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Tag: jim gaffigan
John Mulaney and Kamala Harris deliver a ‘Saturday Night Live’ that is one for the ages
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.
Nate Bargatze makes his triumphant return to ‘Saturday Night Live’
Saturday Night Live
Nate Bargatze &
October 5, 2024
Here’s an SNL fact that will forever stay in your brain and kick out your grandmother’s birthday or the name of your first friend in elementary school: since 2010 (so 300+ episodes), Nate Bargatze is only the 9th person to be asked back within a year of their first time hosting SNL. Despite not being a household name when he hosted last season, Bargatze had an impressive debut, wowing even cynical viewers with his great timing and every-guy delivery.
That said, he’s still not familiar to most people:
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Hopefully this episode, which was a solid outing (if not quite as great as his debut) will make him a more familiar face to more of America, because he certainly deserves it.
Continue reading “Nate Bargatze makes his triumphant return to ‘Saturday Night Live’”
Jean Smart deserved a smarter episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’
Saturday Night Live
Jean Smart and Jelly Roll
September 28, 2024
Welcome to the historic 50th season of Saturday Night Live — historic not because it’s the longest-running show of all time or anything, but mostly because 50 is a nice round number.
And in keeping with the historic nature of the season, our premiere episode maintained the honored tradition of being underwhelming and failing to live up to expectations following a long summer hiatus. For the most part, the premiere’s sketches were lazy, obvious, and overly long, but what else is new? The show’s been on the air for 50 years, they’re not going to change the formula now.
But you can’t blame the host, all-around acting phenomenon Jean Smart, who elevates everything she is in. When Smart was given material that was clearly written with her in mind, she lived up to the task, and even made dumb conceits entertaining. However, when plopped down in the middle of a bit that has her playing a generic Real Housewife or some party promoter neither she nor the audience has ever heard of, not even Smart can save the day. Smart deserved better and more consistent writing — let’s hope the writers shake the cobwebs off in time for Nate Bargatze’s episode on Saturday.
Continue reading “Jean Smart deserved a smarter episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’”
‘House of the Dragon’ finally lightens up (the sets — not the story)
So … get comfortable. Because we’re going to have to wait a while before we get the second season of ‘House of the Dragon’
Sure, the country is a hellscape, but hey! ‘Succession’ is back in production!
President Biden is now technically part of the Real Housewives universe. Maybe our universe is just one big simulation after all.
HBO is doubling down on ‘Game of Thrones’ prequels and, honestly, who can blame them?
