Saturday Night Live Recap: Josh O’Connor Kissed Everyone Except You

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New Saturday Night Live host Josh O’Connor is aware most people recognize him from films like Challengers, and he playfully acknowledges the interest in seeing him in romantic scenes. Beyond that, it’s impressive he even had time to host the show! The actor has been incredibly busy, with the recent release of the new Knives Out movie, as well as three other films – The Mastermind, The History of Sound, and Rebuilding – all coming out this year.

I was really looking forward to this episode, and I had a good feeling about this actor. He’s charismatic, and honestly, British actors just seem to bring something extra to their performances – whether it’s genuine talent or just their accents, it makes me pay attention. Even if he was a little nervous or didn’t have much to do, it always helps when an actor is attractive. I clearly have a knack for this – I’d be a fantastic casting director!

As the episode progressed, my initial expectations seemed pretty accurate. The writers cleverly used his appearance and “soft boy” image, referencing his time on “Bachelorette Party Strippers.” He also delivered a funny monologue, joking, “For those who recognize me, but can’t quite place where from, no, I’m not the mouse from Flushed Away.” O’Connor recounted how a past comment about loving Ratatouille led to a rumor he wanted to star in a live-action remake – something he clarified he doesn’t actually want, but would be perfectly cast as Linguini if it ever happened. I was expecting a connection to the movie Challengers to be made, either in the monologue or later in the show, and the sudden ending makes me think some content was cut. It’s a shame no one had any churros to offer!

O’Connor often played the straight man, a role he excelled at, though it sometimes meant he wasn’t given enough to do. He did get chances to be different, like when he played a reindeer in a parody on Actors on Actors or the Tin Man in a Wizard of Oz sketch. In the “College Class” sketch, he brilliantly portrayed a student having an unexpectedly intense argument with his mom, matching Bowen Yang’s energy. It would have been great to see him play more comedic or over-the-top characters, similar to Jon Hamm’s role in this episode, and he was certainly capable of it.

He was still fun to watch, particularly in scenes with Ashley Padilla and Yang, who both really shone in this episode. Padilla has been getting well-deserved attention all season, and this week she had even more screen time. She’s so good at creating detailed characters that she can play two elderly women in the same episode and make them feel like completely different people. Yang, fresh off his work in Wicked For Good, is really coming into his own and becoming a key player on the show. Earlier in the season, there were questions about how the show would adjust after some cast members left, but now that we’re halfway through, Yang feels essential to the show’s success.

Here are the highlights:

Let’s Find Love

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=FXJv9PlCtb8

Ashley Padilla has created another fantastic character! This story centers on a timid dating show contestant (played by Josh O’Connor) choosing between three potential partners, including an 84-year-old woman who was allowed on the show only after they lifted the age limit. Padilla brilliantly portrays this contestant, zooming around on a motorized scooter with a delightfully wild energy – she feels like she’s making a break for freedom! The humor is heightened by Padilla’s spot-on impressions and rapid-fire delivery. There are several lines I know I’ll be quoting, like “I got a joke. My sister’s a bitch,” “Getting my cheese right,” and a hilariously loud “Why should I go?” when someone suggests attending a wedding without cake – and honestly, that’s a completely valid question. No cake? Why bother going?

Teaching Hospital

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=l1sTpOSv8XU

Bowen Yang’s hilarious character, Doctor Please (inspired by Law Roach), is back on SNL, this time with a new intern, played by Josh O’Connor. The poor patient, played by Andrew Dismukes, just wants to understand his test results. Unfortunately, the intern doesn’t seem to know much – and the bloodstains on his uniform aren’t helping! Despite potentially being related, the doctor and intern are clearly in love, and a running joke tracks how many kisses they share. Adding to the fun, the asides from the nurse (played by Padilla) announcing patients were perfectly timed and funny.

Ashley: “Doctor, your five o’clock—”

Bowen: “—is dead?”

Ashey: “No. Is ugly.”

Bowen: “Then kill him.”

Bachelorette Party Strippers

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=B1rqMNiSOOc

You’ve probably seen the photos of Josh O’Connor and Ben Marshall kissing on SNL. This sketch is memorable not just because it was the second kiss between them on the show, but also because it was really funny. They play sensitive, bookish strippers hired for a bachelorette party. They start by stripping off sweaters, only to reveal another sweater underneath, which keeps building the humor. There’s a playful tension and a lap dance that leads to the bride accidentally breaking her wine glass. When the groom walks in, the strippers surprisingly beat him up and throw him out! The sudden violence is quickly followed by a kiss, which is a really unexpected twist.

College Class

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=LOM-LGHpMe8&t

The short film Heatherrrrr follows a group of college students preparing for their final exams. Among them is Simon (Yang), a remarkably gifted twelve-year-old. He’s trying to fit in, but his overbearing mother (Padilla) constantly interrupts, embarrassing him in front of his friends. Simon has a distinctive way of yelling “HEATHER!” at his mom that becomes a running joke. When another student, Marshall, makes a rude comment about Simon’s mom, Simon unexpectedly defends her with surprising passion – a moment that’s both endearing and humorous. One particularly funny line is, “She could be a reporter! That’s how hot she is!” Another student, played by O’Connor, initially appears calm but eventually ends up yelling at his own mother.

Lily Allen Brunch

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=44WI45cq9Cg

I’m a pretty easygoing person, and I always enjoy when Saturday Night Live closes with a musical number. Even more so when there’s a live animal! This sketch featured a group of friends at brunch singing about their problems – kind of like Lily Allen, and Veronika Slowikowska’s impression of her was perfect. O’Connor showed up partway through, and Allen made a sweet appearance at the end. But the funniest parts, for me, involved the ferrets – especially the joke about Jane Wickline’s ferret getting an IUD, and the surprise ferret at the very end.

Cut For Time

I just realized Dakota Johnson was playing Madeline – it didn’t click until the scene where she touches Lily Allen’s shoulders. It was a really playful and sexy moment!

James Austin Johnson’s portrayal of Trump in the show’s opening sketch had some funny moments, including lines like, “Yes, we’re doing pirate now. Argh!” and “It’s a medical lasagna, mamma mia! We should all be very worried about my health.”

The joke about SantaCon on Weekend Update got such a big laugh from the audience – it’s like everyone bonded over the shared struggle of getting to 30 Rock while avoiding tinsel and, well, messes.

I really enjoyed the latest “Brad and His Dad” episode. It’s a charming and sincere story, but also delightfully silly – the cartoon takes full advantage of animation to create wonderfully unexpected moments, like Brad getting flattened by a Christmas tree!

Marcello Hernández didn’t seem to be as central in this episode, though I enjoyed seeing him play himself on Weekend Update. It reminded me that he’s a comedian first and foremost, and it’s great to see how much he’s developed as a performer on the show.

• Sarah Sherman pronouncing “courage” as “cooo-raaahj” during the Wizard of Oz sketch really got me.

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2025-12-14 22:55