Every time it’s announced that Melissa McCarthy will host Saturday Night Live we get excited. Because, in a very brief time (she only started hosting six seasons ago in 2011) McCarthy has added so much to the lexicon of the show. Providing the show with classic moments and dropping in more than a few times where needed. Scarlett Johanson hosted earlier this year for the 5th time and next week Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hosts for the 5th time. Why is Melissa’s benchmark more exciting than those? Because as a person with a sketch background, it feels more relevant to the history of the show than the others. How did she do? What was the story behind her rolling around NYC on the Sean Spicer podium? Let’s run it down.
Cold Open: Lester Hold And Donald Trump
How do you summarize a week of crazy political happenings? Put them all in the interview between Lester Holt and Donald Trump where he said statements that hold him accountable for his actions? Will anything come of it? Unfortunately nothing, because as Holt puts it, “nothing matters.” Also, with the joke about optics and toilets, the show delivered one of the most deep-cutting shots the show has delivered so far.
Monologue: Mother’s Day
It’s Mother’s Day, so host Melissa McCarthy wants to celebrate all the moms out there. Particularly one mother chosen from the audience who gets a special tour of the studio, and, ya know gets to meet Deadpool and his wife.
Game Show: Just Desserts
McCarthy hosting gigs guarantee us at least one sketch where she goes so physically over the top with her humor, and more often than not, she gets messy. So when given the opportunity to get a pie (PIE!) in the face more than a few times, we’re all smiles.
Amazon Echo Silver
Real talk, we all know we’ve had to go to our parent’s house to set up their home assistant for them at some point. So the pain points this sketch drums back up in our brains make us both laugh and suffer a bit of PTSD trying to get mom’s stories on the talky device.
White House Press Briefing
Sean Spicer returns! As SNL has prepped for it all week on social media and the leaked video of McCarthy driving the podium around the streets of NYC. In a way, McCarthy took the opportunity to put an end on her take on Spicey, was it because she’s done with the character? Or is it because we all have a feeling Spicer’s days as the White House Press Secretary are numbered.
Haim “Want You Back”
The last time Haim were on the show they were exploding into popularity on their first album. Now, the three sisters are back on the cusp of a new album, new denim jackets with high shoulders, but still the same Este Haim bass face.
Weekend Update
As Colin Jost alluded to, this week was a crazy one. And Update tackled it all head-on. Michael Che coined a new act out with the record scratch into music. But the funnest moments of Update are still Che taking pot shots at Jost like he did with the Apollo stand-up comedy joke.
It’s great to see Pete Davidson talking about his sobriety in a way that’s both probably funny and therapeutic.
Cathy Anne dropped by to talk about James Comey.
Film Panel
If there were ever someone that could run toe to toe with Kate McKinnon’s offbeat old school actress, it’s Melissa McCarthy as they reminisce about old school Hollywood with Marriot Courtyard and Little Peter.
Kyle And Leslie
These docu-dramas about the relationship between the unlikely romantic duo of Kyle Mooney and Leslie Jones are hilarious. They keep layering up, adding their marriage and “little Lorne.” Tonight’s sketch escalated quickly with the shooting up Colin Jost and who cares attitude of Lorne Michaels.
Haim “Little Of Your Love”
Once again, Haim.
First Birthday
What do you do when you are a young mother? You meet other mothers and take their words of wisdom. Even it said wisdom is to adopt your mother animal. It’s an oddly Stepford Wives-type of sketch.
Production Logo
There’s an old addage… Fake It Until You Make It. However, when it’s time to present Lighthouse Features with their new logo, well maybe you faked it a bit too much.
And that’s a wrap. Steve Martin and Alec show up to usher Melissa McCarthy into the 5 timer’s club, a great feat. Next week, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hosts and wraps the 42nd season. By the way, did we notice Colin Jost was wearing a leg cast and had crutches? Real, or was he just continuing the joke from the sketch where he was shot in the leg?
