Then just a few days after the first episode of Saturday Night Live season 46 wrapped, a new controversy popped up. Albeit one we didn't see coming and isn't their fault.
Meet Morgan Wallen. He's a rising County music star that hit the big time in 2018 when his single "Whiskey Glasses" was a #1 hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. And his later single "7 Summers" was a monster hit, breaking the most first-day streams for a country single on Apple Music, another topper on the Country Airplay chart and even became a top 10 hit on the Hot 100. (If this means nothing to you, sorry.) But his biggest claim to fame will be the most reckless and embarrassing. Earlier in the week, videos surfaced on social media of Wallen at a college party at a Tuscaloosa, Alabama bar with attendees not wearing masks or practicing social distancing; Morgan was also recorded kissing a few female patrons. Those videos went viral when many viewers (me included) realized that this is the same dude that was announced to perform this weekend on SNL. Strong backlash ensued, causing the producers to announce on Wednesday the 8th that Wallen's appearance inside the deeply-sanitized-and-microscope'd Studio 8H would be cancelled. The same day, Wallen released a video apologizing to the show, its producers and his fans for his stupid, embarrassing, preventable actions.
Dude, you fucked up. You knew SNL went to hell and back to get back on air in-studio safely, and actually wanted you to perform on their stage- proving they liked your music and saw their platform as the stepping stone to launch your career into the stratosphere. But you had to screw up everything to go to a party with people you didn't know that could carry COVID. And you kissing women whom may also have the virus was just icing on the cake. You are not sorry you did what you did. You're sorry you got caught, maybe even hoping to keep this a secret so no one knows until after the show is done so you did your gig. Either way, you're a daggone fool for that. Just be lucky Lorne is forgiving enough to keep the door ajar to have you appear sometime in the future when people forget this nonsense. Or at least bring it back up to drum buzz when you do actually appear.
Oh yeah speaking of lucky, SNL got a hell of a replacement: Jack White. Uhhh... You guys know who he is and what he does. Sweet, badass music for the whole family.
Oh and speaking of family...
(I've heard "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone a few times as a kid [to my utter delight, now thanks to this (and Guardians of the Galaxy) I've played it literally thousands of times as an adult [to my blatant delight].)
You may know Bill Burr as a comedian best known for his routines where he mimes into his depressing childhood under his rageaholic father for laughs and a good time. That routine (and his childhood in the early 1970s) would later become the basis of a hilarious animated series on Netflix entitled F is for Family, with co-creator Burr voicing that rageaholic pissant patriarch we know and love Frank Murphy. I've never heard of Burr or his standup before F is for Family (and you guys know my thoughts on it as its first three seasons have been reviewed on my Toony Tuesday series, and season 4 is coming just in time for Thanksgiving. Can't wait for the fifth and final as well), and since its debut (which I didn't get to until a few weeks later), his comedy has been on radar fairly rarely. So this is my first real taste of it that I can't wait for. Will I suffer under a Burr-bonic plague by 1am?? Well, we'll just have to see.
And here we go as of course the Cold Open is about the Vice Presidential debate. Expect the fly to appear.
Such a good CO. I expect a lot from this event to spoofed -- Pence's whiny talking and interrupting, Kamala's black mom smirk, Susan Page giving more shaming than Chris Matthews but still weak in battle, the fly, the fly, the fly, the pink eye.
I loved her shout-out to Philly with the thick jaws accent, his account of Trump's weird dosage, gernot doing anything as he steals the show with his bullshit . Then there's this strange swerve to Joe Biden taking a teleportation device to Pence's head and his transformation into Jeff Goldblum as a fly in reference to The Fly. That was brilliant. Kenan is a lovely touch as Herman Cain reincarnated as a fly.
Bill Burr pretty much knocked his 8H debut out of the park. His take on COVID taking out the family members intentionally (by us), cancel culture, white women throwing themselves into the front of oppression and bitching about everything (there's a reason they're called Karen's in these cases) is fucking brilliant. His set about a changing New York since his return (specifically Pride Month getting great June vs. Black History Month in shitty February) is also a highlight. I regret not hearing more of this man's standup. His feisty, bold repartee and fearless, gives-no-fucks attitude is oddly refreshing and enjoyable.
The Sketch After is about three couples enjoying a night out at one of their homes. Things go sour when the one by Burr and Kate McK are pissed when the phrases they say get corrected leading them to trigger out. This one was really good. Burr gave me life with his yelling and throwing his wine glass to the door, Kenan asides begging his significant other and the other couple to STFU were also fantastic, Kate actually gave some tension alongside the perfect-at-being-manic Burr and I even joined in on the furiousity when Ego Nwodim mispronounced Dua Lipa. A great start to the sketches. What a Kevin and Karen, amirite?
BILL BURR WITH HAIR. YIKES.
Anyway, Burr, Kenan and Lego My Ego quickly switch over to the next skits, The Blitz, in which the hosts talk sports. But things get derailed when Gil (Bill) wants to mouth off about a bet he won against Kevin (Kenan), but the latter and female host (I forgot her name) discuss a tragedy involving a black man taken out by police. The awkwardness of the situation is the joke. And despite the meek reactions from the audience, the jokes worked well thanks to Burr's lines as attempts at backtracking and Gil's all-out going on the bet, juxtaposed with Kenan and Ego's genuine heartbreaking tone. Shout out to Pete Davidson for returning despite comments that he wanted to leave. (Didnt think I'd forget? Well, I did... but not anymore.)
Beck has a pre-tape to himself, by himself
It's about a pretty boy internet show actor (probably named Kevin I guess) making a political statement video against President Trump. Problem is it sucks, is shortsighted, and is more about clicks and views than genuine anguish and criticism. It's brilliant in its execution in that it details the guy's descent into obscurity and cancellation. He lost friends, a girlfriend, a roommate, and many followers. But fuck all that. Jason Momoa saw it, and that's enough. A perfect embodiment of shitty D-list actors today.
If there's a musician who can rock a stage like no one else, it's Jack White. And in his -th appearance (and especially quickly under special circumstances) he still got it. With "", it was hella bombastic and breathtaking. Shout out to the camera workers and DRK for such a smooth and sharp production. And to the lighting crew for a small but effective showing. I need to listen to this performance again soon. And more times after that.
Time for an Update!
Jost and Che tackle 45 after his stay at Walter Reed Medical Center, and are relentlessly whipping him. His overproduced return to the White House, the ugly cake-up, his stupid rally were all prime targets and they take so much pleasure in going in on Trunp even as he is convalescent-- the best he's been in 20 years. Michael said this is a dark show, and I incline to agree. Please don't stop it. Keep it going.
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