(and yes, I'm counting Brad Pitt as the official host of this episode for the purposes of telling these "at home" episodes apart simply because he introduced an unannounced musical performance)
Okay, here's my review. This was by far the stronger of the two SNL At Home episodes to have aired thus far. It feels like they've fully figured out how to adapt to this new format and make it work to their advantage. Every part of this episode felt much more polished than most of what aired two weeks ago. There were still the same amount of cameos but most of them were so small that none of them overshadowed the main cast (of which every cast member got some substantial airtime except maybe Alex but he may have just seemed invisible since he didn't get his own showcase like he did last time). Anyway, there wasn't as much to unpack with this episode since it was pretty straightforward so let's just get right into it.
A Message From Dr. Anthony Fauci - Well, for starters I am glad that this episode had an actual cold open compared to last week. I know some are upset about the deluge of cameos from celebrities whose connections to the show are increasingly tenuous in political roles. Somehow, this feels like both an extension of and an exception to that trend. Brad Pitt is someone who has never hosted but had only cameoed twice counting this. He's also someone the real Dr. Fauci jokingly and offhandedly said he'd like to see play him on SNL on response to a CNN reporter's softball question. So, while this feels like pandering on the same level of a Larry-as-Bernie or a Tina-as-Palin it feels like a rare once in a lifetime moment in some ways. First of all, no one really expected this as no one was really expecting SNL to be in production at all right now given the very nature of the show itself. Even under normal circumstances (in which Dr. Fauci would easily be portrayed as a straight man to Baldwin's Trump on the show) Brad Pitt would be a near impossible get for SNL (even as simple as Zoom is making things these days) as television in general seems to be quite a rare medium for him to be in. Hell, I still don't know how they got him to appear on Jim Jeffries' Comedy Central show a while back. He must feel much more strongly about this public health crisis than he did about global warming. The material itself was just fine as was the impression since "raspiness" and "slightly weary exasperation" are pretty much the only things you can really do with an Anthony Fauci impression right now (that's kinda the only way I can gauge one anyway). It was pretty much par for the course for this era of SNL but it helps that it was pretaped and delivered by someone fresh who's presence is a rarity on the show (although I think the "I know I'm not supposed to be touching my face" joke has been done before). B-
What's Up With That At Home - Okay, this is actually a vast improvement on the established WUWT format. I don't know what it is about the combination of flashy Zoom effects and not having to play to a live studio audience that literally made this the best WUWT ever but it was a lot more fun than most of the others WUWT retreads I've seen. It also helps that we haven't even seen them do this live sketch in about seven and a half years (not counting the brief SNL40) reprisal. They repeated this adnauseum at least once every month from 2009-2012 and then Fred, Bill and Jason all left leaving Kenan without his supporting players who made this sketch what it was (thankfully at least two of them came back) so they really had no other choice but to back off this. I also liked how they used Ego and Melissa were used as the backup singers. Upon rewatching this, I'm hit with the comforting realization that this was actually her first appearance in the show instead of the last two pieces. I liked how they put her and Cecily upfront here after they were shut out of the last episode. Speaking of Cecily, I read her Vulture piece and I really hope she's doing well all things considered. Hopefully, being involved in the show again serves as a escape for her. I also liked Mikey's role as well as Barkley's and Khaled's cameos. Speaking of, is it just me or does seeing DJ Khaled with a more unkempt/untrimmed beard than usual seem a little jarring? When I first saw him, I almost thought either someone was impersonating him or he was playing someone else. Finally, I choose to take this as another hint that Kenan and the senior women (given Cecily's increased presence in this particular episode, Kate and Aidy's dominance of both these "at home" episodes and the featured women's increased presence) did intend this season as their farewell season after all and that a final WUWT in the homestretch of the season (if not in just the finale) was intended as at least part of their respective goodbyes. A-
In Depth With Brian Sutter - I saw immediately where this was going as soon as Mikey said he was using his daughter's phone. This was okay, but I actually mostly prefer the live version of this from Sandler's episode last season. I did think this has a much stronger ending with Kenans' character and Mikey's dialogue over the last two babyface and banana filters. C+
Pete's Stuck - Wow, speak of the devil! Until Sandler and Schneider's (wow, long time no see, huh?) brilliant surprise cameos nothing was making this song stand out from his previous songs from the last SNL At Home episode. I can definitely say at this point that I do like Pete better when he's producing semi-polished sing rap music videos like this than when he's just rapping or just talking about himself on Update. Sandler's cameo in this does make me wonder if he was originally slated to host again by the end of this season but then again I don't know what he would've had to promote right about now and his episode last year seemed like such a once-in-a-lifetime type of even that it's best to maybe wait several seasons before trying to recreate that magic. B+
Bartensons' - I liked this just fine. I wanted to like it more for what it was but it just didn't click for me. It was mostly a rapid fire succession of ridiculous Handey-esque products being advertised (although the second round worked for me). They didn't make me laugh that much (maybe because the whole piece also had a "Simpsons did it" feel) and just when you think these Kate and Aidy two-handers benefit the most from being pretaped Kate manages to come very close to breaking and lending this thing a real "edited improv game" feel. C-
Big Papi's Big Dominican Lunch - Normally, I like Kenans' David Ortiz impression but for the most part it does work better playing off a live audience. I did like the "stuff in everybody's pantry" line as well as all the sponsors. I also enjoyed the cameo from who at first I thought was one of Lavar Balls' sons but I would later learn was a very well disguised Bad Bunny. C+
AirBnB Host - I was actually impressed by this sketch for a couple of different reasons. First, I appreciate that SNL is giving Chloe Fineman a showcase for her own original characters (even if one was just a generic straight woman role and one was a character that was cut from dress and put online) right after they gave her a showcase for her very "of the moment" impressions. I do like how versatile and developed Chloe has made her "Ooli" character compared to the cut dress piece where she was just an Instagram fashionista. I also appreciate how she managed to find a new angle on Quarrantine/shelter-in-place orders that no one seems to have tackled already (I haven't seen anyone talking about how this is affecting AirBnB users yet so that's sonething). The Zoom effects were a nice touch, too. A-
Facetiming On The Outside - It took a second for me to figure out where this was going, but I liked seeing a Chris Redd centric piece where he and all his female costars were all so strongly committed to intense character work. I especially liked the odd added detail that Redds' character was serving a very lengthy prison sentence for pirating Sopranos DVDs. B+
Update was a vast improvement over last week just for the fact that they ditched the haunting laugh track. They must've realized how well Colbert, Seth, Fallon, Conan et al have gotten along without them. The Zoom map background was a nice touch. Still, it was the most awkward portion of this episode by far. While the jokes were a little uneven I did like Josts stroke of genius/diaper protests/Rooney Guiliani and it made me realize that Jost & Che's longform rants don't translate as well as the standard short form setup/punchline jokes to the new sans audience quarantine format of Update. Strangely, Pete's commentaries play better without and audience then with so I'd personally disagree with Pete's final assessment. I do like how the invitation to enter to possibly write a "joke exchange" joke implies that there will be more of these "at home" episodes but I don't like the idea of just *anyone* trying to write a purposely shockingly offensive joke to be read on SNL. That may be the type of humor that it takes a very delicate balance of a specific niche comedic ability that Jost and Che have to be able to pull off. Not everyone has that type of talent so they're gonna have to wade through a lot of garbage for this. C+
SoulCycle At Home - This is a recurring sketch I liked this season and still want to like whenever it appears. What I liked most about it is how they made necessary substantial changes to the established format that actually worked in this sketches favor. It actually flows better when you take out Alex and Mikey's character and make Ego one of the trainers. I also liked Bowen's "Los Angeles to California" line and Chris and Becks' whole characters. I'm not too crazy about how Heidi seems to get typecast in MAGA adjacent roles lately like Alex used to. B+
OJ Tweets His Regards - Although it seems like they shouldn't have waited this long to go for the obvious "OJ on Twitter" jokes, this format is perfect for them and Kenans' commitment really sold this. C+
Pretty Mandy Rudd - This was a pleasant surprise. I liked seeing this character of Heidi's debut during James Franco's last (and I do mean last) episode from a few years ago. Still, I thought it for sure had to be a one off. I mean, how many famous relatives can one person have? Still, I have to say I slightly prefer the original sketch as this one felt a little unfocused and too loosely improvised by comparison. C+
The Reveal - This sketch seemed a little unfocused at first but I liked how tight and focused it ended up being. It seemed like they tried to combine about four different sketch premises into one at first but at least they knew where they were going with it more than the audience did and nobody let it meander too far once it got going. Plus, I liked Heidi's character and it was nice to get a chance to see Cecily sing again. C-
PornHub PSA - This started out so aggressively sincere that I almost mistook it for an actual COVID-19 themed PSA that for some reason the current SNL cast decide to take part in. The fact that this was pretaped as part of a show that is usually at least 85% live performances might be part of what led me to think that. The twist was pretty underwhelming as it made me easily throw this on the pile with Alex's Sky Sports piece of "sketches where the joke is either too true to life right now or not nearly exaggerated enough to be all that funny." I did like Mikey's last line and the women's acting in this, though. C-
Whiskers R' We - I liked this better once I remembered that Kate usually does these with female hosts instead of just Aidy. Still, it would've been a good place for another unannounced female celebrity cameo because these work better when Kate has someone else to play off of. I'm also not too crazy that Kate's actual cat was stuck playing multiple different roles rather than say, just showing still photos of various different cats either but that eventually grew on me. C-
Friendly Party - I appreciate that we got a solo Kyle piece and I really liked the sheer balls to the wall production value he put into this. Sadly, I felt this kinda drgged in the middle and could've been edited down. I do like how this felt like a real throwback in various ways. It wasn't just reminiscent of low budget amateur '80s music videos, it was also reminiscent of late '00s internet humor and the nostalgia for low budget amateur '80s music videos that permeated them. B-
Melissa's Big Date - It's good to see a Melissa solo showcase. I just wish for her sake it had been earlier in the show. Still, everything about this was absolutely adorable. A-
Aidy's Real Journals - This seems to be Aidy reviving an old bit she did at the Just For Laughs festival near verbatim. It was alright but I preferred the previous "live" version of this routine and the previous episodes' "Visualizations With Aidy" piece. B-
Now, for my updated rankings if this entire season so far...
1. Eddie Murphy/Lizzo
2. David Harbour/Camilla Cabello
3. Chance The Rapper
4. Phoebe Waller-Bridge/Taylor Swift
5. Woody Harrelson/Billie Eilish
6. Scarlett Johansson/Niall Horan
7. Adam Driver/Halsey
8. SNL At Home II (Brad Pitt/Miley Cyrus)
9. SNL At Home (Tom Hanks/Chris Martin)
10. Daniel Craig/The Weeknd
11. John Mulaney/David Byrne
12. RuPaul/Justin Bieber
13. J.J. Watt/Luke Combs
14. Jennifer Lopez/DaBaby
15. Will Ferrell/King Princess
16. Harry Styles
17. Kristen Stewart/Coldplay
Well, I think it's a safe bet that these are at least a bi monthly/every other week event at this point. Also, we could reasonably expect to see four more if these at most if they're trying to fill out their remaining production schedule for this season. If that ends up bring the case, I suppose you can expect to hear from me next on May 9th. That's right, as long as SNL produces at least a solid 90 minutes of new content in its regular time slot, I won't be able to stop myself. Until then, stay safe!
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