority house is difficult to separate from the harmful and widespread negativity towards transgender people, especially given how much that negativity is encouraged by those in positions of power.

Overall, this was one of the better episodes of the season so far, even though there have only been five. It was packed with jokes, and the ideas were surprisingly original and unpredictable – especially the segments with the mechanical bull and the pinwheel. I also really enjoyed how absurd the “Spirit Tunnel Anxiety” sketch was – the performer’s energetic movements were hilarious!

Here are the highlights:

Monologue

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=P08QJ5CK3jY&t=11s

I saw a lot of negative reactions to Sarah Silverman’s monologue, and I understand why. It started with a controversial reference to Epstein and included sensitive material about child abuse – it was a bold and divisive opening. However, I actually thought it was good! Silverman is a seasoned stand-up comedian who’s clearly prepared, and she’s skilled at reading a room. Despite her dark humor, she comes across as genuine and relatable, which is crucial for landing those kinds of jokes. A less talented comedian – or even another recent host like Shane Gillis – might have completely bombed with that material. But she’s so likable that she earned the audience’s trust, allowing her to push boundaries. The monologue was a bit lengthy, like many from stand-up hosts, but it effectively set the stage for a night full of jokes. And my sympathies to RFK Jr. regarding his… unusual tan.

Mechanical Bull

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=DVtzkr2jh1w

At a bachelorette party, comedians Nikki Glaser and Sarah Sherman get hilariously out of control on a mechanical bull. Things take a wild turn when Kenan Thompson accidentally puts it on a setting that sends them on a crazy journey through time and space—even making a stop in Nikki Glaser’s hometown of St. Louis! There’s a country song performance, and the sketch playfully blurs the line between reality and performance, making you wonder if Sarah Sherman was playing a character or just being herself. The whole thing is delightfully chaotic, though one thing is puzzling: why did Jane Wickline have a brief, seemingly unrelated line at the beginning? Hopefully, she’ll get more to say in the future!

Weekend Update

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=dhsLW5qqOqk

The jokes at the mayoral election roast were mostly funny, with one standout bit about Andrew Cuomo campaigning in a white Ford Bronco – a reference to O.J. Simpson’s infamous getaway vehicle. The joke played on the idea that at least Simpson was leading in his ‘race’ for a time. A joke about Zohran Mamdani, ISIS, and pronouns was a bit of a miss, but it’s not a Weekend Update with Che and Jost without a few truly cringe-worthy moments.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=wRp93f2tiTo

This week’s show didn’t feature any characters, but Pete Davidson was on to discuss the failed Staten Island ferry project he and Colin Jost were involved in. He jokingly used the ferry as a reason for accepting money from the Riyadh Comedy Festival – something I wouldn’t have mentioned myself. It was entertaining to watch, particularly when Davidson directly addressed those who pledged to leave New York if Zohran Mamdani won, asking if they’d promised to move but were held back by legal issues in New Jersey or a lack of firearms for a move to Florida.

Pilot Announcement

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=Hk2nllHtPFI

Dealing with personal struggles while still needing to work is incredibly difficult, and this is hilariously illustrated in a sketch about a flight captain. Captain Dave keeps his passengers updated on their delayed flight, but also can’t resist sharing details about his romantic plans in Cleveland.

James Austin Johnson perfectly nails the voice of an airline pilot – it actually made me realize how similar pilots tend to sound! His calm reactions to his co-pilot Richie (Kam Patterson) offering terrible dating advice were hilarious – Richie says things like, “You’ll be swimming in dates!” and Captain Dave responds with a deadpan, “That’s wonderful, Richie.” The news about the flight’s departure keeps getting worse (“We’re 576 planes back!”), but at least Captain Dave’s love life is looking up! It’s a surprisingly funny show with clever writing, and it’s a treat to see Sarah Sherman and Andrew Dismukes making small appearances.

Pinwheel

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=ddYs_w6IffA

If you’re hoping for more unusual sketches on Saturday Night Live, last night was a treat. The sketch featuring Anna (Glaser) saying goodbye to her forest friends started sweetly, with gifts for everyone. But the mice, played by Mikey Day and Jeremy Culhane, quickly became hilariously disruptive with their pinwheels and annoying behavior. Their exaggerated pronunciation of “Anna” felt like something straight out of a nostalgic, early-2000s YouTube video, and it was brilliant. Bowen Yang’s rabbit yelling “NO!” was also a standout – I just love seeing cute animals involved in over-the-top drama!

Cut for Time

I have to say it again – watching Glaser in “Spirit Tunnel Anxiety” was hilarious! The way he moved, so physical and… well, wobbly, just had me genuinely cracking up. It was seriously funny to watch.

• I will try to solve every problem I have as quickly as Andre solved “Andre’s Dilemma.”

A charming and unexpectedly heartwarming animated short, created by Streeter Seidell and Mikey Day, tells the story of a young boy spending the weekend with his father and was a delightful viewing experience.

• Colin Jost starting to introduce Pete Davidson as “Steve.”

• I liked Sombr! More musical guests should be climbing around the set.

Marcello Hernandez wasn’t on the show this week, and Ashley Padilla and Chloe Fineman had smaller roles compared to recent episodes. James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, and Andrew Dismukes appeared frequently, which makes me think producers are testing to see who will replace the outgoing cast members Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner.

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2025-11-09 22:55