The No Time to Die star is joined by Young Thug as the musical guest.
It is the collector’s edition ofSNL in Review, back with another definitive show recap.
Tonight’s episode is hosted by Academy Award winnerRami Malek, with musical guestYoung Thug.
Will Heath/NBC
I am joined tonight bySaturday Night Liveseason six cast member Denny Dillon.
The trailer forher latest movieBruised starring and directed by Halle Berry came out this week.
Malek is hosting tonight to promote the latest James Bond movie,No Time to Die.
Rami Malek hosts ‘SNL’.NBC
The first James Bond movie that Dillon remembers seeing wasGoldfinger.
Malek is the villain in the latest Bond.
He was introduced as #1 inFrom Russia With LoveandThunderballthen main villain inYou Only Live Twice.
I loved Mike Myers' take on him inAustin Powers."
To her, Bond villains should be “inscrutable, invincible, believable.”
Funny, that is my expectation for Rami Malek’s approach to hosting!
Cold Open
Buckle up, press conference time.Cecily Strongis the head of PR for the NFL.
Roger Goodell is introduced and surprisingly it’sColin Jost!
A rare non-Update appearance, but he’s well-cast given how punchable the football commissioner is.
Former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden (James Austin Johnson) comes out to explain his recent email scandal.
(Dillon watched James Austin Johnson in the cold opening of the Owen Wilson show.
Next up: Alex Moffat as Mark Davis and his terrible hair.
And Larry Rucker (Pete Davidson) lots of turnover here.
Pete gets a huge reaction from the studio audience.
So many introductions and cast members swinging for the fences here.
I wish this cold open had stayed with James Austin Johnson though.
You don’t need to cycle in so many ideas, people.
Monologue
Malek is #TeamScar he always sympathizes more with villains.
Initially, Dillon did not watchMr.
Robot, which launched Malek’s career.
“It’s not my kind of show, but I kept hearing about him.
I tuned in and found him mesmerizing, and kept watching.”
And she thought he was “electric” inBohemian Rhapsody.
Total rock star."
She says Malek is “surprising and dangerous.
Two qualities I love best in actors.
He also is unusual looking; part matinee idol, part character and his acting is always truthful.”
Malek talks about his childhood growing up in California, and his wonderful siblings.
Bug Assembly
Kenan Thompson and Heidi Gardner are educators introducing a school assembly bug presentation.
Andrew Dismukes is a “non-religious” preying mantis.
Sarah Sherman (as a lady bug!
), Malek (as a stink bug!)
andBowen Yangare the other creatures.
Yang steals the show as daddy long legs, complete with his own showroom jam music.
“I’m a father and my legs go on for weeks.”
“Daddy’s got it!”
They nail the show’s art direction and capture the violent premise well.
“That’s what happens in the Squid Game,” they croon.
Maybe a knock atthe Robin Williams audition tapethat was released this week?
While Malek resembles Prince, Kenan gets points for being Black.
Malek argues his parents are Egyptian, technically in Africa.
“C’mon man,” the casting folks respond.
He wants to play an actual prince, since he’s British.
“Can I at least have a go, try?”
“Get off me double-oh-ugly,” snaps Kenan.
Prince has been impersonated onSNLa lot throughout the years - namely Fred Armisen.
But Chris Kattan and Billy Crystal (!!)
), and Pete Davidson (ha, Rami Malek) are the participants.
I always enjoy when current cast members spoof old cast members.
But the show stopper here is Pete/Rami versus Rami/Pete.
Seems like the show is seeking to replace Celebrity Jeopardy!
Could this be the format?
Travis Barker aside, strong Lil Wayne-eraRebirthvibes here.
Young Thug previously appeared alongside Kanye West during a performance in 2016.
Dillon was not familiar before tonight’s show, but she was looking forward to this performance.
Che brings up his tendency to be late.
Bowen Yang comes out as a proud gay Oompa Loompa.
Well, turns out he wasn’t out.
He was only on to discuss a factory strike.
He’s concerned about what his parents think Oompa Loompa Land isn’t very progressive, apparently.
They only now gotWill & Grace.
Chris Redd also comes on.
He’s jumping around discussing the “important unimportant things,” like does anyone know a blimp driver?
The last time he went on Update, he said “Black people can’t get coronavirus!”
He defends himself by bringing up his lack of education, especially in the sciences.
Very important unimportant news.
In a demonstration, Roy (Kenan Thompson) is his volunteer.
He gets put to sleep.
He’s too relaxed, and wets his pants.
When he awakens, he’s rightfully upset until Linus instructs him to be happy about it.
(Who else is excited forthe newHome Alone, featuring Kenan and written by Day?)
Another fun, lively Update that throws some sharp elbows.
I don’t think it’s about Trump, so much as sharp political writing and satire."
Mattress Store
Rami Malek is at Sleepy Town USA with his wife (Aidy Bryant).
They’re testing out a mattress and it’s getting quite animated.
Bowen Yang is the mattress store employee, disturbed by the weirdness he’s witness to.
Fun escalation near the end.
This had a fun dark, twisted energy to it.
“A bed for wife, a bed for life.”
Nate Reuss who performs the chorus last appeared onSNLwith Fun, when they were blowing up in 2012.
Several years ago, the rap message boards went berserk over everything Young Thug put out.
His unreleased freestyles, one-offs, were legendary.
His sound engineer became Twitter famous Young Thug stans were well-respected voices.
But songs like this?
It seems pretty average to me.
Improv Songs
And Daniel Craig is back!
He is out with Cecily Strong.
Aristotle Athari gets the ball, which is fun.
This is the most we have seen from him this season.
He is performing beautiful songs on the spot, with suggestions from the audience.
“Road trip!”
Rami Malek comes out to improvise dance moves as Athari gently harmonizes.
I like Athari going into Foreigner at the close.
Final Thoughts
Wow, am pleasantly surprised by Malek tonight.
What did you think?Vote here!
She also recently filmed an independent comedy,Paint, starring Owen Wilson.
It is playing at Sundance, other festivals.
How great was the “yo Don’t Destroy” pretape last week?
Heard we might have had another one in the pipeline tonight.
I love when the show allows writers who aren’t members of the cast to get screen time.
Pretty rare these days, but not without precedent.
I asked Denny Dillon who her favorite writer was when she was in the cast.
She answers: “Pamela Norris.
Check outSNL web link’s Kim Kardashian West/Halsey hot take show!
