INTRO TO REVIEW: Pre-show thoughts, to be clear with you all, I've not watched Miles Teller's previous episode. (I've been getting through SNL in chronological order starting with Season 32, and I've just now reached Season 43 Episode 4! Then filling in the blanks by watching just way too much sketches on YouTube.) So, I truthfully had 0 expectations going into this. Besides, of course, seeing Ashley Padilla dominate the stage/screen once more.
COLD OPEN: NYC Mayoral Debate
- I saw Errol Louis post about just how uncanny Kenan's look was of him, and I always like seeing people be good sports about being portrayed on SNL. Of course, it's easy when they're not just insulting you.
- Miles Teller as Cuomo is fun, and I think a lot of people expected Zohran to be played by Ramy Youssef, but I don't think anyone expected Shane Gillis to play Curtis Sliwa. I really think it should've been Jeremy as Cuomo, to give him a chance to actually do something in a sketch, but oh well.
- That being said, Jeremy has recently been killing it in promos and small, BTS sketches uploaded to SNL's social media. I hope this translates to more time on the screen for him, but that remains to be seen.
- Anyways, the actual cold open. This is good stuff! Solid jokes, great performances, the approval of my Speech & Debate coach---the things you want in a cold open. Miles Teller is doing a great job as Cuomo, and Gillis especially is killing it as Sliwa.
- And an appearance from JAJ's Trump, because of course.
- Trump didn't entirely kill this cold open, but he definitely not doing anything special here. I did like his decent Phantom of the Opera bit, but that's about it.
RATING: 7.5/10
(Really, I would've liked this cold open to have more of a through line, like others have said. As it is, it's a good gaggle of jokes from three solid performers. Note that I had nothing to say about the sponsor jokes from Kenan's Errol Louis.)
MONOLOGUE: Miles Teller
- Miles Teller is coming off very likable here, though I have no clue how it compares to his previous monologue.
- A bit disjointed, but Miles is charismatic and really making this monologue work. Loved it!
RATING: 6/10
SKETCH: What Did I Do Last Night?
- I like the concept of this game show sketch. I never understood others saying game show sketches are "lazy," because they're often some of the best stuff the show makes.
- I'm having fun, but nothing to write home about. Really, I'm just thinking about how this feels more solid than most of what we've gotten this season.
- Stand-out bit with Ben attacking the ATM machine and pissing on it. He's absolutely killing it here.
- Another good bit with the old lady, little boy, and stop sign being the options for both who Mile's got a black eye from and who Veronika made out with.
- Overall, a really solid sketch that got me excited for the night.
RATING: 7/10
PRE-TAPE: Property Brothers
- A funny and well-done visual of Miles Teller as both Property Brothers.
- This pre-tape is doing a good job of making Trump seem like the incompetent man-child he is in real life, and it's paired really well with Mile's performance as the two Property Brothers.
- Chloe's Melania is fine, but I don't know, Chloe's performances just never really work for me.
- A fun ending with ICE chasing the Property Brother's out of the White House so that Trump doesn't have to pay for anything.
- Overall, one of the strongest Trump pieces I think this show has done.
RATING: 9.5/10
SKETCH: NHL Promo Shoot
- A funny reveal of the premise of this sketch.
- Good escalation of bits, and Miles is playing this amazingly. As are Andrew and Ashley, who are a duo I think we're going to see a lot of moving forward this season.
PRE-TAPE: Gone Without A Trace
- A really good recreation of these kinds of Netflix true crime series.
RATING: 9/10
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: Brandi Carlile, "Church and State"
WEEKEND UPDATE:
- Some fairly middling jokes tonight.
- Bowen's George Santos is fun tonight, if you ignore that it's just Bowen being Bowen. Even still, it's a fun performance.
- I love the running bit with the phone call, especially how it seems to tickle Colin and Bowen.
- New characters from Andrew and Ashley, which is really fun, and they're playing them really well.
- A really good Update commentary that makes me even more excited for what this season can bring once they trim this cast and really dig into what they can do well.
RATING: 6/10
SKETCH: Murder Press Briefing
- I love how the press briefing slowly begins to center around Gar-Girl, and how much everyone is deeply interested in her character.
- Again, really solid performances from Andrew and Ashley, and they're making this sketch really fun.
RATING: 6/10
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: Brandi Carlile, "Human"
SKETCH: Italian Restaurant
- Oh, right, Marcello is in fact in the cast. Strange to see easily the most used cast member of the premiere only now appear in the last sketch of the night.
- And, unfortunately, this sketch is boring me. I rewatched it for this review, hoping it'd click, but no. It's just boring. Weak way to end the night.
RATING: 3/10
OVERALL THOUGHTS: A very strong episode, and Miles Teller was an excellent host! Besides the last sketch, every piece this night was good and had me laughing. If this is a sign of the trajectory this season is on, I'm very excited.
Ashley being an absolute star came as no surprise, but it was very nice to see her paired with Andrew a lot this episode, and seemingly help improve his performances. Ben as well is really killing it, and overall, I think everyone but the years-long veterans, save for Kenan, are the ones dragging down the show for me. Bowen and Mikey's whole deal has just become meh to me, and Chloe's never done anything crazy for me.
Overall, I'm excited for the upcoming episode with Nikki Glaser, and I really hope we're seeing this cast slowly enter a potential an golden era. See you all later!
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