The final time “Saturday Night Live” aired an episode following a Donald Trump presidential election win was on Nov. 12, 2016, when Dave Chappelle hosted. The chilly open was a somber Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton singing “Hallelujah,” and the monologue and sketch that adopted felt like completely pitched, sensible responses to a stunning final result.
For the primary post-election episode of 2024, stand-up comedian Invoice Burr hosted, and the episode … was not that in any respect. The present tried a number of totally different tacks, only a week after Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on the present, together with a chilly open that mocked Trump by having your entire forged fake to assist him and a Burr monologue that, relying on the way you seen it, was both wildly insensitive to dejected Harris supporters, notably ladies, or provocatively ironic.
By the point “Weekend Update” got here alongside, with two non-election associated character bits that missed the mark, the sketches started to really feel exhausted and rote, with unhealthy premises and weak writing. It by no means recovered after that. If the present was aligning itself to the visitor host’s sensibilities, you must marvel with hindsight if scheduling Burr to host days after such a divisive election was the suitable alternative. There have been a number of minor vibrant spots, together with a “Good Will Hunting” parody and a promo for a “Sex Rock” CD, plus a number of we’ll speak about under, however the remainder have been forgettable, unfunny or each.
In the meantime, musical visitor Mk.gee (a person and never an internet site) carried out “Rockman” and “Alesis.” There was no Please Don’t Destroy video, as has been the case for each episode however one this season.
The present honored producer Quincy Jones, who died this week, with a title card earlier than the closing goodbyes. He hosted the present in 1990.
You would possibly suppose that “SNL” would come out weapons blazing to denounce the Trump win, however as an alternative this week’s chilly open joked concerning the president-elect another way: with mock flattery.
Forged members confronted the viewers and recounted the outcomes of the election earlier than Kenan Thompson stated, “This is why we at ‘SNL’ would like to say to Donald Trump… we have been with you all along!” Forged members together with Ego Nwodim and Marcello Hernández joked that everybody within the forged voted for Trump. “Because we see ourselves in you. We look at you and think… ‘That’s me,’ ” Nwodim stated.
Colin Jost even appeared to throw his “Weekend Update” co-star underneath the bus, saying, “I hate how the lamestream media — Michael Che — tries to spin it to make you look foolish.” He additionally spelled out Che’s final identify to make it simpler for Trump to recollect.
A muscular, crimson bandanna-wearing “hot, jacked” model of Trump was launched by impressionist James Austin Johnson, who stated as Trump, “They finally got the body right.” The sketch ended with Dana Carvey returning as fist-pumping, leaping Elon Musk, who stated he’s working the nation now, which might be like one in every of his rockets. “But there’s a slight chance it could blow up and everybody dies,” Musk stated.
Is Invoice Burr’s comedy meant to be taken at face worth or is he doing a high-wire self-parody of the kind of edgelord comedy that drew ire after a Trump’s Madison Sq. Backyard rally? It was arduous to inform from Burr’s monologue, which began with a narrative about getting the flu with a thrown-in ethnic slur: “You’re trying to figure out who gave it to you. You’re going through this Rolodex of people that coughed on you, sniffed near you, walked by an Asian or something.” Burr ultimately obtained to election materials, starting by lecturing ladies: “OK, ladies, you’re 0-2 against this guy.” He advised feminine candidates ditch the pantsuits, cease making an attempt to have respect for themselves and “whore it up a little.” He advised that “ugly women… I mean feminists” received’t need to hear this, however that candidates must win over swing states by “making a farmer feel like he’s got a shot. Burr moved on to Trump, mocking his herky-jerky moves, which he said might have thwarted an assassination attempt, and chiding him for his appearance at a McDonald’s. “That’s the only time I’ve ever seen that guy truly happy,” Burr stated.
Greatest sketch of the evening: Mike Wazowski such as you’ve by no means seen him 
A bunch of firefighters at a Boston station are gathered for a gathering with a mental-health specialist (Heidi Gardner) who’s displaying the group a collection of Rorschach check photographs. Whereas a few of the males see issues within the black-and-white photographs, Ralphie (Burr) retains seeing full-color photographs of Disney characters in compromising positions. One in every of them is Mike Wazowski from “Monsters Inc.” in marriage ceremony lingerie and excessive heels. One other encompasses a topless Elsa from “Frozen” and Olaf working away together with her bra. Snoopy and Charlie Brown, Grasp Chief from “Halo,” the lifeless spouse from “Up” and Bandit, the dad canine from “Bluey,” find yourself within the combine. It is a very dumb premise, however the dedication to the bit works, particularly the extremely particular particulars that Ralphie is aware of about so many animated characters.
Additionally good: Dads who will speak about something however themselves 
Two pickleball gamers (Devon Walker and Andrew Dismukes) determine to name their dads and see how they’re doing. The fathers (Thompson and Burr) deflect, with one in every of them solely wanting to debate the Philadelphia Eagles and the opposite diverting the dialog to his son’s automobile. It seems each dads are going by some stuff and are prepared to speak about it by metaphors about their sports activities group or automobiles. “Last week, the Eagles fell in the shower,” Thompson says, “I thought, ‘This might be where the Eagles die.’ ” It’s a humorous and surprisingly touching piece.
‘Weekend Update’ winner: Oh no, there’s a Pennsylvania poll in that purse 
Thompson appeared on “Weekend Update” as Willie, probably the most optimistic man Michael Che is aware of, nevertheless it was Nwodim who made the larger impression as “A Woman Who Can’t Find Something in Her Purse.” The large purse comprises a lifeless goldfish in a bag, a gun, a smaller evening purse and an uncounted Pennsylvania poll. What was she looking for? Nothing, actually, she says: “It helps you get your point across when you need to storm off when you’re mad.”
