"I, As (Vice) President Of The United States, Have Actually Achieved Something. Which Is Virtually Unheard Of."
Ladies and gentlemen... we did it. We, the citizens of the United States of America, have finally made presidential history. We elected the eldest commander-in-chief and - more importantly and most spectacularly - the first female (and first black and first South Asian) second-in-command. Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Kamala Devi Harris will be the 46th President and Vice President of the United States. And for that... I need to vomit now. Because after four years of that orange thing destroying our constitution and democracy and embarrassing us on front of the world stage on a frequent non-stop basis while holding my breath, palming my face, shielding my eyes, yanking on my hair and laughing when it was necessary (and crying inside when it wasn't), I really needed a time to upchuck so I can breath again. And this my fellow mauraders is the time (It should've been a landslide though). I hope they do right by us.
But until the day comes, we need someone to tide the storm and carry us these times of sadness, insanity, mania and depression. But since Biden won, we don't need it desperately. But SNL chose the right guy anyway and I'm all the way here for him. You may know him for a certain sketch comedy show that features such beloved characters as Tyrone Biggums, Tron Carter, "Silky" Johnson, Chuck Taylor and Leonard Washington impressions of music stars Rick James, Lil Jon and Prince, and brought the world the forever immoral "I'm Rick James, bitch!" . It's called "Chappelle's Show" and his name is Dave Chappelle.
Chappelle previously hosted four years ago after the modern day disaster that was the 2016 General Election, when reality game show host and not-really-a-billionaire... You know what, let's leave that in the past. That episode was hilarious, brilliant and something we all needed to get through a mortifying campaign season we all wouldn't wish on our worst enemy an a conclusion we come close to wishing on them. And the sketches on the aftermath of said election and The Walking Dead Negan parody starring the aforementioned Chappelle's Show scene-stealers were truly unforgettable. And that monologue? Whew, hilarious as it was, NBC's standards and practices department must've been in a coma, and its Raleigh affiliate were morons to try ro pussify it up.
But now that's he's back in Studio 8H under 1000% different and thus much better and cheerful circumstances, I still expect nothing less vulgar, racial-epithet-laden or funny.
Meanwhile, it's back to the well of popular and amazing rock bands that has consistently (and stangely) dominated this season's musical offerings. But honestly there are few that better than Foo Fighters. Every appearance they've made, they tore the roof off the studio. Their last appearance during the Season 44 Christmas episode blessed us with one of the very best covers of "Linus and Lucy" from the Peanuts holiday specials I've ever heard. That enough gives them cred. So this time round cannot be an exception. Right? Right.
I'm proud American citizen (except when I choose not to be to mock and hate it - #Patriot) and proud early mail-in voter Andrew Pollard, and I'll here to bring you the post-2020 General Election episode of Saturday Night Live.
As if that does surprise anyone, the Cold Open is on a TV network finally projecting that Biden won the election. And they're excited like we are. Honestly, it's as if decided to take a break on the jokes and just acted out what just happened hours ago. They didn't need CNN , but Beck Bennett needed something to do to fill out the first fifteen minutes, so Wolf Blitzer will do.
Jim Carrey and Maya Rudolph still shine as Biden and Madam VP Kamala Harris , but one line from Rudolph worked the best "We checked more boxes than a disqualified ballot." Honestly, the best jokes were from Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump. "Stop the count!", the COVID map and his off-of-wall random rendition of Macho Man just work. Too bad this may be his last appearance in a while. Maybe until January.
Dave Chappelle returned to the stage to near-riotous applause a began a monologue with a soft, sober story about his great-grandfather ending with a joke about his show being on two streaming services leading to "a nigga being bought and sold more times...". His digs on his standup shows in Ohio, FarmersOnly, someone saying nigga and him wondering if they said it, Zoom, wearing masks (mentioning the Klan), and Trump-- aww fuck, all of it was a highlight. His calm and sweet demeanor and use of the word "nigga" made me pay attention and enjoy it so much, and his lit cigarette set the "IDGAF" tone well. If only the audience pretended it wasn't SNL and was a comedy club; they'd laugh until they all caught a hernia. Dave himself feel the same way. His speech relating to white people in some unfortunate times in their lives is very comforting for others who feel the same way.
Chappelle introduces this Sketch After, where black people aren't the only people to lose their jobs, but when they do it hurts the most. The piece starts off soberly, but the comedy kicks in whence we learn whom is getting fired: Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben (and not Dennis Haysbert). This was a brilliant spoof on multi-billion corporations disbanding popular brands for negative racial connotations. The sketch gets more absurd when Count Chocula (Pete Davidson) appears and tries to make his case, and even more so when Chappelle breaks the fourth wall to make us look at his funny-looking cracker's lips. Sweet Jesus, that costume is scarily accurate. Shout out to the costume department for that (and Rudolph's Kamala outfit; that was hours before!)
Next up, Nintendo celebrates the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. (one of its greatest games ever and the start of its most successful franchise) by asking random people what they thought of the game. A couple of folks talked about the game and its glorious memories. Two white guys (Mikey Day & Kyle Mooney) instead turn it into a depressing anecdote about Mooney's character getting his balls fucked off when they raced on bikes to buy it, throwing everything off. At first, I wasn't feeling it when they come on, then Kenan jump-starts it with his disgusted and aggravated reactions. Then it got funnier. Lemme tell you -- I almost got run over on my electric scooter (it wasn't on) on the way home yesterday. I got off much luckier than him.
This Pre-Tape was... weird. But rip-rolling good too. Some guy named Keith tries to get his girlfriend to take him back, but lets slip somethings that make her thank God for dropping his ass: did coke, he had a gun, he did gay porn, he's 18 NOW, he whipped it out to kids at a playground... Honestly, Beck Benn made this one because of his nonchalant and matter-of-factly tone of voice and random placement of items and facts were well-written and placed, and Ego Nwodim as the ex was great with her mortified reactions.
Time for an Update!
Jost & Che discuss what everyone is loudly and boisterously cheered about: Joe Biden is now our president, and even more so, Donald Trump will not be president any longer. Michael also made a brilliant analogy relating to Shawshank Redemption: the characters on the roof enjoying life and drinking while still in jail. Like us enjoying a new president while still have the last one.
Kate McKinnon appears as Rudy Giuliani, and creepily as ever, discusses Trump's loss and the "reasons" for it. Her performance as a slimy, strange, nausea-fueled, moronic loser with a great job never fails for the belly-achers. But this WU spot has to be one of her best, as even Jost is laughing. Nice job!
Another home one, not as strong as last week, but still amazing.
This next skit may be the definition of "slow news day". A devastating hailstorm hitting small town Pebble Beach swerved into a human-interest fluff piece about two workers on a dumb tourist trap falling in love under distress and protection. This started out fine, but got funnier when Kenan drops in as Rudolph telling his tale. The chemistry between him and Kate McK's Jean is strangely sweet as the two curl up (after his strange out-of-nowhere teleporting) even though he has a wife (whom he thinks might be dead, who cares?)
Goddamn, Lorne! Give Ego a rest. I know black people can put in more work and she's super talented but please one reprieve, okay? Anyway, from one news skit to another, as she and a returning Chappelle, whom disappeared to do whatever he fuckin wants, do a breaking hit on a chase about the president Trump leaving the White House in a Bronco driven by Don Jr. It was funny, especially the hits by FunDay and Baldwin as the Donalds, but I won't remember it tomorrow. Or even after the show's over.
Foo Fighters returned for two on-par standout performances, one with a surprising cold-tone look but full of angst and energy and the other more retrospective and important , with a sudden quick drop of adrenaline at the end (and an ear-popping drood at the start). If there is a modern rock band I as a black man would love and show no shame in loving, it's Foo Fighters. (And many more, but still)
It was a great episode, but I had a feeling it wouldn't be as controversial, impactful or memorable as the last Chappelle-hosted post-election episode. But most of the content here is funny enough in and of itself to hold up well. Same with Chappelle's monologue. I still remember parts of it from last watching it all those years ago, but this one is hilarious enough to be unforgettable all the same. The cast were smashing as well, even though the big four were still overused - great as they are. Ego may be make this a Big 5. Cecily Strong, Melissa Villasenor, Chris Redd, Heidi Garner (I think she VO'd in the Super Mario skit) and the newbies were nowhere, while Pete Dave, Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman (silent even) appeared once. COVID is making it even harder for everyone to get screen time.
Chappelle was as always in his element. His dour, smooth demeanor and behavior were so damn refreshing from the wacky hijinks we were all in this past month and prior; it's like he's a black, filthy-lipped Mr. Rogers. His monologue was awesome (as his wont) and his brief showings up in his two sketches made them superb. I needed to be entertained with new stuff after this almost-fortnight-long election, and SNL gave it to me good. If only they tell us when to expect more.
Well, we all need a break, and after 6 full weeks of new episodes, they deserve it more than us. So... Thanksgiving episode??? We shall see.
Well, I'm proud to back reviewing SNL, and this season has been a challenge to keep reviewing but I had fun doing it and I needed something to remind y'all this site is still around. So thank you all for checking in every week and I hope you all join me when it returns for me to skewer it when I can.
Goodnight everyone, and I'm Andrew Pollard, saying "God bless America! even those who disrespect it to worship a false junk-filled, hot-air-headed false idol."
