The Only Murders in the Building stars are back in Studio 8H, along with musical guest Brandi Carlile.
A specialSaturday Night Liveepisode, a specialSNL in Review.
We have two returning legends as the hosts:Steve MartinandMartin Short.
To put it mildly, tonight’s episode carries decades of history with it.
He says: “SNLrings true when people and characters from its storied past come back.
He last hosted in 2009!
For Short, it’s his fourth gig each time in December.
Will we get aSelena Gomezcameo?Chevy Chase?
Let’s check out what lives up to the hype.
Cold Open
It’s Christmastime withBowen Yang,Kenan Thompson, andCecily Strong.
Then, the singing begins.
Yang sings about his mental health, Thompson about his drinking problem.
Strong complains aboutformer host Elon Musk.
The crowd seems mildly amused.
This is cute, especially when Sarah Sherman and Ego Nwodim join.
(Devon Walker continues to play small delivery guy-style walk-on parts.)
Still, a break from the usual ham-fisted political sketch is welcomed.
Monologue
Steve Martin and Martin Short wax nostalgic about their times on the show.
They read eulogies they prepared for the others' funerals.
There are great callouts toSanta Claus 3and “Dick in a Box.”
As expected, Selena Gomez pops up in a rushed moment the crowd erupts.
(She hosted last season;Martin appeared in the pre-recorded “American Inventors” sketch.)
“What was Steve really like?”
I don’t even remember what the reason was.
Thinking back to his overlap with Short, Kroeger recalls: “I was enamored with Marty.
Sincere and kind, but moved through any space as whatever character was going through his mind.
I watched and learned.
I didn’t get to do much with him the year we shared but I yearned for his approval.
He always gave me encouragement; a true ensemble player.
My favorite memories of him would have to be Ed Grimley sketches.
The character was so lovable and so weird.
And an audience favorite from day one.
I marveled at how complete this characterization was.
Ed Grimley was alive.
Marty always had a smile, always engaged, and always had a joke if one was needed.”
The Science Room
Oh, god.
It’s this again.
Mikey Day and Cecily Strong play two (clearly overaged) child contestants, Josh and Lonnie.
They are very stupid.
We’ve seen this in previous episodes withJason Sudeikis,Adam Driver, andSam Rockwell.
(Cecily again sings for the second time in 20 minutes.
As I have said before: I wish characters would repeat in different scenarios, not exact sketch templates.
Day evokes Short’s beloved Clifford a 40-year-old straining to play a kid.
She was like pond scum.
Favorite moment: Sarah Sherman’s dad.
(She talks about him in her stand-up a lot.)
It’s like they’re in a 1940s MGM number.
Cecily begins to sing about snow sigh.
High jinks involving bear costumes ensue.
James Austin Johnson accurately captures the movie archetype train conductor.
Three songs in less than a half hour.
He’s a cranky elf, who keeps shaming the kids for their gift requests.
There’s a funny moment where Short stumbles and his legs are visible.
Good to see Andrew Dismukes back feels like the show has not been utilizing him recently.
A Christmas Carol
I need Martin Short as Ebenezer Scrooge ASAP.
That needs to happen.
He would make a great Scrooge!
Marcello Hernandez is also maimed.
Steve Martin’s Ghost of Christmas Past is not much help either.
A bloodbath is unleashed.
The Apple Pay hook is not especially funny these corporate plugs always feel like advertorial or something.
Synergy masking as comedy.
It was written by Phil Hanseroth and produced by T Bone Burnett.
It’s a folk-rock jam, love the emotion.
She first performed during the Jason Sudeikis episode in October 2021.
Weekend Update
Colin Jostjokes about Democrat Independent Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Brittney Griner.
Che jokes about Raphael Warnock defeating Herschel Walker in the Georgia senate run-off.
Herschel Walker was one of the worst candidates in history.
Yet, he garnered over 1.7 million votes.
It was close and it never should have been.
Imagine if Republicans had put up even a decent candidate, we probably would have lost.
“Every single Ross, that’s me,” she cops.
She messes everything up for power, to find that one perfect shirt.
If your blood sugar drops, JCPenney has secret chicken nuggets they will supply.
Celebrity impressions as roleplay.
(In turn, Day does some cartoon voices.)
It’s got the rhythms of a classic Bernie Mac routine.
“Slam it!”
Heidi Gardner is funny as his sidekick.
And Sarah Sherman could make for a great Mona Lisa Vito, I think?!
This episode has now featured two sketches about Martin Short’s penis.
Former host (and Annie’s little brother)Kieran Culkinis back too!
(Did we need Selena Gomez back?
No, but this is the world we live in.)
She’s (sort of) playing the Short character, or at least in the wedding planner role.
I wish it weren’t so flat, just rolling out all the characters so matter-of-factly.
Some plot/arc could help the humor and appeal, outside the raw nostalgia.
I like the joke about Short’s accent.
Final Thoughts
I am a bit underwhelmed, hate to say it.
Y tu?Vote hereor whine below.Hey!
Check out some of my recentSNLpieces I recently interviewed former cast memberJerry Minor.
