I wasn't sure what to expect with another Wiig episode, because while she's always professional, on a number of her appearances she's brought back the same characters (Secret Word, Surprise Sue), and sometimes struggles with how to fit into the casts of the time. Hearing that the episode was going to be full of cameos made me even more unsure, as I wondered if it would be like Will Forte's episode, where he felt much more comfortable with people of his era (like Kristen and Kenan) than anyone else.
Fortunately, the cameos were mostly left to the overcrowded monologue (I'm glad they still got the Paula Pell appearance - I always enjoyed when she would pop up for audience questions) and a few other sketches. None of them got in the way of the sketches for me (although I would have cut Matt Damon out - he was funny in his previous appearances but tonight he just seemed like he was walking by the building, and they pulled him in).
There were several sketches like Jumanji and the go-karts sketch that reminded me of the more down-to-earth, character-based material she had in her first few seasons as a cast member. The go-kart sketch could have been punched up a little, but I thought Andrew/Chloe Troast/JAJ/Kristen all had a good rapport and I liked the building confusion and pain, and that we never heard them tell the kids the news. I loved the intense shouting between Andrew and Kristen in the Jumanji sketch and how well most of the sketch built. The Will Forte cameo mostly worked, even if the end didn't.
We still got the "wacky" material, like in that Heidi sketch, but as it was not as present as I was expecting. And I ended up enjoying one of the wacky sketches I thought I'd hate (the French variety show), as it had a good energy and used the cast well and had one of those "wacky" Kristen character types that I enjoy (a dip into Triangle Sally). JAJ and Dismukes, Chloe Troast, were very good for me, the frantic dancing with Chloe Fineman and Bowen. And Mikey as the mime was some of his best work in a year or two. This originally was cut from the Timothee Chalamet episode earlier this season and apparently focused more heavily on Chloe Fineman. If true, I'm glad she was willing to change this to being more of an updated version of the old Deep House Dish/Soul Train sketches, because it was a sense of fun we don't get that often now.
The retirement party sketch was also an updated version of an old sketch, one that wasn't quite the same without Jason Sudeikis and Bobby Moynihan, but it still worked well enough for me. More than anything I was curious to see if Will could still play nasty old Hamilton Whiteman, and he could. I didn't realize just how well I knew those Hamilton sketches until I saw the very first second of this one and said to myself, "It's going to have Hamilton."
Overall, I thought this was the best episode Kristen has hosted, and one of the best two or three episodes so far this season. I hope they use it as a possible path forward for the show in its current state rather than some of the other recent attempts at knowing where to go.
I do feel bad for Michael Longfellow - I don't know what happened there or has happened all season.
There will probably be more detailed dress reports up later today, but for now, here's what I took down from the Saturday Night Network podcast last night:
Good Morning Buffalo - Sarah and Kristen are news anchors reporting on their bender. JAJ makes fun of them for breaking into Derek Jeter's house. Longfellow interviews a cop (Molly) about them. Kenan is an "emo Jimmy Butler" weatherman Sarah and Kristen had a threeway with. Apparently this was good?
PDD - Grinke (?) whispers to Kristen what sketches she should do and dances. One by one PDD, besides John, get into the dancing. It dances on the Update desk beside Colin at the end. There were some reports that this was bad enough to where the audience was just silent.
Funeral - Kristen mourns her husband and plays his favorite music. The mourners head bob and dance. She reminds the mourners it's a funeral. Longfellow is the son. Mikey, Heidi, Bowen, Ego, Marcello are mourners. Kenan is the body coming to life due to the music. JAJ part of the staff. Molly and Punkie have funerals next door.
Train Ride - Kristen does a call on the speaker with her doctor, much to Kenan's dismay. Devon tells Kenan he can't leave his seat, even appearing outside the train. Sketch ends when Kenan leaves it and breaks the fourth wall.
Book club - (also cut from Molly Shannon's episode) - Bowen is a nuisance to a book club, featuring Kristen, Ego, Molly, Heidi.
They also reran the Red Flag fake ad from back in the day.
4 minutes ago, baldryanr said:
So for those who have been yearning for a non-political cold opening, did this one do it for you? I thought it sucked. Yeah, Charles and Kenny aren't college BB guys, the women have been more exciting (or at the very least have bigger name stars), and Kim Mulkey dresses like a flamingo.
It seems like the only time we get non-political cold opens are if they involve sports. I don't know anything about them other than all the people arguing about Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese. It didn't seem like the show had any real point beyond "we love women's college basketball," maybe because they just wanted to address the people who believe the show has a negative view of women in basketball.
I would have rather seen a different topic, but at least it's not politics I guess.
The performances were fine, but I think the only part I enjoyed was when Heidi wandered out too early so she could join in on the LFNY.
Given that Fred and Kristen were there, I'm half-surprised they didn't revive Dooneese, but maybe they thought that wasn't right for 2024.
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