The best sketch of the night was Beck Bennett lamenting his inability to understand the pain felt by Black people in this country. If only there was a way to relate! Enter Kenan Thompson’s voiceover selling the new magical elixir, 5 Hour Empathy. One shot down the hatch, and you too can enjoy “a complete intimate understanding of years of systemic oppression and ever-present racism.” Ooh, tempting, Bennett says, but… yuck. But it’s not like he’s a racist. Nor his wife either, she’ll have you know. She begged off taking a nip off 5 Hour Empathy, because “I’m a woman, it’s basically the same.” Bill Burr would like a word with you, ma’am.
It was a good night for Weekend Update, especially Michael Che, who got the episode’s sharpest joke. “NBC held a town hall for President Trump. What can I say? We have a type,” he smirked uncomfortably, as the screen showed images of Bill Cosby, Matt Lauer, and Trump. Mikey Day and Alex Moffat’s Trump boys came on to brag about their Daddy. Nothing convinces me that Moffat is a more underused player than his marvelous, simpering, almost compassionate play on Eric Trump. “Don, Don, who is that lady?” he whispered to his brother when Chloe Fineman’s Tiffany sat down next to him. “Hi Notvanka,” he said after being introduced. Also, I could watch an entire movie starring Heidi Gardner’s famous 80s cocaine wife Carla, preferably if it was a buddy comedy co-starring Che and not directed by David O. Russell.
It can be difficult to keep up with whether Justin Bieber is more twerp than actual talent at a given moment. But he did beautiful, humble work Saturday night, and seemed genuinely grateful to have been invited back to SNL. Growing up is the best. And there’s just no one more effortlessly charismatic than Chance the Rapper, one of last season’s top 3 hosts, who performed “Holy” with Bieber. Bravo, boys.
In the meantime: I miss Aidy Bryant, who’s been away filming the third season of her Hulu series Shrill. Come back, Aidy. There simply can’t be undecided voters left at this point, and if there are, they don’t deserve you.
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