I miss Beck, but I think the male side of the cast has held up well without him. Alex has more to do, Pete is still basically just Pete (which, when he is committed, is fine), Chris and Andrew both know how to zero in on a funny line reading, James Austin Johnson is a strong impressionist. Aristotle is mostly just…

The time away from Kate, spent by people mostly trying to do genuine impressions, are going to make it tougher when she comes back, dresses as an interchangeable old man again, grunts and makes a face into the camera, and gets a standing ovation. Kate is very talented, but when they don’t use her talents in the right…

I’m never sure how much the writers enjoy parodies these days, if they ever did. When Phoebe Waller Bridge hosted a few years ago, people were waiting for some type of Fleabag parody - even just her talking to the camera - but it never happened. When Kit Harington hosted, they did some Game of Thrones stuff, but the…

I would agree with you that the teacher sketch can’t compare to the Monty Python piece you linked, but that’s true for most sketch comedy. I thought it was good in its own right - Kyle’s cuckold act was very broad (although he always knows how to bring the laughs out of these roles), but Ego and Jason played the beats…

Jason had the traces of melancholy we see in Ted Lasso, but most of his SNL tenure was just pure fun and energy and presence. I would love to see Jason get a chance to bring some serious work to SNL but mostly I just hope he still has that old spark that made him among the best of the best, which did so much to…

It depends on the alum and the period. In Jason’s case, I don’t think we will be seeing a lot of old recurring characters. I am keeping expectations low mostly because of how clumsy the writing is. 

Yes, Bill hosted for Skeleton Twins,  probably one of the more obscure projects for a host. I think that if Jason was ever going to host before now it would have been in that season, as it was an  anniversary season, which is probably why Bill hosted (around that point Chris Rock and Sarah Silverman, also former cast…

This makes me feel both old and sad. I always enjoyed watching Peter on Bosom Buddies. That whole cast was great, but he was funny, charismatic, and just threw himself into the ridiculous premise - somehow he and Tom Hanks made it work. He was also very good on Newhart, in what could have been a one-note part - he and…

It is really nice to see this interview as I don’t ever see Bill in anything now outside of interviews (I know he is doing voiceover work, of course). I don’t think we will be seeing him on SNL this week (although if I’m wrong I’ll be thrilled), so I’m going to count this as the same thing.

I don’t think Cox said that part.

I don’t think the show was seriously upbraiding Chris for his COVID comments, as even at the time that was obviously a play on some of the real statements being made. I think they were just trying to find a hook on a very aimless piece (although I did enjoy it and I was glad to see Chris just shoot the breeze on…

I think she does not write for herself and the writers who write for her don’t seem to last long. She also doesn’t seem to establish a niche on the show. Aidy/Kate/Cecily won’t leave, and Heidi and Ego, who arrived not long after her, have found their niches. So, similar to Alex Moffat, she mostly just gets a bit here…

I watched that a few years ago - it was fascinating seeing such a truly unique performer in the middle of a very generic sitcom. Also interesting that his best friend on the show, who had been on All That for years, seemed to leave the business not long after this show was canned.

I agree. It reminded me of the type of sketch Dana Carvey did, very committed to absurdity, without needing to say OH MY GOD CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW CRAZY THIS IS??? It’s a basic respect for the intelligence of the viewers. I hope this is just the start. 

It’s a fine line, because I think Bowen is very talented, and after growing up on an SNL full of straight men lisping and flapping their wrists (and possibly being raped as a “joke”), I appreciate seeing a gay man get to take over these parts in his own voice. Yet I did think that having the daddy long legs sketch…

The whole cast seemed to be in the spirit, which always helps, especially with shaky writing. You want to see people having a good time in a way that includes you, which was the case here. I also loved the end where he jumped into Daniel Craig’s arms, even if the camera cut away with a quickness (I guess they were…

As somebody who has taken long breaks from the show I’m glad to see people pop back  in when some part of SNL does still work. 

Yes, this felt less aimless and more pointed, which the show always needs more of.

I think it’s partly because he was thrown in at the deep end and partly because it’s been a while now since the show made  more of an effort with impressions, especially on the male side.  Generally guys are either just put in a wig and/or prosthetics, or Aidy and Kate are put  in drag and mostly just get applause for…

I don’t think there’s a ton of resemblance either, maybe beyond the eyes. I think it’s mostly down to Pete impersonating him before, and the show knowing that, similar to when Timothee Chalamet hosted, you will get a lot of reaction on social media if you put them together. Malek seemed to be getting a kick out of the…