Saturday Night Live aired its first new episode in over a month on Saturday night and got here by means of with one main shock proper off the highest: the evening’s host was none apart from Tom Hanks. Hanks has hosted SNL a number of instances previously, however this time was notably vital. Since Hanks was one-half of the superstar couple (alongside Rita Wilson) whose positive coronavirus diagnoses could have introduced house the severity of the state of affairs for a lot of followers, it was becoming that he could be chosen to assist usher the present by means of its first at-home version.
“It’s a unusual time to attempt to be humorous, however making an attempt to be humorous is SNL‘s complete factor, so what the heck. Let’s give it a shot,” Hanks stated to open the present. “However why me as host? Properly, for one, I’ve been the superstar canary within the coal mine for the coronavirus, and ever since being identified, I’ve been extra like America’s dad than ever earlier than since nobody needs to be round me for very lengthy, and I make individuals uncomfortable.”
Hanks then went on to supply some humor about his expertise being examined and handled in Australia and fielded some viewers questions from himself in a beret and a stetson earlier than explaining that the present must tweak its formatting a bit because the forged labored from house.
“Now, is it gonna look somewhat bit totally different than what you are used to? Sure. Will it’s bizarre to see sketches with out massive units and costumes? Positive,” he teased. “However will it make you chortle? Eh, it is SNL. It will be some great things, possibly one or two stinkers. the drill.” Certainly, that evaluation was utterly on-point. Hanks’ responsibility principally ended at that — he did pop again in for an introduction of the evening’s shock musical visitor, Coldplay’s Chris Martin performing “Shelter From the Storm,” and to say goodnight — and the remainder of the forged did the heavy lifting to create sketches constructed for the instances … and the restricted sources accessible in their very own abodes.
Highlights of the just about produced episode included Pete Davidson‘s from-the-basement Drake music video spoof, Kate McKinnon‘s deliciously snarky and low-budget RBG workout routine sketch, an office Zoom meeting-gone-wrong that positively borrowed from that viral video everybody noticed, a send-off speech from Larry David as now-former presidential candidate and social distancing fanatic Bernie Sanders, Chloe Fineman’s excellent Carole Baskin-on-a-bike impression, and a new segment of “Weekend Update” that includes Colin Jost, Michael Che, and a phoned-in interview with Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump.
Maybe probably the most touching second of the evening got here when present and former stars of Saturday Night time Dwell alike despatched in movies to pay tribute to the present’s late music producer Hal Willner, who died of coronavirus complications earlier this month. Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Invoice Hader, Rachel Dratch, John Mulaney, and extra SNL favorites all contributed with ideas on Willner’s legacy round Studio 8H.
Total, SNL‘s return with its first “SNL At House” episode was definitely a departure from the soundstage setup we have all grown accustomed to, however even with out the stay viewers, costuming, and musical accompaniment for the sketches, the forged had loads of materials to work with and even appeared to thrive on these extraordinarily meta moments of riffing on communication flubs within the period of social distancing. It was a strong effort to adapt to the brand new regular, and, frankly, it is simply good to see this present again on air proper about now.
Saturday Night time Dwell airs on Saturdays at 11:30/10:30c on NBC.
