Saturday Night Live
Megan Thee Stallion
October 15, 2022
Between the Astros clinching their place in the ALCS and Megan Thee Stallion hosting and serving as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live (on an episode whose start was threatened by the Astros game because it just went on SO LONG), Saturday was a big night for my hometown of Houston, Texas. Now, this might shock those of you in Houston, but there are people out there in this world who do not like either the Astros or Megan Thee Stallion. WHAT’S WRONG WITH THEM, AMIRIGHT? But to them I say: too bad, so sad, Saturday night was all about HustleTown.
Megan Thee Stallion is only the second female rapper to host and serve as the musical guest of Saturday Night Live after Queen Latifah had the honor back in 2004. And I have to say, Megan did Houston proud. She has so much charisma and personality as a performer that extends past her obvious musical talent. Those of us who have seen her in She-Hulk and as a judge on Legendary already knew this, and weren’t surprised at her ability to hold down a live sketch comedy show. Plus, the writers gave her a series of sketches that played to her larger-than-life persona helping her deliver a solid — if not particularly revolutionary — episode of SNL. Good job, H-Town Hottie.
Annnnnnnd we are right back to the traditional political cold open with the flurry of impersonations, some good, some not so good. This time, they take on the January 6th Committee hearing, and it’s not bad, it’s just not particularly novel. Highlights include Heidi Gardner’s Liz Cheney declaring that she has “Big Dick Cheney Energy;” Sarah Sherman’s Chuck Schumer; and the moment when Trump asks if Mike Pence is dead yet, eliciting gasps from the crowd for reasons I still don’t entirely understand. Y’all do know that Donald Trump wanted Mike Pence dead on that day, right?
Grade: B+
Megan Thee Stallion delivers a monologue in which she shares all her nicknames, does a terrible British accent, talks about her bachelor’s degree from TSU, and her Hottie’s Popeye sauce. It’s fine.
Grade: B-
“Hot Girl Hospital” is a TV series following a hospital that only addresses hot girl emergencies. It has some funny moments: “Variety says, ‘I don’t feel comfortable reviewing this as a white guy!'” but it goes on entirely too long. (And, y’all, I just checked — it’s less than four and a half minutes long. It feels much longer.)
Grade: B-
“We Got Brought” is an R&B/hip-hop song about mutual acquaintances being dragged out for the night and left alone together, forced to make awkward small talk. WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE.
Grade: A+
In the goofiest bit of the night, a group of friends in a cabin in the woods tries to point out a deer to Kenan’s dad character, but he just can’t seem to spot it. Things spiral out of control from there. It’s deeply silly, but Kenan sells the hell out of it and causes Megan to break.
Grade: B+
“Girl Talk” is a talk show in which African-American women have entire conversations about a variety of topics using only the word, “girl.” It’s a one-joke bit, but one that works well and is in Megan Thee Stallion’s wheelhouse.
Grade: B+
“Please Don’t Destroy’s” pretaped segment is all about their “wellness” routines, except they are all doing terrible things for their health, like watching 23 hours of screen time, “intermittent sleeping” and confusing milkshakes for smoothies. Eh.
Grade: B
“Weekend Update” is strong this week with jokes about Trump’s deranged letter to the January 6th Committee, Herschel Walker’s debate performance, and Kanye’s antisemitic nonsense.
Grade: A
Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman play two Texas mothers — named “Debbie Hole” and “Stacey Bussy” — who are very concerned that Hocus Pocus and Halloween are satanic, and by “satanic” they mean very, very sexual. It’s very funny, but I sure wish our state wasn’t such an easy punchline. LET’S STOP BEING SO STUPID, TEXAS.
Grade: A-
Newbie Devon Walker has his turn at the “Weekend Update” desk to do some of his stand-up and he’s very charming. I assume Molly Kearney will have their chance on the next episode?
Grade: A-
In another bit that was clearly written to Megan Thee Stallion’s talents, she leads a workout class to increase butt size. However, there is a simultaneous class happening in the same room, led by two white women to decrease butt size. It’s exactly what you think it is.
Grade: B-
The only ad spoof of the night is for a charity to donate boyfriend’s sweatshirts to women who don’t have boyfriends. I FEEL PERSONALLY ATTACKED. WE CAN’T HELP IT THAT Y’ALL’S SWEATSHIRTS ARE SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE THAN OURS. (Quick storytime: When we dropped my youngest off at college a couple of months ago, my husband and I went to the school’s bookstore to buy ourselves t-shirts and other gear. The only sweatshirt they had that I liked was in a man’s XL, and for a split second, I hesitated to buy it. But then I did, and y’all? It changed everything. It’s a boyfriend’s sweatshirt, but it’s mine. I’m never buying sweatshirts in my size again. It took me being so old as having two children in college to learn this simple life hack, but I’m just glad I did before I died.)
Grade: A+
In the final sketch of the night, Ego Nwodim (who has been carrying this episode), plays a substitute teacher who assumes her class is a bunch of lost-cause dummies because they are Black kids in an urban school, only to discover they are actually very intelligent STEM students who are smarter than her. FoolishWatcher says, “‘I don’t feel comfortable reviewing this as a white girl!’
Grade: B+
And because of my love of her music and how proud I am that she is from Houston, here are Megan’s musical performances, both of which were great:
Final Grade: Solid B+, almost A-
Saturday Night Live airs at 10:30/11:30 p.m. Saturdays on NBC.