Jack Black/Jack White (04.04.2026)

NCAA Final Four Post Game Show

• Hey, an off the beaten path cold open choice!

• Nice to see they're using Kam in something, but that Chappel Roan...oof.

• Always nice to see Kenans' Charles Barkley. I don't know if I'm that crazy about the direction this is taking though.

• Ok, the Kalshi/Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Kristi Noem thing was funny.

• All right, Ashleys' Pam Bondi was nice to see, too.

• I did like Kenans' joke about Pam Bondi looking like "a womens' basketball coach who got fired for pulling on a girls' braid"and his LFNY segue.

• Not the best cold open of this season but far from the worst. Just...an odd mishmash of various things.. Sounded like the audience didn't know what to make of this or how to respond either. Very weird energy already. C-

Monologue 

• Well, I know Jack Black has always been a bombastic rock & roll/song and dance guy and he's always tried to bring that energy to his monologues on this show...so, seeing an actual five timers club sketch would feel quite odd. Let's see what they do here.

• Ugh, a bearded Jonah Hill in 2026 being the first cameo in this means this might automatically be the weakest monologue Jack Black has ever done on this show.

• I will admit I did like the creepy/spooky vibe of this one among other things. I appreciate the show getting Candace, Melissa and Tina to cameo. 

• I especially liked what Tina bought to this one with the meta "this is my fifth five timers club sketch" joke and the "SNL UK One Timers club jacket made from Paddington" jokes.

• I wasn't crazy about adding Domingo to this either (especially since I was half expecting him next week...yes, along with that other Domingo I already heard we were getting...you know, that Colman fella?) but bringing in Jack White just to wang Domingo over the head with a frying pan might have been my second favorite part of this.

• Hey, there IS a "musical guests only" wing of the five timers club! Jack White just confirmed it! You hear that, Jon and Bill? I am vindicated!

• I love how they actually did end this with an actual musical number as well. This was a very fun way to sneak in our musical guests' biggest hit "Seven Nation Army". That was my favorite part of this one. B-

Kathy

• I liked Jacks' "gym" adlib upon entering this sketch.

• I guess I was a fool to expect a sequel to that "One-Uppers" sketch from last year, but I automatically like this better.

• I immediately liked all the odd little details Ashley added to this character (especially her medication and the "numbers"game on her phone). This feels like a character Cheri Oteri would've played about 25-30 years ago.

• I also love the Andy Kaufman/Great Gadsby-esque "extreme testing the patience of the audience" nature of this. B-

Words To Live By

• Ok, I liked the reveal of JAJ doing a country song and the reveal of Jack White playing a half forgotten guitar solo more than I liked the reveal of what this turned out to be. 

• This also feels like one of those things that could've been done with any host because Jack Black isn't the most convincing at playing a country singer. Hell, I barely buy him hiking down a mountain let alone up one but I get the writers wanting him to play a guy who is told the meaning of life by Kenan's ancient mystic.

• This felt like a premise that I should've seen done before on SNL or elsewhere. Hell, even the twist of the guys remembering the name of the Men In Black memory erasing device seemed completely telegraphed. Jack Black didn't add much to it but I did like the ending with Dismkues just belittling his child. C-

Ultimate Dojo

• Well, I liked JAJs' anecdote at the very beginning.

• Is this going to just be a Marcello acting class sketch but with a weirder more indiscriminate eastern European accent and replacing acting with self-defense?

• It sure looks that way. Well, I'm liking this a tiny bit more than I feel I should.

• I will admit that having Jack Black play a martial arts teacher is a deceny use of his age defying physicality.

• Oh my god. Kenan is playing a character that is the exact same age as me. 

• Well, I DON'T like what Ben is adding to this sketch, but I am getting a kick out of the constant chanting of "estopit, estopit, estopit" during their silly slap fights leading up to the move they're supposed to be demonstrating. Too bad they're far funnier than the reveal of what the moves are supposed to be.

• The comedic highlight of this sketch may be the final reveal of Jane being the toughest, most badass "poo-pil" Jack and Marcello have ever taught and her back and forth with Jeremy. C+

Carry On My Wayward...Husband?

• Ok, yeah...this looked like it was going to be another tired ass "been there, done that" 30 year old premise but I ended up REALLY liking the execution and sheer pageantry of this. 

• Great way to work in Jack Blacks classic rock singing talents. I also got a kick out of JAJs explanation for why his tighty whites were suddenly visible.

• Sarah and Chloe had some good back and forths with each other and once again Jane Wickline comes in clutch. B+

Weekend Update w/Jost & Che

• Josts' Best Jokes: Pam Bondi/Esptein Files, Healthcare Attacks, Canadian Pizza Hut

• Ches' Best Jokes: Trump Presidential Library, Chicago, New Jersey

• Sarah Sherman as Kristi Noems' husband. Why? Seriously, why?

• At least this feels like something Sarah came up with on her own and not something Lorne ordered her to do...but when the genuinely funniest parts of this bit are another tired "remember when Kristi Noem shot that dog?" joke and a sudden cut to Jost air-motorboating, something may be seriously wrong.

• ...and Che's back to those damn WBNA jokes again. Great.

• Hey! Kam as Black Snape! This could be good!

• Yeah, Kams' really crushing this! Decent ending to a very uneven Update. C+

The 300

• Automatically, this is much better than the other 300 parodies that SNL did when 300 actually came out...almost 20 years ago (especially the one they did in 2009 when Gerard Butler actually hosted).

• Still, it kinda dragged until we got to Jack Black being cussed out by child. I did like Dismukes taking an entire day to list off various reasons why he wasn't picked, though. C+

Spring Break AirBnB

• This seemed like another very thing premise that feels like it should've been done before but wasn't yet. Still, it's really the type of thing only a paring of Jack Black and Melissa McCarthy could make this entertaining.

• I definitely ended up enjoying the bits of physical business between Melissa, Jeremy, the Jurgens and the doorknob than I thought I would. B+

Ranking The 51st Season From Best To Worst

1. Nikki Glaser/Sombr (11.08.2025)
2. Glenn Powell/Olivia Dean (11.15.2025)
3. Alexander Skarsgard/Cardi B (01.31.2026)
4. Melissa McCarthy/Dijon (12.06.2025)
5. Ariana Grande/Cher (12.20.2025)
6. Jack Black/Jack White (04.04.2026)
7. Ryan Gosling/Gorillaz (03.07.2026)
8. Amy Poehler/Role Model (10.11.2025)
9. Miles Teller/Brandi Carlile (11.01.2025)
10. Finn Wolfhard/A$AP Rocky (01.17.2026)
11. Harry Styles (03.14.2026)
12. Connor Storrie/Mumford & Sons (02.28.2026)
13. Josh O'Connor/Lily Allen (12.13.2025)
14. Sabrina Carpenter (10.18.2025) 
15. Teyana Taylor/Geese (01.24.2026)
16. Bad Bunny/Doja Cat (10.04.2025)

Overall Thoughts

• Well, this was a fun one. I'd say it's a lot like Jack Blacks' episode from last year in that it feels like a much better episode than it really is at the time just because his manic energy helps put things over more and most of the season that just preceded this was was just dull and disappointing. This episode felt a little more sparse and empty from a writing standpoint sadly.

• At this point, I don't know if I've been more spoiled by SNL UK or have just gotten burnt out on a combination of SNL US and both my work and family lives, but all I have left to say about this episode is that I enjoyed it more than my lack of anything at all to constructively or critically say anything about it would indicate.

• Maybe I'm subconsciously holding back a bit with the critical thinking part of my brain because I know in addition to the blog you just read I also have to review the third episode of SNL UK this week along with composing a review of the Tina Fey/Carrie Underwood episode both for this blog AND the podcast (the latter of which my cohost Deej had been encouraging me to "hold back" on for production and editing reasons) but I know I gotta make a conscious effort to not spread myself too thin creatively over the next couple of months, so I'll just wrap this up here.

Closing Thoughts 

• Next week on SNL US, Colman Domingo makes his hosting debut. Seeing as he is an acclaimed, Oscar nominated actor at this point in his career, this is a big get for SNL. Plus, he has sketch experience with Kate from "The Big Gay Sketch Show", so they better not do him dirty.

• I will have a review of that episode posted here around this time next week. The very next blog post you'll see from me on this blog will be a full length review of the Riz Amed/Kasabian episode of SNL UK which as of this writing/posting I have gotten to watch in full on Peacock but haven't gotten to take any notes on whatsoever yet (but spoiler alert: I may or may not compare it favorably to this one and post it on Tuesday at the earliest).

• Also, coming this weekend will be a new episode of the We Heart Hader podcast where Deej & I continue with Documentary Now Season One and "The Eye Doesn't Lie". Two weeks after that will be our review of the SNL US Fey/Underwood episode from February 2008 which, of course, I will also review on my blog.

• Boy, the timing of this is quite fortuitous since both Deej and I will have reviewed Tina's first hosting stints on both SNL US AND SNL UK by that point! See you all again real soon!

Woody Harrelson/Jack White (02.25.2023)

Okay, here's my review. I went in expecting an episode more like Woodys' 2014 one and sadly what I got ended up resembling his 2019 episode but more focused yet still uneven and less cameo dependent. This episode was fine. It will probably be one of the weaker episodes of the second half of season 48 but it just felt like it was too front loaded with its' weaker material up top. I didn't mind that the show was pretty much dominated by Ego, Chloe, Kenan and Mikey but a little more Sarah, Molly, Marcello and Longfellow wouldn't have hurt either. Anyway, I'll just get right to it since I didn't have much to say about this episode anyway.

Trump Visits Palestine, Ohio - Well, that was...certainly questionable. This is definitely my least favorite use of JAJs' Trump so far. Still, I'd take this over literally any Baldwin Trump cold open any day. I appreciate that they threw in Chloe as someone for JAJ to play off of but she didn't do anything for me here either. C-

Monologue - Hmm...I'm not quite sure what to make of this either. I mean, I would appreciate an overly long set up to a straightforward punchline if said punchline had a much bigger payoff (of if said overly long set up didn't make keep needlessly coming back to the "Woody likes his weed...and naturally he tends to forget things because of it" well because I'm starting to think he naturally forgot this ISN'T the first time he's mentioned this on SNL). What I DID appreciate was the false set ups to the five timers jacket (along with the callback just before Jack Whites' first performance which was pretty solid and the payoff at the end with them both getting jackets from Kenan and ScarJo respectively) and the fact that SNL is finally starting to give 16 minute monologue slots (or at least monologues that FEEL 16 minutes long) to hosts with an actual likable presence. Also, was anyone else expecting him to bring up "Triangle Of Sadness" when he kept mentioning that script he was reading? C+

Visiting Hours - Thank God this turned out to be a two hander between Ego and Kenan. I don't think I would be that interested Woody and Chloe (bringing back THAT voice...or God forbid Chloe) as the main focus. The only thing I didn’t care for was how repetitive Ego and Kenans' lines felt. C+

PDD: The Stakeout - Ok, I know that some of us are souring on PDD but I definitely appreciated them giving us something with a little absurdist energy just when the episode needed it (even if it just feels like a slightly inverted neo-noir take on the "Andys' Dad" digital Short with Jonah Hill). It felt like it may have been a little too soon to make Ben the odd man out in this since we just got that in the short they did with Steve and Marty two months ago but thankfully they built on that and added more to it. B-

Slingshot - This felt like it had the most wasted potential because it went absolutely nowhere. The performances did it justice but that still isn't saying much. If this were any later in the show I'd be more inclined to think whatever ending it had needed to be edited for time because this show was obviously running long. D+

Naval Base - Somehow, Andrews' brief dialogue in this gave me my first genuine laugh of the entire show, so...yeah, even though this was essentially a "Boaty McBoatface" sketch done about seven and a half years too late this somehow worked for me. This was an extremely dignified and dramatic setup to an extremely juvenile punchline being shouted and overexplained in great detail. It didn’t overstay its' welcome either (which is more than I can say for the Slingshot sketch) and even though it was a standard length sketch, something about this execution made this feel like the closest thing this era to a blackout sketch this era could pull off. B-

Cologuard - This first part of this felt like the standard "creepy, off putting fetish" sketch we've seen time and time again in Mikeys' era on the show but the menacing twist with the (literal) knives coming out followed by Heidi and Dismukes appearance and the reveal of Woody playing himself worked for me. Unfortunately, those parts were too short. C+

Update didn't quite come in too hot but I did like Josts' Trump Water/Chloride/Tucker Carlson/Oscars jokes and Ches' Ron DeSantis joke. What I did appreciate more how they gradually snuck in more and more "joke swap" energy starting with Che's "What Did They Even Do Wrong?" segment. I appreciate them giving JAJ some insane dialogue as Bill Walton and Heidi what turned out to be a wonderfully dark character piece (even if it did remind me quite a bit of that oblivious grandma sketch with Jim Breuer and Colin Quinn from Tom Arnolds' season 21 episode). B-

The Hippo - While I appreciated the specificity in the writing of this and the sheer Norm MacDonald-like melancholy Woody bought to his performance (and the petty bitterness Chloe, Mikey, Ego and JAJ bought to their parts way JAJ kicked his trash can) I have slightly mixed feelings about this imagining the online discourse just the visuals of Woody in the fat suit will bring about. Incidentally, it reminded me quite of a bit of that "I Can't Even" sketch that was in Dakota Johnsons' episode from season 40 that got cut from tonight's "Vintage" airing or that sketch from 1987 where Dabney Coleman played a blind man so, yeah...it was just a little derivative. C+

Two Men Speak Inside The Most Beautiful Gym In The World - This felt like a very "Bowen" piece but a very writerly "Bowen" piece. It felt like Bowen returning to his roots and giving us something he would've more than likely come up with before he joined the cast and found a questionable new niche in playing insects, demons and inanimate objects. I liked the Sarah appearance (and I would’ve probably liked it more if it weren't her only non voice over role of the night) as well as the "gym rat" and "torn ACL" jokes but other than that it felt like another one of those sketches you'd frequently get during the Wiig/Samberg era that's just a random string of one liners being barely held together by a threadbare premise that I just couldn't get into. C-

Now, my latest ranking of the season so far...

1. Aubrey Plaza/Sam Smith (01.21.2023)
2. Michael B. Jordan/Lil Baby (01.28.2023)
3. Dave Chappelle/Black Star (11.12.2022)
4. Steve Martin & Martin Short/Brandi Carlile (12.10.2022)
5. Keke Palmer/SZA (12.03.2022)
6. Austin Butler/Lizzo (12.17.2022)
7. Jack Harlow (10.29.2022)
8. Pedro Pascal/Coldplay (02.04.2023)
9. Woody Harrelson/Jack White (02.25.2023)
10. Brendon Gleeson/Willow (10.08.2022)
11. Miles Teller/Kendrick Lamar (10.01.2022)
12. Amy Schumer/Steve Lacy (11.05.2022)
13. Megan Thee Stallion (10.15.2022)

Now, let me revisit my rankings of Woodys' previous episodes and see where this one lands...

1. Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar (11.15.2014)
2. Woody Harrelson/David Byrne (11.18.1989)
3. Woody Harrelson/Jack White (02.25.2023)
4. Woody Harrelson/Vanessa Williams (5.16.1992)
5. Woody Harrelson/Billie Eilish (9.28.2019)

Well, that was certainly one of the more underwhelming episodes of the season. Next week, Kansas City Chiefs Tight End (and recent Super Bowl champ) Travis Kelce makes his hosting debut. Huh, guess we were overdue for an athlete host? Oh well, I can't say whether or not he will be funny until I see him but the very little interview footage I've seen of this man (mainly when he professes to be a longtime SNL fan on Fallon recently) makes me think he will at least be game (no pun intended) for anything and have enough charm and charisma to pull it off so I'm keeping an open mind on this one. See you then!

(...and remember, I am still taking applications for guest blogger, so if you want to write your own guest post like Blood Meridian did or if you want to submit your own fan mailbag question for me to answer like I did for Ken George Jones, PLEASE let me know!)