Saturday Night Live opens the final episodes of Season 49 with a televised roundtable addressing Columbia student protests regarding Israel’s Gaza war.
In the skit, two white parents grapple with supporting their children’s activism amidst concerns over the demonstrations’ intensity.
Alphonse Roberts (played by Kenan Thompson), the third parent, initially backs the protests until learning his daughter might be involved, comically exclaiming,
“Nu-uh! Alexis Vanessa Roberts better have her butt in class!”
When asked about the contradiction, he clarifies,
“I’m supportive of y’all’s kids protesting, not my kids. My kids know better!”
SNL ingeniously tackled the Israel-Palestine protests while skirting direct commentary. It’s a feat of comedic finesse.
Dua Lipa takes on dual roles as host and musical guest, sharing the inspiration behind her new album, “Radical Optimism”: “It’s like looking on the bright side of any situation.”
Putting theory into practice, she invites audience members to share their problems. With wit and charm, she flips perspectives on various examples, including a man whose wife left him for calling her “mom” during sex and another dealing with a doctor’s warning to stop drinking.
However, her optimism meets its match when confronted by South Dakota governor Kristi Noem, known for a controversial puppy-killing incident, leaving Lipa stumped for a positive spin.
In the opening sketch, Dua Lipa and Ego Nwodim portray “two baddies from Task Rabbit” hired to record sultry producer tags for rapper Young Spicy’s latest single.
Initially on point with lines like, “Ooh, Young Spicy got that heat,” they veer into less flattering territory, commenting on his sexuality, treatment of women, and alleged interactions with underage students.
Reflecting a similar premise to a previous sketch with Ana de Armas, this rendition delivers darker, sharper humor.
In “The Anomalous Man,” a black-and-white drama set in Victorian-era London, Dua Lipa portrays an admirer of a brilliant yet grotesquely disfigured playwright, depicted by Sarah Sherman in full-blown Elephant Man-like prosthesis.
Their unlikely romance takes shape until Lipa’s character discovers his unsavory habit of sending explicit texts to multiple partners.
While the sketch offers a slow burn setup with a lukewarm conclusion, it provides a refreshing change of pace, reintroducing Sherman’s signature body-horror sketches to the SNL stage after a hiatus.
During a segment on a Greenville Morning Show, the hosts’ trivial banter about local cicadas unexpectedly transitions into a discussion about the Kendrick Lamar-Drake feud.
As the conversation unfolds, the hosts veer dangerously close to inappropriate territory, almost resorting to wearing blackface and using racial slurs.
This comedic portrayal sheds light on SNL’s approach, highlighting its perceived disconnect and reliance on caricatures of white individuals rather than directly addressing significant cultural topics like the rap beef.
In the next sketch, Dua Lipa and Marcello Hernandez portray a couple on a first date, spending time at her apartment.
All seems well until Hernandez notices her “wall of what looks like 500 naked toy dolls,” which are actually her collection of Sunny Angels, popular companions for lonely 25-year-old working women.
The situation takes a bizarre turn when one of her “little boyfriends” starts talking, leading to Bowen Yang delivering a cringe-worthy performance as a horny, grape-headed naked baby doll.
As the sketch progresses, it evolves into a parody of “Challengers,” with Lipa even donning one of Zendaya’s outfits from the film.
While attempting humor, it falls flat and stands out as a contender for the worst sketch of the season.
In a commercial parody, a “big-ass aluminum tray of penne alla vodka” is humorously praised for its questionable virtues:
“Beloved by none, but tolerated by all … because it’s not that good, but it’s not that bad either.”
The sketch mirrors this sentiment, as it falls somewhere in between – not particularly remarkable but not entirely terrible either.
Troye Sivan, introduced as the “Australian YouTube twink” previously portrayed by Timothée Chalamet, kicks off the musical segment, introducing Dua Lipa for her first performance of the night.
Transitioning to Weekend Update, Colin Jost criticizes Governor Noem for disclosing that she once shot an untrainable dog, quipping,
“If a dog is untrainable, you don’t shoot it, you give it to President Biden.”
Meanwhile, Michael Che delivers a sharp comment on the US stance regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, stating,
“President Biden said the national guard should not be called in to deal with campus protests, but I’m just happy he’s finally not sending military aid somewhere.”
The remark elicits uncomfortable groans from the audience, highlighting the sensitivity of the topic.
Returning focus to Governor Noem, Colin Jost welcomes their first guest, her other dog, Cricket the Seventh, portrayed by Hernandez.
Cricket dismisses the notion of media spin surrounding Noem’s pet incidents, despite the governor’s own admission in her book.
As the sketch unfolds, it becomes evident that the poor pup is genuinely terrified for his safety. The segment serves as a dark and pointed critique of someone deserving such scrutiny.
Later on Weekend Update, Colin Jost introduces the second guest, former child star turned bad girl JoJo Siwa, portrayed by Chloe Fineman.
Siwa, sporting a “Mad Max on Broadway” look, attempts to take credit for inventing “gay pop” while delivering unconvincing gestures. Despite the challenging portrayal, Fineman delivers a solid impersonation of the musician.
HgIn a surprise twist, Colin Jost introduces a third guest: Jerry Seinfeld, portraying a man who’s been overexposed in the media.
The comedian appears haggard and confused after weeks of nonstop promotion for his new movie “Unfrosted.”
Attempting to offer advice to others in a similar situation, Seinfeld’s appearance takes an unexpected turn when he takes a call on-air from Univision to schedule his next appearance.
While Seinfeld’s presence is always welcome, the sketch feels like a missed opportunity, especially given the setup that hints at addressing recent controversies.
Instead, the segment offers a halfhearted self-effacement that leans more towards self-promotion.
In a comedic sketch, an expectant couple meets their new OB-GYN, the humorously named Fat Daddy, portrayed by Thompson. Fat Daddy reveals his unconventional past as a pit master at Fat Daddies BBQ Palace before transitioning to gynecology.
With absurdity in full swing, he treats his patient like a piece of meat on a grill, even tasting his fingers to assess her PH levels.
While the sketch delivers ridiculous silliness at its finest, it ends somewhat abruptly, but still stands out as one of the season’s best comedic moments.
Seinfeld makes a return to introduce Dua Lipa for her second set. Following that, a commercial spotlights the Teeny Tiny Statement Pin, the latest fashion accessory allowing red carpet celebrities to support various causes such as “Love is Love,” “Ceasefire Now,” “Free Ellen,” and “We Have the Meats” without inviting criticism or detracting from their glamorous outfits.
While the sketch aims to critique self-important celebrity activism or non-activism, its impact might have been stronger if not for the issue-dodging cold open that preceded it.