Okay, here's my review. We knew that Ayo Edeberi could deliver the comedy chops, but she also went above and beyond by elevating everything she was in just with her sheer stage presence alone. She delivered some much needed stability to the show, but the writing (particularly certain overused tropes) made it a little uneven. Still, though, this will definitely go down as a top five episode for this season (and I say that because calling it the best show of 2024 isn't saying much). Cast airtime was balanced in such a way that no one was shut out entirely but Ego and Bowen in particular had strong nights (lord knows Ego needed this right now). Anyway, let's break it down, shall we?
CNN Trump Town Hall - I guess given the impression potential involved they couldn't resist, huh? Well, Kenans' Barkley is always welcome even if he seems like he's dejectedly going through the motions. Fortunately, JAJ seems to have sharpened up his Trump (he seems to have a slightly better handle on Trumps energy than his voice now) and his response to Longfellows' question seems like the writers have strated to sharpen up their takes on 2024 era Trump. The Midnights tracklist breakdown honesty should've been cut. I don't know what reaction they were HOPING to get from online Swifties but it for sure isn't gonna be the right one. A Nikki Haley cameo being the main centerpiece of this sketch? What is this? October 2015? Ayos' one line was good and so was Devon as Tim Scott. C-
Monologue - Thank God Ayo pretty much crushed it here. She delivered the exact type of monologue the show desperately NEEDED right now. I don't remember the last time I've seen a host that close to tears of joy in their monologue. Ayo reading failed pitches from her packet was cute even if it didn't really go anywhere. B+
Why'd You Say It? - An Instagram themed game show sketch to lead off the show? What is this? April 2022? Seriously though, this was definitely better executed than...the last time I saw this. Ayo, Kenan and Dismukes were especially strong here. While I did appreciate Ayos' sincere message, I honestly wish she hadn't tried to tie it back to her J.Lo podcast "controversy". Did that even need to be addressed at all? Seriously, tell me, AITA for thinking that could've been safely ignored?C+
Dune Popcorn Bucket - Ok, I have to give them some credit for not making this as hacky and obvious as it seemed built up to be...but sadly this seems to be another case of SNL piling on another viral meme as it rapidly approaches its sell by date. Hey, at least it didn't feel as PAST its sell by date as the Ancient Rome rap or most of Pete's episode did, so...there's that. C-
Microdosing At UCIrvine - This was another basic premise (I got heavy Rusty from MADtv vibes...not that that's a bad thing), but Mikey and Ayo really sold the HELL out of it. Dismukes and Bowen were great support players too. See, THIS is more of the Mikey we want to see for as long as he is still going to be on the show. This felt more like the Mikey we saw last year in Quinta Brunsons' episode (yes, I did eventually come around on THAT sketch) before he eroded some of his good will. B+
NY Morning News - This was another very basic premise and it was well performed but it didn’t really go anywhere for me. In fact, it basically just felt like an updated take on the "Great Love Stories" sketch from Susan Luccis' season 16 episode. Still, it's nice to see Bowen turn in a solid performance in a sketch that doesn't seem like it was built too specifically for him. I did like seeing Ego walk on because I was hoping both her and Ayos' presences wouldn't cancel each other out and get Ego shut out of the show. Ayo had a strong individual performance and so did with JAJ, Devon, Kenan, Sarah, Marcello and Molly (who provided a much needed turn to end this on). Also, congrats to PDD on each one of them getting to individually appear in a live sketch with absolutely zero lines! C+
Update was fun just for the sheer energy. The Suits joke was the only real standout to me but I loved how Jost & Che finally seemed into it enough to play off the crowd. I especially like what Che did with those Pizza Hut and Mrs. World joke. Even Sarah kept the wild crowd energy going. I mean, I don't think I'm alone in wishing this wasn't another meta Jost bait but I did appreciate how much more committed this got from both Sarah and Colin as it went on. In fact, it would be even better if this turned out to be the last season of Jost & Che together on Update because this seems like the type of thing that would be the perfect capper on Josts' career on the show and it would be great if this is what all of Sarah's Jost humilitation on Update was building up to. B-
Trivia Quest - This was pretty much just Ego, Ayo, Mikey, Sarah and Punkie blending a few overused sketch tropes and putting them over just on their sheer charisma and built in chemistry with each other. B+
Elevator Town - Well, this pretape made me realize that "misplaced horniness" is Bowens' fourth or fifth well worn sketch/character template. Still, it must be one that people are the least sick of by now because this and the naked garbage truck short with Emma in the same season is the first I am noticing it. The mini-musical number at the end was fun, though. C+
Mr. Fantasmic - This felt like the first truly original sketch premise of the night until the hosts' character coming out as bisexual and everyone singing a pop song from 2008 became the sole focus. Still, Ayo turned in her performance of the episode. Kenan was pretty good here. I do wish Chloe Troast had a bigger part in this, though (especially since she was only in this to show off her amazing pipes to begin with). B-
Peoples' Court - This was definitely my favorite sketch of the night. It was just the right length, made excellent use of all the shows' black cast members at once AND it was absolutely insane! I loved the chaotic ten-to-one energy on display here. A-
Now, for my updated ranking of season 49...
1. Nate Bargatze/Foo Fighters (10.28.2023)
2. Adam Driver/Olivia Rodrigo (12.9.2023)
3. Ayo Edeberi/Jennifer Lopez (02.03.2024)
4. Kate McKinnon/Billie Eilish (12.16.2023)
5. Timothee Chalamet/Boygenius (11.11.2023)
6. Emma Stone/Noah Kahan (12.2.2023)
7. Bad Bunny (10.21.2023)
8. Pete Davidson/Ice Spice (10.14.2023)
9. Dakota Johnson/Justin Timberlake (1.27.2024)
10. Jacob Elordi/Renée Rapp (01.20.2024)
11. Jason Momoa/Tate McRae (11.18.2023)
Well, it was nice to see SNL get itself back on track for one week. Let’s see how long this lasts. Booking Shane Gillis of all people is for sure one of the most dumbfounding moves in recent SNL history from an optics standpoint alone. I've heard extremely second/third hand that Bowen may have forgiven Shane for what was said nearly five years ago when they (almost) joined the cast together. If that's true, good on Bowen for being the bigger man here because if I hadn't heard that I'd think Lorne and the show were trying to pull what I like to call a "reverse Dave Herman" on him (hey, we all know Shane as "more of a MADtv guy" now, right? Iykyk). Personally, I haven't been too impressed with what I've seen from Gillis' standup, but if I'm being honest I didn’t completely hate the few "Gilly & Keeves" sketches I saw. Also, I have heard Shane has still been maintaining good connections with quite a few people at the show. He's been operating in the sane standup circles as Che and they say he was in Pete's series "Bupkis" after all. While he may not have anywhere near Ayos' level of charisma to put sketches fully over, he may blend in almost as well with this cast (especially with Cecily out of the building from other things I have heard) so...hopefully, they actually WANT to make him look good (or at least palatable?) to their existing audience (because we all know they show was likely using Shane to capture an audience that may be further out of their reach than they realize). The absolute best I can expect or hope for from a Shane Gillis hosted SNL would be an episode much like Chappelle's most recent outing where the monologue is extremely dodgy but the sketches are fine. Actually, I'm hoping for a monologue closer to Bill Burr than Chappelle. Hell, the funniest thing to come out of this episode might just be Gillis stans tuning in just to see Shane and being sorely disappointed with the rest of the show. Yes, after some thought on this matter I'm prepared to go into the next live SNL episode with an open mind (because i just picked up on the subliminal cue to do that from the People's Court sketch). See you soon!
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