Coneheads, welcome to your Saturday night safe space:SNLin Review.

I’ll level with you all:SNLshould be one of the nimblest shows on TV.

Or way more fluid than it appears.

Especially in today’s streaming era.

Yet we know that is not the case.

In some ways,SNLis a victim of its own 45-year traditions.

Look, I get it.

Yes, some if not a lot of that is out of necessity.

I say all this as a preamble for mentioning tonight’s host,Rege-Jean Page.

He’s one of those wonderful known unknowns.

A rare X factor.

An enigma wrapped inside of a riddle.

Here’s what I know:Bridgertonis like an erotic romance novel come to life.

“I burn for you,” is Page’s big, iconic line.

Otherwise, I am here for it.

I am joined tonight by formerSNLcast memberJeff Richards, who is a Netflix junkie.

His favorite show at the moment isCrime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel.

“Because we’ve all stayed there at some point, in our minds.”

Join us, will you?

Cold Open

“Oops, You Did it Again!”

“Hey, y’all!”

Chloe Fineman opens with a killerBritney Spearsimpression.

She is known for her upbeat Instagram these days and the word “conservatorship.”

This is already top-notch, a hilarious premise.

It reminds me of the"What Was I Thinking"sketch from 1990.

Her first guest is Ted Cruz (Aidy Bryant), looking like season 2 Kenny Powers.

I think we knew the show was going to go here, but Fineman’s impersonation is amazing.

Spears scolds him for blaming his daughters, which gets a huge applause.

It’s a serious subject “the Disney thing” so laughs are tough here.

I cannot describe how well Fineman does here, totally inhabits Spears.

He immediately leans into his sexy reputation.

But is this his only personality trait?

Aidy Bryant looks like it’s his personalSNLliaison as does Ego Nwodim.

They love his sex scenes.

“My wish was rated R,” says Bryant.

Page busts out his performance of “Unchained Melody.”

Then Chloe from “regularSNL” shows up as Daphne called it.

And boom, he nails the famous catchphrase too.

The ladies sprint off the air to rewrite the show, and show his versatility.

Bridgertonis narrated by the legend Julie Andrews.

Actors Spotlight

Page isKingsley Ben-AdirfromOne Night in Miami.

Ego Nwodim’s host cannot believe he is British.

Chris Redd isDaniel Kaluuya they look nothing alike, which is hilarious.

“Were you British when you madeGet Out?”

Kenan Thompson returns as Ice Cube he is trying to do the accent.

He wants that Oscar buzz!

They encourage him just to be himself.

Lots of silly gibberish.

Hugh Grant (Alex Moffat) shows up and recognizes him.

Goofy fun that ends way too abruptly.

I wish they could flesh out these sorts of ideas more.

“Loco” Ego Nwodim

Another slamdunk showcase for Ego.

I love the spotlight for her and Heidi tonight.

Ego and Chloe are doing very well tonight.

All the guys don’t want to admit it, but it’s an undeniable jam.

They’re manly men, but they all love it.

It’s Billie Eilish meets Taylor.

“It’s pure, that’s for sure,” says Mikey Day, crying.

I say emphatically, yes.

Not sure why a bearded, mugging Kate McKinnon was needed in this one, but it almost works.

Mr. Chicken Legs Pageant

The crowd is really into tonight’s show.

Mikey Day appears as Chris Michael Donohue, a magician who unveils his “eighth-grade girl” legs.

This is creepy, but I appreciate the strange specificity here.

“Don’t believe me just watch!”

shouts Andrew Dismukes, committed.

Todd Doddley (Davidson) has Jack Skellington legs, which “haunts” Page.

He is awarded the winner by Aidy Bryant his prize is the smallest little kiss.

The Job Interview

Mr. Foster Jr. (Beck Bennett) is leading an in-person job interview.

He meets with Page Foster’s company makes ad campaigns on spec.

Bowen Yang gives both men Dadaist notes throughout the interview.

Surreal race to the bottom.

They’re dueling with noodles at one point.

This may be the first non-English song to be performed onSNLsince BTS.

I recall Shakira and Alejandro Sanz sang “La Tortura” during the December 10th, 2005 show.

And Queen Ida but not a ton of precedent.

This is pretty cool either way, a nice performance.

Jeff Richards wonders what makes a bunny “bad.”

“Not following through with plans and promises?”

Weekend Update

Colin Jost and Michael Che take their licks on Ted Cruz.

Pretty brutal stuff the outrage is real.

Jost even returns to it, calling Cruz a #simplater in the segment.

Relationship expert Pete Davidson comes out to discuss Valentine’s Day during the pandemic.

Pretty funny monologue and Pete has gone back to the peroxide hair?Big Time Adolescencesequel incoming when?!

Jessie Raunch (Heidi Gardner) from Community Horizons is on to discuss food insecurity.

She is dressed like Freddy Krueger.

“I’m a part of kids' dreams!”

she doubles down, not realizing she is exactly like out ofANightmare on Elm Street.

It was BBQ night so she is wearing the finger-knife gloves.

“How sweet, fresh meat…

I’m going to kill you, Michael.”

This is an old-school reference sure Fred is an icon, but it’s still a 37-year-old franchise.

I think Gardner’s other characters are fresher and more worthy of airtime, but this was still fun.

Pete’s stand-up and Gardner’s original work are a solid recurring commentary duo in this iteration of Update.

They are singing a shanty, yet another hat-tip to the TikTok generation tonight.

Page is really impressing me tonight great energy.

Bad Bunny appears again he has a very basic map.

The singer previously appeared during the “SNLat Home” sketch,Big Papi Cooking Show, last April.

Mostly due to the badbunnyconnection.

Dismukes is scared they are all going to die.

Kate McKinnon pops out to applause she’s getting the Kramer treatment.

This one was well-executed but falls a little flat.

Let’s Say Grace

A Southern white family invites their new Black neighbors.

Charlie (Dismukes) gives a lackluster grace.

Carl (Page) one-ups him.

Nwodim shouts out the holy trinity of Destiny Beyonce, Kelly, and, she guesses, Michelle.

Bernadette (Punkie Johnson) is the “big dog” she cues up the sound system.

They go full Kirk Franklin, causing everyone to dance.

“G-O-D.” I love Bennett doing the worm.

Jeff Richards is a fan of Punkie Johnson’s work here.

“She commits hard.

Can’t help but go where she wants to take you.

Her intimacy coordinator is out sick with COVID, so Day and Davidson get called in to supervise.

Her pasties are bright green, so they can greenscreen other people’s nipples with CGI.

The crowd roars with them in bed together.

This felt a little dashed out and crass, especially since they tackled the show in the monologue.

A suitably rowdy reaction from the crowd.

They’re into it tonight.

Gardner and Page scold them.

“Let us rap!”

they insist, after being warned to wear COVID masks.

They’re taken to the manager’s office and cry.

This feels like a passing of the torch from Mooney to Dismukes.

Final Thoughts

I am very pleasantly surprised!

Page was game, incredible energy especially early on.

And Fineman and Nwodim’s prominent roles suggest the show’s future is here.

What did you think?

Sound off below orvote here.

Thank you to Jeff Richards again for his thoughts tonight!

If Jeff had a vote, he would want to see Bill Burr host again soon.

And Louie Anderson, who is appearing inComing 2 Americanext month.

Speaking of, check out Jeff’s podcast,featuring Burr Jeff plays Anderson.

(Burr returned the favor, having Jeffguest on his Bill Bert show.)

Sad to see Melissa shafted again here.

And Punkie and Lauren.