A Review of the Latest Episode of Saturday Night Live

The latest episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) was a delightful watch, with the show delivering a solid performance throughout. Although the cold open seemed to grapple with political satire, the return of Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, Jim Gaffigan, and Dana Carvey as Vice President Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, Tim Walz, and President Joe Biden, respectively, added an element of fun. The sketch was concise, lasting just under nine minutes, which was shorter than the season premiere’s cold open. However, the sketch seemed to lack the sharpness of previous ones, and Joe Biden’s presence felt somewhat contrived. Nevertheless, Dana Carvey’s stellar performance as Biden somewhat mitigated this shortcoming. Thankfully, this is something we only need to be concerned about for a few more weeks.

Episode Highlights

Washington’s Dream 2

One of the episode’s highlights was Nate Bargatze’s reprise of his role as George Washington, following his successful debut. This time, the sketch focused on the peculiarities of the English language, moving away from the original premise that satirized the United States’ units of measurement. The sketch humorously pointed out that we have two words for the same thing – donuts and doughnuts, that hamburgers are not made of ham, and that only the number 12 has a unique name. While the sketch wasn’t as impactful as the first, it still provided ample material for future episodes, should Bargatze return as a host.

Sabado Gigante

Marcello Hernandez, now a full-fledged cast member, had an opportunity to shine in this parody of the Spanish-language variety show “Sabado Gigante”. If you’re unfamiliar with Mexican television shows, they can be quite eccentric and random, which this sketch captured perfectly. We’ve seen similar parodies on SNL before, such as the Showbiz Grande Explosion sketches featuring Fred Armisen. However, Bargatze’s portrayal of a befuddled white guy who barely speaks Spanish and has no idea what’s happening added a hilarious twist.

Golf Tournament

Another notable sketch was the Golf Tournament. The beauty of this sketch, and a key reason for its humor, was its cinematography. The sketch perfectly emulated the look and feel of televised golf tournaments, complete with distant, documentary-style camera angles and the live sports aesthetic of network television. The sight gags and the continued accidental cruelty to animals were flawlessly timed. The snapping turtle prop could have been better, but this minor flaw didn’t detract from the overall humor of the sketch.

Water Park

It’s surprising that it took SNL this long to pair Michael Longfellow with Nate Bargatze. Both comedians have a distinct deadpan delivery style, which this sketch utilized brilliantly. The sketch revolved around a man dying at the top of a waterslide, and the medics having to take the body down the stairs, unless there was an easier way that no one had issues with. The biggest laughs came from Bargatze and Longfellow’s reactions to the conversation and the development of an alternate way to move the body. The protest by one of the lifeguards, played by Jane Wickline, against her more practical co-worker, played by Devon Walker, added to the humor. It’s just unfortunate that we didn’t get to see the body go down the slide.

Coach Alan

If there was a “worst” sketch of the night, it would probably be Coach Alan. However, this sketch was still decent. It was a one-note joke that carried throughout, but it was a solid sketch nonetheless. It may not have been the best sketch to end the episode with, especially with the return of The Lonely Island happening just before it, but it’s understandable if Lorne Michaels didn’t want viewers to tune out and miss the faux rap group’s return.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this episode of Saturday Night Live was a great watch, with several memorable sketches and performances. From Nate Bargatze’s return as George Washington to the hilarious Golf Tournament sketch, the episode had many highlights. Even though some sketches fell short, the overall quality of the episode was high, making it a must-watch for any SNL fan.

FAQs

Who were the guest stars in this episode of SNL?

The episode featured Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, Jim Gaffigan, and Dana Carvey in various roles.

Who hosted the episode?

The episode was hosted by Nate Bargatze, who reprised his role as George Washington from his hosting debut.

What was the premise of the Washington’s Dream 2 sketch?

The sketch focused on the peculiarities and irregularities of the English language.

What was the Golf Tournament sketch about?

The Golf Tournament sketch was a humorous take on televised golf tournaments, complete with sight gags and accidental cruelty to animals.

What was the Water Park sketch about?

The Water Park sketch revolved around a man dying at the top of a waterslide and the medics’ unconventional solution to move the body.

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