Saturday Night Live Premiere Recap: Jean Smart Leads a Cavalcade of Cameos

As a long-time enthusiast of Saturday Night Live, I must say that this week’s episode was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Bowen Yang, with his delicate portrayal and broad physical comedy, reminded me why he is one of my favorite cast members. It felt like watching a talented artist struggling to break free from the constraints of their canvas, only to be sprayed fully in the face with a hose – a delightful blend of the profound and the absurd!

We are so back! Well, maybe not quite that back just yet, but back nonetheless.

During a particularly action-packed summer this year, it’s understandable that Saturday Night Live decided to take a break. Given the events surrounding Donald Trump’s near-assassination, it seems unlikely that the show could have been anything but uncomfortable had they aired live at that time.

After a break of four months, the first comedy sketch episode back on SNL is usually a blend, as the writers and actors need time to get back into the swing of things. Just because it kicked off season 50, which is like their 50th wedding anniversary, doesn’t mean it was automatically exempt from this pattern. However, while it didn’t quite reach the level of a blockbuster, last night’s season premiere showed definite signs of heating up.

In a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter, SNL’s boss Lorne Michaels expressed his desire for his 50th season celebration to involve returning cast members who hold a special affinity for the show, not necessarily as hosts but simply making appearances. This intention was clear from the start, as evidenced by the opening sketch filled with cameos from familiar faces of SNL’s history. (Further details on this later.)

Season 50 isn’t merely celebrating its past glories. Instead, it represents a bold stride towards the future. This new phase brings fresh opening title cards, a novel show font, and three fresh faces that we’ll likely get to know. Notably, this season is introduced by a debut host, Jean Smart, who, at 73 years old, is experiencing the peak of her career with her critically acclaimed performance in the hit TV comedy “Hacks.

Smart primarily sticks to one style – the polished deadpan humor – but it’s the top-shelf version, and Saturday Night Live skillfully employs it. By paying tribute to a legendary entertainer and providing a sneak peek at this season’s star guests, it sets a promising tone for a historic run.

Here are the highlights:

Harris and Trump Rallies Cold Open

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=pg4Z1M_GjhQ

Despite it being expected that Maya Rudolph would reappear on SNL following Joe Biden’s endorsement of Kamala Harris, there was uncertainty surrounding other characters throughout the summer. Now, we can reveal the truth: Governor Tim Walz, Harris’s fellow Midwesterner, will be portrayed by Jim Gaffigan this season, a significant improvement in authenticity compared to popular choice Steve Martin, whose character is as coastal as they come. Apart from Gaffigan, however, this season of SNL features a family reunion, with former cast members Andy Samberg and Dana Carvey playing Doug Emhoff and Joe Biden respectively. The only major new role being handled in-house is JD Vance’s, played by Bowen Yang this season, solidifying his status as the cornerstone of the current cast.

This supersized sketch has a lot of introducing to do, so everyone gets only scant time to make an impression. The standout so far is inarguably Carvey. His Biden is a late-stage Biden — the guy everyone watched self-immolate in a debate against Trump over the summer. Playing the 81-year-old president as aghast, confused, and inarticulate could easily amount to an unkind impersonation, but in Carvey’s masterful hands, there is zero heightening — only dead-on accuracy. In a career marked by decades’ worth of remarkable impressions, Carvey’s Biden instantly joins the pantheon.

Spirit Halloween Ad

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=gG0x7u86hGo

This misleading advertisement functions as a satire of one of the most peculiar and inexplicably successful business practices prevalent today, while simultaneously offering commentary on the erosion of the American middle class. However, it’s Chloe Fineman playfully patting a child on the nose after telling her she’ll never be Taylor Swift that elicits the biggest chuckle.

Textbook Writer

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=UJ0y7YRdreY

An illustrative instance showcasing the creation of a comic scene based on a character’s personality, Smart assumes the role of a romance novelist unexpectedly tasked with writing a book of math problems. (“Clarissa gazes intently into the Italian’s eyes, becoming utterly captivated by his musky scent,” is one such example.) The host expresses genuine confusion as to why publishers wouldn’t embrace math problems centered around multiplication, infused with a touch of exasperation. This sketch may be remembered for popularizing the term “erection-last” in everyday language.

Weekend Update: Baby Hippo Moo Deng on Fame

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=vfIbbP3vuwA

If Yang had simply played his new Weekend Update character, viral baby hippo Moo Deng, as just a typical diva, it would have been well-received. However, infusing her with the struggles of Chappell Roan, a character who’s grappling with sudden, overwhelming fame, adds a clever twist to the story. This is particularly relevant considering Yang’s own experiences with adapting to stardom, as evidenced by a recent New Yorker article titled “Bowen Yang Is Sorry He’s Not Your Clown Today.” The piece stands out due to its blend of Yang’s subtle portrayal of an overwhelmed singer and the comedic element of getting drenched in a hose, which could potentially make it a notable inclusion in best-of-season compilations.

A Father’s Promise

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

Typically, sketches that are edited out due to time constraints seem to be the least important ones among the group (such as the one in House of Dragons). However, this particular sketch appears to have been meant for broadcast and something unexpected happened – a temporal anomaly or a sudden surge of events. It’s almost unjust that this Andrew Dismukes showcase, a twisted portrayal of the businessman father’s arrival in every family movie climax, didn’t reach the largest audience. If there’s any fairness in comedy, it will have a lasting existence on the internet.

Cut for Time

• Jean Smart singing Cole Porter’s “I Happen to Like New York” between monologue jokes is a nice way to reclaim her roots on Broadway, where she debuted in 1981, playing Marlene Dietrich in Piaf.

It appears to be an error to place a lighthearted and impression-focused game show like “The $100,000 Pyramid” directly after the guest-heavy opening segment in the lineup. But since we got to see a hilarious fake chimp making threatening gestures during that sketch, everything is now forgotten.

Hannah Einbinder, a star from the show “Hacks,” who might soon be hosting herself, dropped by to assist Smart in introducing musical guest Jelly Roll in an incredibly charming scene. It’s worth noting that Einbinder shares the same veins as Saturday Night Live, given she is the daughter of original cast member Laraine Newman.

In any episode other than the season opener during this specific election year, the cold open would typically focus on the most significant news event of the week: Mayor Eric Adams being indicted on federal charges. However, that story was relegated to a segment on the Update desk, where Devon Walker made his debut as the character, showcasing a more stylish interpretation (Previously, this role was played by former cast member Chris Redd, who was reportedly adored by Adams).

While using Adolf Hitler as a point of comparison for Donald Trump’s actions has often been seen as a predictable and partisan tactic, the remark made at about the two-minute mark during this Weekend Update segment truly warrants an exception due to its astonishing nature.

Instead of being exactly related to the “I Love Lucy” sketch, Chloe Fineman seems incredibly fitting within a 1950s sitcom atmosphere.

Similar to Mayor Eric Adams, Troye Sivan is now represented by two different actors on SNL. Most recently, Sarah Sherman portrayed him in “the Charli xcx Talk Show”, while last season, Timothee Chalamet transformed him into a nightmarish sleeper demon.

In the sketch titled “The Real Housewives”, Ashley Padilla is the one who stands out among the occasional new cast members, as she delivers a noteworthy scene where she defends her professional image amidst numerous servings of fajitas. This brief, yet impactful moment might pique viewer curiosity about what other interesting aspects she has to offer in future episodes.

2024-09-29 21:54