Season 51 of Saturday Night Live was one of the best seasons in recent memory. After an underwhelming season 50, SNL reset after its big year and a surprising exodus of cast members. Featured player Ashley Padilla, in her second season, had a breakout year; Jeremy Culhane brought us new, exciting Weekend Update characters; and cast members who have been there 10+ years such as Mikey Day and Kenan Thompson continued to excite. Additionally, we had some new and returning hosts who brought the laughs, including Sabrina Carpenter, Melissa McCarthy, Ryan Gosling, and Connor Storrie. Let’s review some of the best skits from this past season.
“Boys Podcast” – Episode 3 (Sabrina Carpenter)
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Sabrina Carpenter is one of the best hosts and musical guests of recent memory–she just has a natural charisma and sense of humor that makes her a perfect fit. This skit sees her and the other female cast members of SNL dressed as Gen Alpha boys, hosting a podcast called Snack Homiez and giving their hot takes on foods such as “GOATed vegetables” (“some vegetables are fire, and some vegetables lowkey be a fruit.”) But it’s the final minutes of the skit, when their guest is revealed to be Donald Trump that really elevates the skit. It’s out of left field yet completely believable, and offers a larger commentary on the “manosphere” in the podcast world. The skit proved to be so popular it returned in Finn Wolfhard’s episode with Carpenter coming on for a cameo. Maybe Domingo will be their next podcast guest?
“White House Makeover” – Episode 4 (Miles Teller/Brandi Carlile)
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SNL has a storied history of HGTV parodies with “House Hunters” and “Dream Home Cousins.” This one sees host Miles Teller playing both Property Brothers, attempting to help none other than the President renovate the White House. James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump impression is hilarious and filled with child-like glee as he takes a wrecking ball to the increasingly frazzled Scott’s brothers plans. One of the funniest moments is when he keeps tapping “plus” on an iPad to make the planned ballroom bigger and adds an MMA fight ring in the White House backyard–which is somehow becoming reality for our nation’s 250th birthday. Life imitates art in strange ways.
“Glen Powell Monologue” – Episode 6 (Glen Powell/Olivia Dean)
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Glen Powell is one of the most wholesome guests to grace the SNL stage. The actor was originally supposed to host to promote Top Gun: Maverick four years ago, but plans were pushed due to COVID. He excitedly told his delivery man back then he’d be on SNL, and at the time, it probably looked like he was making that up! So to prove it, Glen flew out Mitch the UPS delivery driver and featured him in his monologue. How sweet is that? Chad Powers, you’re not a jerk at all!
“UPS Delivery Driver” – Episode 7 (Melissa McCarthy/Dijon)
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Melissa McCarthy never misses when she guest stars on SNL (she won an Emmy for her 2017 hosting gig); she always brings an exciting character with an out-there enough quirk to surprise you in each skit. This sketch, in particular, sees McCarthy playing a delivery driver on the edge of being fired for her less-than-flattering doorbell videos when dropping off packages. McCarthy’s physical comedy is top tier, and proves much like frequent host Steve Martin, she fits in with the rest of the cast so much you’d think she was a repertory player.
“Bachelorette Party Strippers” – Episode 8 (Josh O’Connor/Lily Allen)
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Josh O’Connor, an English actor who will hopefully be in contention for an Oscar nomination this year with Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day (he was robbed for Challengers!), stars in this skit where he plays a sensitive Bachelorette party stripper along with SNL’s Ben Marshall (“these guys look like Frog and Toad.”). There are plenty of great lines such as “I think the president should be Cynthia Erivo,” as well as sight gags such as O’Connor and Marshall taking off their cardigans to reveal another cardigan and a massive ab tattoo that reads “Zohran.” No notes.
“Grandpa at the Wedding” – Episode 11 (Teyana Taylor/Geese)
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Teyana Taylor shows off her excellent physical comedy skills here with “Grandpa at the Wedding.” Few guests are willing to throw themselves so boldly into a skit, and Taylor shows how risk-taking can pay off, pulling off pratfalls with the aplomb of Melissa McCarthy or Parks and Rec-era Chris Pratt.
“Ice Skating” – Episode 13 (Connor Storrie/Mumford & Sons)
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With the premiere of ice hockey drama Heated Rivalry, Connor Storrie and co-star Hudson Williams became overnight sensations. It was never more apparent than this skit, which sees Storrie’s character on a bachelor party trip ice skating at 30 Rock. When Hudson Williams comes in for a cameo, the audience breaks into an applause break so long it surely cut other skits out of the broadcast. With lines like “God, I love being in my 40s” and “If I fall, Kendrick Lamar is literally gonna need to find himself a new producer,” you have no choice but to delight in the glee of these two breakout stars.
“Passing Notes” – Episode 14 (Ryan Gosling/Gorillaz)
SNL via YouTube
Ryan Gosling has a banger of a skit every time he hosts–there’s “Close Encounter,” “Papyrus,” “Beavis & Butthead”–and now we can add another classic to his roster. In this skit, Gosling and breakout cast member Ashley Padilla play a beleaguered teacher and principal, reading notes their students pass–but there’s one catch. A note flashes before the audience that reads “The Contents of These Notes Have Been Changed Since Rehearsal.” This is the first time I’ve seen a stage cue written out for the audience–but it makes it all the much better knowing that the skit is designed to break the cast members, particularly Gosling, who is something of Jimmy Fallon on SNL with the amount of times he laughs. Sometimes, you’ve just gotta give into the giggles!
“Weekend Update: Red Heart and Aerial Tramway Emojis on Apple’s New Emojis Release – SNL” – Episode 15 (Harry Styles)
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Harry Styles got to show off his impressive Sebastian Maniscalco impression in another skit, but this Weekend Update skit featuring MIkey Day and Marcello Hernández is what made me laugh most. Hernández is dressed as the always-popular heart emoji, while Day is dressed as….the aerial tramway emoji. Just the way he keeps blurting out AERIAL TRAAAAMMWAAAYY is enough to make one laugh, but the best part is when describes his “emoji crew” filled with other underdog emojis (orange square, division sign, store with a horn on it). Poor Marcello can’t keep a straight face!
“Words to Live By (Country Song)” – Episode 16 (Jack Black/Jack White)
SNL via YouTube
Do you remember those philosophical words of wisdom that were imparted on you by someone with the knowledge of more centuries than they’ve lived? Yeah, neither do I, and neither do Jack Black or James Austin Johnson. Normally I’m not a fan of country music, but SNL always does a pretty good parody of the genre, making a believable premise before flipping it on its head in the funniest way possible. Extra points for Jack White forgetting what would surely have been an epic guitar solo.
“My Ex” – Episode 18 (Olivia Rodrigo)
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Ashley Padilla has had a breakout year on SNL, and this skit shows why. In this sketch, Olivia Rodrigo and Ben Marshall’s characters run into each other at a party after breaking up and pretend to have new significant others, with their fake dates played by featured players Tommy Brennan and Ashley Padilla, respectively. Padilla immediately takes it up to 100, shoving potatoes into Marshall’s face and ripping off his shirt–he can barely keep it together. There’s no doubt Padilla will be upgraded to a main cast member next year.
“Tidy Care Crystals” – Episode 19 (Matt Damon/Noah Kahan)
SNL via YouTube
Matt Damon fully commits every time he hosts an episode of SNL, and this one is no different. The pre-taped sketch sees Damon and Padilla ordering new cat litter for their pretty kitty–and becoming concerned when the crystals are turning blue rather than the expected green. Is a person in their household peeing in the litter box? The ad quickly becomes a paranoid drama, with unfounded accusations flying–and the final twist makes the payoff even more satisfying.
The Pop Culture Pundit 
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