Saturday Night Live
John Mulaney & Chappell Roan
November 2, 2024
The wonderful John Mulaney has hosted Saturday Night Live six times in the past six years. In fact, since 2018, he’s become a staple, usually hosting once a season in what will be one of the strongest episodes of that particular season (if not THE strongest). But it’s not all laughs: Mulaney has been through some shit in those 6 years — a relapse into drugs and booze, a divorce, a stint in rehab, and all the humiliation associated with all of that happening in the public eye. But Mulaney also bounced back, and stronger than before: he’s now a father of two, newly married to a woman he stood by through a cancer scare, and with a career that withstood all of those stresses.
And that is why, even if Saturday Night Live didn’t intend it, Mulaney was the perfect person to host the show on this particular Election Eve — in some ways, he represents the country itself. Like John, 2020 and 2021 were rough years for our nation: a pandemic, an economic crisis, a volatile election, an attempted coup — there were times we weren’t sure we were going to make it out the other side. But we fought through and came out changed: and like Mulaney, better than before, with the strongest economy in decades, unemployment at the lowest rates in memory, and our country in (relative) peace times.
I’m not entirely sure where I’m going with this, except to say that I hope Mulaney and our country maintain that sense of optimism, that we keep making good decisions every day, and that we all stay on track. I guess our country, at least, will find out whether or not we choose to on Tuesday.
Oh, and also? This is just a fantastic episode, start to finish.
As you certainly heard before the episode aired, following appearances in North Carolina and Georgia, Vice President Kamala Harris flew to New York City to make a cameo on last night’s Saturday Night Live. After a requisite appearance from James Austin Johnson’s Former President Microphone Fellater, Maya Rudolph’s Kamala visited with Jim Gaffigan’s Tim Walz, Andy Samberg’s Doug Emhoff, and Dana Carvey’s Joe Biden before utilizing a tried and true sketch technique of taking a moment to give herself a pep talk in the mirror, wherein the real Kamala Harris was waiting to give her some self-affirmations. There was also a lot of play on her name: “Keep Kamala and Carry-on-ala.”
Harris was great: she felt light and funny and at ease with the comedy. And one of the best jokes she delivered was also profound: “You can do something that your opponent can’t do: you can open doors.” It’s a swipe at Former President Garbage Truck missing the door handle at his garbage truck stunt, but it’s also true. Kamala Harris has already opened doors for women by being the first woman Vice President; just think of how many other doors … and minds … she will open as the first female President.
Please vote on Tuesday.
Grade: A
John Mulaney’s monologue is a seven-minute stand-up set where he pokes fun at his family, his wife Olivia Munn, and just how very old his grandfather is. Which doesn’t sound hilarious, but somehow it all works without feeling like seven minutes have passed. Even my 5’3″ ass was laughing at how short Munn and her family are.
Olivia Munn is 5’4″.
Grade: A
In the game show spoof of the night (and what is a recurring bit) “What’s That Name,” contestants are challenged to name political figures who are household names. Or who should be. The punchline on this one is so good, I refuse to spoil it, but believe me when I tell you that I literally had a moment last week when I was struggling to remember this person’s name, too. Bonus points to them for being such a good sport.
Grade: A++
In this pre-taped bit, Beppo the astronaut orangutan makes history in 1962 by circling the globe. However, NASA is unable to bring him home and Beppo makes it clear how he feels about that. It’s funny enough, but eventually falls victim to the SNL curse of not being able to stick the landing. Which, come to think of it, is apt for this sketch in particular.
WAIT. IS IT META?
Grade: B
When John Mulaney hosts, you can be promised two things:
- A terrific monologue
- A sketch based in New York City that is filled with both Broadway allusions and HYPER-SPECIFIC New York City references.
The first was “Diner Lobster” back in 2018. In 2019, it was “Bodega Bathroom.” Mulaney hosted twice in 2020: in February, he gave us “Airport Sushi” which took place in the hell that was pre-construction La Guardia; in October 2020, it was set in Times Square. And in 2022, the last time he hosted, it was “Subway Churro.”
This season’s musical tribute takes place in the most New York City location imaginable: a Duane Reade in the Port Authority, complete with some questionable milk, a bunch of Timothée Chalamet look-alikes, and the poor dead baby bear that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. left in Central Park for some brain worm reason. It’s brilliant.
Grade: A+
“Weekend Update” opens with some solid Former President HOW IS IT EVEN CLOSE jokes, including just showing him trying to get into the truck I mentioned before. And Che delivers the killing blow (PUN INTENDED): “His sentencing is coming up right after this election. That’s why he’s blowing that microphone: he’s trying to suck his way to freedom!”
Grade: A
Reba McEntire stops by the “Weekend Update” desk to endorse a candidate … which she never does. Heidi Gardner captures Reba’s energy, but this isn’t it.
Grade: B-
Marcello Hernandez and Jane Wickline are the couple you can’t believe are together, and it’s fine.
Grade: B+
In what serves as a reminder that Kenan Thompson should never be underestimated or taken for granted despite being on the show for 241 seasons, here he plays Little Richard as a guest star on a ’90s sitcom. This has Mulaney’s fingerprints all over it: it’s high-concept, no one has thought about Little Richard in years, and yet it works both as a spoof of shitty ’90s sitcoms and Little Richard, a wonderfully ridiculous man if there ever was one.
Grade: A-
Finally, a gentleman with the worst possible name runs for New York City Council.
Grade: A
And I’m adding Chappell Roan’s performance of “Pink Pony Club” because if I have to have this rattling around in my head 23 out of 24 hours of the day, so do you.
Final Grade: As solid an A as you’re gonna get on this show.
Saturday Night Live airs at 10:30/11:30 p.m. Saturdays on NBC and streams on Peacock.