With President-Elect Trump due to be inaugurated in a mere five days, SNL will, as they have thus far, have enough Donald Trump material from the orange one himself to keep Alec Baldwin gainfully employed and off the streets for the next for years. (Or until the new president is booted off the world stage courtesy of the quickest impeachment in history.)
First time SNL host Felicity Jones, who made the world fall in love with her in The Theory of Everything and then became the geek world’s pin up in Rogue One, did a pretty good job. As usual SNL drafted in its biggest gun, Tina Fey, to come on and help the new kid out.
(Perhaps the funniest line in the entire episode was Tina’s assertion that SNL is needlessly and endlessly “over” reviewed. Sounded a bit “Trump-like” but that could have been from over-thinking the gag.)
Keeping in mind that Jones had to follow what may well be the funniest cold open on SNL ever the Star Wars star came across very well. She also managed to do at least as well as all the other British actors who have hosted the show this season.
SNL, like Hollywood, seems to be in danger of being taken over by the English actors who are in practically everything at the moment. (Followed closely by the Aussies and the Kiwis…just saying.) Lorne Michaels and his writers could have subtitled this season “The Brits are Coming.”
The real focus though, especially in this latter part of the season, will obviously be on Donald Trump. Simply put, by “Trumping again” this episode and the ones following will be funniest when picking on Donald’s latest behavior.
Baldwin’s interpretation may not be to Trump’s liking but to be fair, he comes across better than the real deal. Donald Trump, as witnessed in his latest conference, came across as an odious bully; angry, aggressive and not the least bit presidential.
SNL had some good skits, but once again, Weekend Update was the real winner on this episode. Pete Davidson with his segment on “first impressions” was funny and spot on. Sadly, Michael Che, who rocks these segments with his on point social observations is not included in the YouTube videos on offer for viewing.
For those who want to check out Michael and Colin, head over to Hulu or On Demand streaming.
The Susan B. Anthony sketch was funny and felt like another example of showing how fair we have come just to slide back once more into mediocrity. The film review skit, “Sex Robot 3 and the escape to Boobs Mountain” was amusing but it felt a little too like the Emily Blunt sketch as a Quesadilla promoting robot earlier in the season.
Sturgill Simpson managed to rock out on both of his sessions. This “country” entertainer has managed to leave rock-a-billy so far behind that he has, seemingly, invented a whole new category of rock, country and jazz. Entertainer extraordinaire, Simpson was brilliant and exciting.
The pharmaceutical sketch was good mainly for allowing the beautiful and talented Sasheer Samata yet another chance to be more than a background performer.
Sadly, apart from the “Update” portion, the cold open and the presence, however brief, of that comic goddess Tina Fey, this episode was not overly noteworthy. The continuing mickey take of The Bachelor is beyond old but, at least this time the writers did not feature the SNL cast all doing their best “cor blimey” accents.
SNL airs Saturdays on NBC.
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