Okay, here's my review. This was a bit of a let down from last week. It had it's moments but still felt just as uneven as last week. The highs were pretty high but the lows weren't exactly lows as much as they were just mediums. The live audience seemed to raise the energy level considerably given that tonight's host and musical guest both drew in a lot of rabid fans. Phoebe Waller-Bridge was probably the most fun to watch out of all the British female hosts the show had had recently. Still, this show had some of the same basic pacing problems as last week and a lot of sketches felt like basic retreads of previously aired material. They even recurred some sketches that should've stayed one-and-done but seemed necessary to them given who the host was. I'm sure Phoebe kept morale up this week, but it showed much more in the performances than in the actual writing. Plus, Heidi and Melissa were shut out of the show entirely (the latter of whom seemed to be in better spirits about it during the goodnights) which had to be a bummer for both of them. Even thought everyone else got a decent amount of airtime, I'm sure I'm.not the only one still having an easier time getting used to Pete's unexpected temporary absence from the show than I am getting used to Leslie's slightly-less-unexpected permanent one. Anyway, let's break it down, shall we?
Cabinet Meeting On Impeachment - This was one of the blandest cold opens in recent memory. I automatically couldn't get behind it since it led off with two of my least favorite political impressions the show currently features. It almost seems like they were going to just do a live version of that cut Gullianni/Fleabag parody from last week (which I actually would've preferred to be honest) because it would've been overkill of they just did this and showed it after the monologue. With Beck playing Pence in the same sketch I can see why Aidy as AG Barr was actually warranted. Still, that doesn't explain why they went with Matthew Broderick to play Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. That has to be the most baffling example of SNL political stunt casting I have ever seen. I'm sure they've actually seen what Pompeo looks like but realized they were already using Beck and Aidy in other roles. I mean, there is one way I can see why they would've cast Broderick in this role. Mike Pompeo has gained a reputation as a big time conservative war hawk and seems like a guy who projects a false air of power and imposing strength in much the same way Trump and the rest of his cabinet do. They must have thought Matthew Broderick was the exact polar opposite of this and wanted to have Broderick play him just to get under his skin like they managed to do to Trump and Sean Spicer but in a more subtle and thoughtful and less petty way than what they must've been going for with Bill Barr and Jeff Sessions. Still, I don't get why they felt this was the place to jam in Ferris Bueller references. Maybe they just came with the territory since they already got Broderick in the building. Honestly, the only real laughs I got out of this were the Stephen Miller snake parseltounge scene and Kenan as Ben Carson. It's not quite on the same level as that of Jay Pharroh or Sterling K. Brown but it still works and is still very funny. C-
Monologue - This definitely allowed the show to pick up some stream. Phoebe Waller-Bridge was immediately very likable and expertly got the audience on her side (which was probably pretty easy when you consider how many audience member were probably fans of hers' and Taylor's who camped out in the standby line). I liked how she was able to pull off self deprecation well and make jokes about "Fleabag" and "Killing Eve" that one didn't have to have watched either show to find funny just before seemingly effortlessly transitioning into an unexpected standup routine on the current state of human sexuality. She seemed a lot more comfortable in her own skin than she let on, but that was probably the whole point of that monologue. My only complaint about this monologue would be it's seemingly excessive length. B+
What's Wrong With This Picture II? - This was a very strange and unexpected choice of something to make recurring (especially since it actually first appeared a mere two episodes ago) but it was still just as funny as the first one and everyone performed this really well. Maybe Phoebe saw the last one and liked it so much she wanted to do another one? Kyle also made a great replacement for Pete. I did like how much tighter this felt than the previous one. B+
Love Island - Even though this seems like the exact type of thing I thought they left back in season 43, I guess this was something else they couldn't resist doing with a British host? Maybe this is one of Phoebes' guilty pleasures? It obviously seems like it would be one of Cecily's. I liked this mostly for everyone's attempts at the trashiest specific type of British accent there is. Upon rewatching this, I noticed this had some pretty solid writing behind it. I liked the intros and Phoebes' confessional at the end. I also liked how they wrote Chloe a role she seemed tailor-made for as well as the makeup/thumb gag between her and Aidy who also did some great physical comedy on this. B+
Local Mid-Day News - This was a fairly simple Chappelle's Show-like premise (which automatically makes it a little dodgy to try and do in 2019) but they pulled it off well and the performances from everyone really sold the hell out of it. Good to see Ego placed front and center in something (literally) for once. The worst thing I can say about this is that Phoebe really seemed to struggle with her accent. Also, did the sight of Chris Redd playing a weather man with a suddenly very loose tie give anyone else flashbacks to David Alan Grier in Wake Up And Smile? A+
The War In Words II - I had a feeling we might get another one of these even before someone I follow on Twitter who went to dress rehearsal confirmed it for me. Mikey and Streeter couldn't resist doing one of these again, huh? I guess after the monologue this is the second thing Claire Foy did 10 months ago that Phoebe Waller-Bridge vastly improved upon. I can't say much about this as it seemed to hit all the same beats as last time but I did like the doctored Hitler footage and the five year old cameo as they were the only things that stood out to me as different. C+
Update started out strong but started to lose a bit of steam in the middle and near the end. Jost & Che who seemed like they were really on top of their game. I do have to wonder if Che's utterance of "See? He's Strong!" during Josts' Trump/Nickelback joke was planned or an adlib. I liked Kate's Warren commentary just for the jab at Hillary and the BDSM marine jokes, but I'm hoping they don't waste this impression by running out into the ground through Update especially since she may have a shot at winning the Dem nomination now. Also, the fact that this and the cold open were Kate's only appearances tonight seems to suggest they're phasing her out at what may be a more and more inopportune time for the show. Bowen's commentary was the true highlight of this Update for me (especially since I was starting to get worried he'd be shut out of the show entirely on the same night my local NBC affiliate ran a profile on him interviewing his old mathematics/improv teacher from the high school in my own home state where he graduated from and was named "Most Likely To Be A Cast Member On SNL"). They may have waited until his second show to give him his big showcase but he really hit the ground running. His performance skills really made up for the sheer Kelly-and-Schneider-esque millennial-ness that might put off some viewers over the age of 35. Mikey's Super-Centenarian was something else I'm surprised was made recurring instead of being left a one off. This also hit all the same beats as the original but there were funnier misleads directed at Colin this time. I also liked the jab at Pete and that the sheer length of this week's Update made up for the shortness of the previous week's Update. B+
Royal Romance - Kenan made this much funnier than it had any right to be. He clearly sprinted away with this but everyone else supported him well. I wonder if whoever had written this had just gotten to see "Dolemite Is My Name" before this Monday's host/pitch meeting? A+
State Line Bar - This sketch was a bit of a mess, but I liked it mostly for Phoebes' attempt at a white trash Southern accent. Plus, it was fun to see everyone on the verge of breaking all at once and trying to guess who would be the first to go. C+
Now, time to start ranking this season...
Well, that episode certainly defied expectations if you bought into the hype enough to set them high. Next week, David Harbour makes his hosting debut. I've already seen he has a good sense of humor about himself so he should be fun. Plus, Canilla Cabello (a newly self professed fan of the show) makes her debut as a musical guest. To me, she seems goofy enough to want to participate in some of their sillier sketches. See you then!
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