Scarlett Johansson, Miss Eggy, Joke Swap

It is also her first main return for the reason that notorious “roast beef” joke from the 2024 Christmas “joke swap” episode that instantly went viral and had individuals questioning if Michael Che had gone too far in writing and having Scarlett’s real-life husband Colin Jost learn that one dwell on the air.

This episode featured each extra and fewer visitors than we anticipated. There have been some very small roles for Gina Gershon and Emily Ratajkowski, whereas Mike Myers very randomly appeared as himself and took the lead function in a sketch.

Scarlett additionally portrayed herself as we revisited “Bowen’s Straight,” whereas elsewhere she took the Please Do not Destroy boys for a firstclass flight. One other massive return was Miss Eggy, who once more stole the highlight throughout “Weekend Replace.”

However she, in fact, could not take it solely away because the boys continued their “joke swap” custom for this finale — and this time Scarlett got here out in particular person to take a seat proper subsequent to Che as they learn them.

How did all of it play out? Did anybody make any massive bulletins about their future on the present? Effectively, we did hear that it was one particular person’s final present — however we’ll allow you to discover out what that meant for your self.

As standard, we’re rating all of the sketches from worst to first, together with the Monologue, Chilly Open, “Weekend Replace” and any sketches that had been lower for time however made their manner on-line. We’ll skip the musical visitors, as a result of they don’t seem to be normally humorous — until Ashlee Simpson exhibits up. We wrap up with a have a look at the cast-member who had the strongest week.

Mike Myers was a reasonably random casting alternative, enjoying himself on this elevator sketch that begins with some followers having fun with seeing him after which turns into simply him and Kenan Thompson’s Kanye West. They reminisced in regards to the time Ye mentioned George Bush did not like Black individuals whereas Mike Myers was simply standing there — true story — after which danced across the Diddy trial. However all through, we simply stored needing one thing from from one or the opposite (or each) of them to essentially make this ketch pop. The simplicity of the premise was there, however they did not appear to have something to say with both Mike Myers or Kanye West to make this make sense. Even the viewers wasn’t fairly positive what to assume because it simply type of ended.

Alas, this sketch wasn’t fairly positive tips on how to nail the ending, although that they had an ideal one already in place … they only stored going. The entire conceit of the piece being that Kenan Thompson simply cannot comprehend how lesbian intercourse works, and but works as an intimacy coordinator, was simply excellent fodder for a sketch about filming mentioned scene. There was numerous awkward similes and playfulness within the piece, which additionally being wildly invasive and utterly pointless. However its peaks to true human curiosity. Kenan performed it just about as Kenan does, with some overt silliness on high of charming creepy. All in all, it might have been stronger than it was, nevertheless it might even have been a whole catastrophe.

We weren’t positive if or how SNL would acknowledge that this was the season finale of their landmark fiftieth season, however we did not have to attend too lengthy as James Auston Johnson went there towards the tip of the Chilly Open. For probably the most half it was one other ramble-thon as Donald Trump this time throughout his go to to the UAE speaking about that $400 million aircraft reward. However then, he famous that he wasn’t going to be staying there for much longer, and actually, could not keep within the sketch for much longer.

He then actually threw a man out of the seats within the entrance and sat surrounded by precise viewers members to shut his message, which was a combination of Trump-ish humor, and thinly-veiled concern about what his actual counterpart is doing and may do on this nation earlier than the present returns for its 51st season within the fall. The tone was somewhat sudden, however captures a few of the paranoia and uncertainty of the present occasions. Johnson was somewhat sloppier than standard in his supply, however he all the time performs off little slip-ups properly.

This was a extra intimate technique to open it, and there is all the time one thing good when SNL breaks the fourth wall and will get somewhat private with the viewers — particularly on a milestone evening like this one.

This was a enjoyable one with Bowen Yang and Scarlett Johansson enjoying TV hosts interviewing the solid of a well-liked present with fluff questions for Marcello Hernandez’ boy toy character and brutally invasive, offensive, and unattainable questions for the entire ladies within the solid. That is the type of sketch that works as a result of whereas it is an exaggeration, it is also primarily based solely in fact. Simply watch any interview about how ladies can juggle being a spouse and a profession, or how a lot guilt she in all probability ought to really feel being away from her youngsters for work, or why her sturdy career-driven character makes her a shrewish, imply … properly, you recognize. Comedy works greatest when it speaks fact to energy, and that is undoubtedly a actuality test for anybody who interviews — properly, anybody.

There was undoubtedly a candy sentimentality to this musical monologue which got here to function each single present solid member in an unique tune set to Billy Joel’s “monologue.” There have been some jokes all through, like Scarlett forgetting the brand new solid members’ names, Michael Longfellow showing in 4 sketches this yr, and Sarah Sherman supposedly leaving (she’s not, enjoying that she was shocked). What we did get, although, was a glimpse of a few of the breakout solid members as these had been those to get the shout-outs (aside from Marcello Hernandez).

Principally, although, it was a honest tribute to 50 years of comedy and this solid, who helped us have fun the achievement. We will not even think about how particular it should really feel to be up there tonight honoring tv historical past.

“You used to name me on my cellphone.” The puns had been undoubtedly uncontrolled on this parody of morning information exhibits that attempt to punch up enjoyable information tales with playful wording. However the important thing phrase there’s “enjoyable,” because it undoubtedly doesn’t work when Scarlett Johansson’s night newscaster filling in on the morning present tried her hand at some for critical and terrible tales. All of it made its technique to Heidi Gardner, as a bereaved mom whose youngster is lacking, utilizing that opening line within the worst attainable context.

We loved Emil Wakim’s very foolish musical intros and outros on this one as they had been simply random sufficient to be humorous, and simply terrible sufficient to be nice. Add to that one other stellar performing efficiency from Ashley Padilla, and these two newcomers are doing every part they’ll to foyer for a spot in subsequent season’s solid. Actually, we really feel Ashley’s executed sufficient as she’s already changing into a dependable sketch performer, which normally takes solid members 2-3 seasons.

And the award for what the hell was I simply watching goes to this 10-to-1 sketch that wrapped the evening. Have been Victorian meals this wretched? Certainly not. And but, it was an absolute hoot watching Chloe Fineman, Sarah Sherman, Scarlett Johansson, and Heidi Gardner really attempt to ingest a few of the terrible dishes Andrew Dismukes was describing. We’re unsure what sleep-deprived and addled insanity led to this sketch, however we applaud its utter insanity, and the utter dedication of the solid to simply go there. That is the way you wrap 50 years? Effectively… why not!

This was a unbelievable bilingual sketch, taking full benefit of Marcello Hernandez within the solid and Unhealthy Bunny because the musical visitor to drag him into this story of two Hispanic males relationship American ladies who’re completely “loopy.” The dialog in Spanish between the 2 males, lamenting their respective ladies, whereas the ladies assume their males are defending their honor over a desk, was brilliantly put collectively. The one factor that did not fairly work was the inclusion of James Austin Johnson and Andrew Dismukes as two guys watching the “telenovela.” Bunny bought the most effective of Marcello on this one, with Marcello’s eyes saying all of it!

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Ripped from the headlines, this sketch was everywhere in the very best manner. What might have been an epic rap about flying firstclass with Scarlett Johansson as an alternative grew to become concern about touchdown in Newark — contemplating the misplaced planes and common chaos that airport has been experiencing. Throw in Unhealthy Bunny as the one air site visitors controller (on his first day, natch), full with a musical variety of its personal, and this was a type of schizophrenic sketch we might get behind. We by no means knew the place it was going to go subsequent, nevertheless it nonetheless managed to inform a coherent story from begin to end … with laughs.

The identify says all of it as this sketch revisits the traditional pretaped piece the place Bowen Yang isn’t just straight, however type of a douchey womanizing instrument, too. This time, it is Scarlett Johansson who turns into enamored along with his machismo, although she’s not the one girl on the present this week to fall underneath his spell. As all the time, it is a hoot to see how excessive Bowen takes his powerful man vanity after which understand that there are literally meatheads on the market that act identical to this.

The viewers was fired up immediately, as if anticipating the year-end joke swap on the high of the section. As soon as they settled down, they bought the standard array of political jokes from Colin Jost and Michael Che, together with takedowns of Trump’s Center East go to, the $400 luxurious jet reward — and the way he’ll repay the favor — white South African refugees, and even RFK swimming in a bacteria-ridden swamp There have been some humorous barbs about J.D. Vance wanting to go to the brand new pope, and the Menendez brothers getting resentenced, however this materials wasn’t as sturdy. One thing tells us they had been working more durable on a later portion.

It type of got here out of nowhere, however we had been nonetheless laughing and smiling alongside as Ego Nwodim introduced “Miss Eggy” again to lament about airline meals, as an alternative of the intense airline points happening in Newark. We love that she once more did materials about meals, labored in some soiled jokes about her “man,” and continued to play with viewers participation in a manner that left the viewers solely not sure what she needed. The character is so ridiculous, however in brief bursts, she’s a blast.

A brief non-political section featured jokes about mind injury, Dick’s Sporting Items shopping for out Foot Locker, a girl defecating on porches, and Che getting his first actual viewers groan along with his response to experiences individuals feeling drained could possibly be struggling ministrokes: “I all the time get sleepy after a stroke.”

After which we bought to the spotlight of “Replace,” and naturally you recognize they needed to deliver Scarlett Johansson out in order that she might confront Michael Che straight about his roast beef joke throughout the Christmas episode joke swap. Elsewhere, Colin Jost informed Lorne Michaels to simply “retire bitch,” whereas declaring he is not a “Nick Kerr lover,” and Che revealed how a lot he owes Jost and the way thrilling it’s to see a white girl’s drink unattended.

There have been numerous enjoyable moments for the solid this week, at the same time as they needed to jockey for place reverse Unhealthy Bunny and even Mike Myers. Kenan Thompson, as all the time, retains it dependable, whereas the women of this solid are actually discovering their very own vitality and voice on the present.

In reality, the women undoubtedly had the strongest evening, with Heidi Gardner, Sarah Sherman, and Ego Nwodim all bringing some nice moments to the fore. In the long run, although, we couldn’t resist the return of Miss Eggy. Earlier than she’d even made her “Replace” return halfway via the present, we had been already taking a look at her as our attainable winner this week.

She was nice as Marcello Hernandez’s unhinged girlfriend, after which enjoying an entire completely different type of dangerous within the newest Bowen’s Straight gag piece. Add in her standout efficiency within the “TV Tattle” piece when she heard she may need misplaced her job, and Miss Eggy was only one spotlight in an evening filled with them.

We bought no phrase of any definitive solid departures, which might have simply been a alternative to not overshadow the milestone fiftieth season finale for the present itself, with Scarlett giving Lorne Michaels a pleasant shoutout on the finish for the achievement.

It is arduous to think about, although, that everybody will return. Whereas it is unattainable to say which long-term solid members may get the boot, after we have a look at the newer faces, we do discover ourselves a bit apprehensive about Jane Wickline, who struggled to point out herself a bit. Sarah Sherman had a sluggish begin, too, and has develop into a vital piece of the puzzle, so perhaps they’re going to give her some lead.

We’re additionally apprehensive about Devon Walker, who appears to be fading an increasing number of into the wallpaper in his third season. Except for the newcomers — and a few of them are beginning to present who they’re — he is the one solid member who nonetheless does not have a transparent id on the present. After three seasons, will he nonetheless be given extra time to seek out it? We’re not so positive.

Saturday Evening Dwell will probably be again within the fall for Season 51!