SNL Recap: Timothée Chalamet is an Ideal Ambassador for SNL’s Future

In their first week during Trump’s second term, Saturday Night Live was tasked with avoiding a repetition of their performances from his first term. Not only did they manage to do so, but they excelled and made a significant impact.

2017’s SNL wasn’t necessarily terrible; it offered viewers some top-notch humor such as Melissa McCarthy portraying Sean Spicer, a name that seems ancient now, like something from the Bible. However, during that period, SNL tended to overemphasize its significance, which turned out to be its comedic downfall. With Donald Trump’s presidency being an unprecedented shock for many, people were eager to believe that SNL could create satire so profoundly insightful that it would sway Trump supporters and unite the country against him. (How naive liberals were in 2017!) Whether this exaggerated importance was encouraged internally or fueled by Trump’s predictable Twitter outbursts, it attributed too much influence to a comedy show. Many episodes struggled under the burden of a star-studded topical cold open and sketches that haven’t held up well over time.

Moving on to this week, when Biden replaced Trump in the White House, Saturday Night Live (SNL) faced the challenge of setting the tone for Trump 2: The Squeakquel. In the initial scenes, it seemed the show was heading down a grim path. The cold open began with the cast portraying Founding Fathers, but to everyone’s surprise, Lin-Manuel Miranda, a symbol of resistance, appeared as Alexander Hamilton. With the audience in the studio erupting, some viewers at home might have thought about changing channels, thinking NBC had somehow gone back in time to 2017.

Of course, it was all an elaborate fake-out.

In this newly aired episode following the November election, instead of starting off serious as initially expected, it quickly took an unexpected turn when James Austin Johnson’s portrayal of Donald Trump took over the sketch, leading it into a comical twist. This sudden shift was quite daring, and some members of the team might have anticipated that images of Miranda Hamilton in this context would swiftly circulate on Bluesky, criticizing the show for fulfilling exactly the stereotype it was aiming to challenge. However, this gamble proved successful. Although it’s uncertain what direction Saturday Night Live will take during the second Trump term, at least we now have a clue about what it won’t become.

Kicking off this fresh chapter is an excellent fit for the show’s upcoming journey: a Gen Z celebrity who’s already proven his hosting prowess. Timothée Chalamet embodies his zany characters with authenticity, energy, and a captivating charm. He consistently exudes enjoyment on the set, which seems to be shared by the cast. Despite having two popular recurring skits in previous episodes, this week, Chalamet or the writers decided against reprising either (which, in my view, was a smart choice). Just like the show itself during Trump’s presidency (again), we’re witnessing a new era for Chalamet on Saturday Night Live.

It appeared that when Chalamet was chosen as both host and musical guest, it seemed like an overly self-indulgent move. Perhaps he took his method acting too far in the role of Young Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” and emerged believing he should start releasing new folk songs – akin to Austin Butler’s post-Elvis phase. It was even more disappointing since Chalamet could have been unveiling songs as his rap persona Timmy Tim, which was an unfortunate follow-up to his last “SNL” monologue rap where he tried not to embarrass himself. Instead of that, he would merely be performing Dylan songs – a self-congratulatory, albeit still arrogant, celebration for the eight Oscar nominations received by “A Complete Unknown.

As I take my seat in the cinema, I find myself thankful that after half a century, ‘Saturday Night Live’ continues to churn out the bizarre and eccentric. Such is my sentiment, expressed in the opening monologue.

Given that the upcoming episode includes a sketch about incest and another featuring anthropomorphized characters, it’s safe to say that the entire episode may contain mature or unusual themes.

Here are the highlights:

Founding Fathers Cold Open

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oDtSQVj0qzg?si=n9WQRk7mP-MLRmek

In its 48th season, SNL introduced a unique cold open format during the Easter episode, where they turned Donald Trump, portrayed by Johnson, into a self-deprecating, postmodern stand-up comedian. Instead of focusing on specific outrageous or terrifying acts Trump might commit each week, this character candidly evaluated himself, his adversaries, and even SNL, offering a detached perspective. After its initial appearance, the show employed this style sparingly, but when it returned in this recent episode, it felt refreshingly new. The abundance of material for Trump’s character during this hectic week undeniably contributed to the freshness, as well. While there were numerous sharp topical jokes, the sketch also maximized humor by having Trump comment on Miranda appearing close to death due to not being able to rap, at which point Miranda seemed like he might die from suppressing laughter.

Medcast

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jfsEgZAtMyc?si=T7HykgloPiklTxzz

Wow, this week has been quite intriguing for a film enthusiast like me! Two sketches featuring fake podcasts have graced our screens, and each one is unique in its own way. The first, exploring the chilling prospect of AI-generated podcasts being used as educational tools in schools, certainly piqued my interest. However, it was the Medcast sketch that truly stood out.

You see, One Medical cleverly tapped into post-election insights about men’s susceptibility to certain types of podcasts and turned it into a brilliant ploy to encourage routine check-ups. The concept of doctors masquerading as podcasters to make men more receptive is already captivating, but the humor in their dialogue takes it to another level. A classic example is when one doctor inquires about a patient’s stool with a casual, “Any blood in them thangs?”

This sketch not only showcases the power of podcasting but also demonstrates the potential for creativity and comedy in everyday situations. It’s always fascinating to see how content creators can take real-life insights and weave them into engaging and humorous narratives!

New Barista Training

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Tn7g2cn7iBo?si=-qDjtgMUfRrjWhuc

The playful jokes on the coffee shop signs might seem an odd transition to Timothée Chalamet imitating a Def Jam comedian, but it surprisingly works quite well. The growing annoyance of Heidi Garner’s character towards Ashley Padilla’s character adds an intriguing layer to the story.

Weekend Update: Giselle, a concerned businesswoman on Trump’s Executive Orders

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vRTQU63M3pE?si=pYgI568VTF73ReWq

Similar to a cold open, here’s another unexpected twist. When Ego Nwodim arrives at the Update desk, it seems like she’s about to address Trumpian chaos in a serious manner. However, her character quickly alerts any Black women watching about impending price hikes for fake hair, saying, “We’re going to be in trouble… A bald-headed pickle.” Her delivery is as sharp as ever, and her playful rivalry with Michael Che mirrors the longstanding Update dynamic between Sarah Sherman and Colin Jost.

Dog Run

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DPmZrdTjvCs?si=2IkQTXbbclaMNQBq

The YouTube video’s official title is “Dog Run,” but I find the on-screen title more appealing: “What if Bunch of Silly Little Dogs Talked and Acted Like People?” Regardless, the physical humor in this piece is universal, appealing to anyone regardless of dog park experience. However, the subtle details are intended for dog owners to appreciate even more deeply.

Cut For Time

Amongst all his previous work, Michael Longfellow garnered significant attention recently, particularly when compared to the controversial Valentine’s Day advertisement with a suggestive theme and the bungee drawing he had created – a noteworthy deviation from his usual updates.

I’ve got to admit, it’s quite disappointing that “The Please Don’t Destroy” crew hasn’t been around much this season. Could it be they’re taking some time to strategize and plan their next moves?

On Weekend Update, there were numerous witty remarks about current events, but the one that stood out to me was Colin Jost’s exclamation of “No!” upon hearing the news about the extended lifespan benefits associated with eating breakfast oatmeal.

I’m curious to learn about Andrew Dismukes’ father’s perspective, given that his son employs a “Dad-puppet” for satirical therapy-like comedy which reaches millions of spectators.

• Some weeks call for a five-minute fart joke, and this was one of them.

• I agree with that animated God sketch: the solar system does, indeed, slap.

On a personal level, I want to let you know that this is my final episode as your regular recapper, and I’d like to extend an apology for any perceived underwhelming coverage of this season’s Ariana Grande episode. If given the chance to travel back in time, visiting baby Hitler would undoubtedly be one of my stops, but rectifying the Ari SNL recap would rank second or third on that list.

2025-01-26 22:54