{"id":816,"date":"2024-12-18T18:11:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T23:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/?p=816"},"modified":"2024-12-18T18:11:33","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T23:11:33","slug":"snl-s50-e9-chris-rock-returns-and-enter-sandman-with-a-messy-cameo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/snl-s50-e9-chris-rock-returns-and-enter-sandman-with-a-messy-cameo\/","title":{"rendered":"SNL S50, E9: Chris Rock Returns and Enter Sandman with a Messy Cameo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chris Rock returns to Saturday Night Live<\/em> as host for the fourth time. Rock was a cast member from 1990 to 1993, and brought us characters like Nat X and Onski, cohost of the I\u2019m Chillin\u2019 <\/em>sketches with B Fats (Chris Farley).  Several former cast members have appeared on the show this season, but Rock is the first to host in Season 50.   This week was kind of part 1 of 2 Christmas episodes, and there was a lot to cover with the capture of the CEO Assassin and Trump being named Time Magazine\u2019s<\/em> Person of the Year, so let\u2019s get into it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cold Open<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I couldn\u2019t wait to see how SNL would tackle the Luigi Mangione situation. The show kicked off with a parody of the YouTube show Crime Stories with Nancy Grace<\/em>, with Sarah Sherman playing Nancy Grace. The topic is the CEO assassin and our country\u2019s unexpected infatuation with his thirst trap pics. America\u2019s got priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keenan Thompson is naturally funny as a guy who\u2019s been secretly going to McDonald\u2019s every day so his wife doesn\u2019t find out he\u2019s been unemployed for nine months. He happened to be there when Luigi was caught and has some funny takes on healthcare\u2014and Luigi himself: \u201cYou can tell he had hoes.\u201d Meanwhile, Emil Wakim plays a guy who happens to look like Luigi, describing his week of getting tackled in public, but also receiving some pretty interesting DMs.  Considering Emil\u2019s resemblance to Luigi, it was interesting how they worked that in.  I expect that he will play Luigi at some point.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying true to the fact that this is a YouTube show, two loud, obnoxious YouTube ads cut in mid-sketch. Marcelo Hernandez is a YouTube fitness bro yelling about losing belly fat by eating hamburgers, followed by an ad for \u201cBoner Pilz.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, this one grew on me after a second watch. I thought it was decent, and a definite change from the cold opens we\u2019ve been seeing this season. That said, it\u2019s a tough subject for comedy, but the concept was fresh and funny while riffing on the wild public reaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simpsified Secret Santa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris Rock\u2019s character receives a picture of himself as a Simpsons character. This one started off slow but gets funnier as Chris starts to imagine his Simpsons episode. As the secret Santa gifting continues, with Heidi Gardner receiving a jump rope, despite having two broken legs, and Chloe Fineman receiving tampons that she\u2019s been meaning to try so she doesn\u2019t have to keep buying pants, Chris\u2019 character gets deeper into his life in Springfield.  In his fan-fic episode, Homer is abusive, so Chris goes to Moe\u2019s to find him- where he\u2019s been drinking all day and a fight ensues. Chris ends up killing Homer, getting with Marge, and Bart calling him Dad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weekend Update <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top stories: America debates the delicate subject of who will play the CEO Assassin in the mini-series and Trump being named \u201cPerson of the Year\u201d because, \u201cno person on Earth has taken up more of our goddamn time.\u201d   The next six jokes get a mix of laughs and groans from the audience, which seems only to require something to be minimally off-color- but the whole audience discomfort and Che and Colin laughing at it, is hilarious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first Update guest is Andrew Dismukes as a bald man talking about the recent decision in the UK to classify calling someone \u201cbald\u201d, as harassment. He\u2019s happy with the ruling, but angry at just about everything else – setting Colin up to say things that he\u2019ll find offensive then threatening to see him in court.  Andrew has really stood out this season, taking some risks with characters and fully committing – taking bits that are just okay to another level by going all-in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next guest is Jane Wickline performing a song as Sabrina Carpenter, contemplating why no one questions her sexuality when she\u2019s given us reasons to do so. She just wants to have mystique, and for people to think that she has secrets, even though she doesn\u2019t \u2013 a funny and astute observation. I\u2019m glad to see Jane getting more screen time on the show and hope to see more in the second half of the season as she\u2019s a bright and funny comedian. Her TikTok showcases her comedic talent much better than she\u2019s had the opportunity to do this season, and I hope that her humor finds a place on the show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operating Room<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\u00a0<\/strong>sketch\u00a0<\/strong>might have been the highlight of the episode for me.\u00a0\u00a0It begins with the patient fully covered, and suddenly the doctors realize they\u2019ve removed his gallbladder instead of his appendix. Classic mix-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sara Sherman plays Lizlie, the one responsible for the mix-up \u2013 but her big concern is whether everyone is mad at her.  Then an X-ray reveals that there\u2019s an AirPod in the guy\u2019s abdomen. Pan over to Lizlie, looking surprised, with just one AirPod. The patient, wakes up and reveals himself to be Adam Sandler<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Adam\u2019s character sits up, he ruptures an artery, and starts spraying blood.  One by one, he squirts each doctor with blood, amid random one-liners, like Chris telling the others, \u201cYou\u2019re just jealous because Lizlie is the hottest girl in North America!\u201d  Bowen gives us a gem when he says, \u201cI have a name. It\u2019s Aloysius Cooter<\/em>.\u201d   I\u2019m not sure whether Adam totally went off-script when he tells Emil Wakim, \u201cI\u2019m not sure what your role is in this sketch, but I\u2019m glad you\u2019re getting air-time.\u201d  Either way it was so much fun – because not everything needs to be perfect and polished – and it was awesome to have Adam make a rare cameo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The whole vibe was reminiscent of the\u00a0\u201cShrek\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>sketch from the Charli XCX episode, with almost the same cast but swapping in Chris Rock for Charli, the off-kilter names\u2014like Lizlie, and Gadget in the \u201cShrek\u201d sketch.\u00a0\u00a0I love this formula – chef\u2019s kiss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Takes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n