“Saturday Night Live” recap: Maya Rudolph returns for underwhelming Mother's Day episode

The "SNL" alum was joined by Vampire Weekend as musical guest.

It's SNL in Review: Mother's Day edition! The annual May tribute to motherhood has become recent fodder for the live late-night NBC variety series, dating back to at least when Betty White came to host. This evening's host was one of the returning cast members who honored White in that special Mother’s Day Saturday Night Live: It's Maya Rudolph! Tonight is her third time hosting, though she was just back at 8H during the Kate McKinnon episode.

Rudolph is a legendary comedic actress and pioneering female cast member, which is why tonight's former SNLer/commentator extraordinaire is Denny Dillon! This is her take on Rudolph’s legacy and talents as a performer:

"If I'm feeling blue, I know what to do, I just watch Maya Rudolph; how about you? I YouTube the SNL sketch of her singing "The Star Spangled Banner." She never fails to make me laugh till I cry. She is a comic genius, bold and original. She comes at her characters with gusto and confidence be they Oprah, Beyoncé, Donatella, or new ones like Molly on AppleTV’s Loot. They are all effervescent as she is. A complete original. Add to this her exceptional vocal gifts and you have a galaxy."

Spot on. Let's dive in!

Cold Open

Ah, yes, the tried and true Mother's Day message from the cast of SNL. Kenan Thompson is with his "mommy." We get a few cute moments with most of the moms. I don't love this, but it's always fun to see who also has comedic timing and can deliver a line. As Bowen Yang's mom says: They are from all over the country with various political beliefs, but together they are bound by the love for their children. We have seen this several times.

Mikey Day's mom lands a well-received joke about the Beavis & Butthead sketch — the show is really running with its success, isn't it?

Please Don't Destroy shows up to joke about their dads— but we all know who their real dads are. I don't know, guys. I'm over them.

Monologue

Rudolph comes out to slay, bitch. It's Maya's House: She is Mother of the House of Rockefeller.

This is great! She kills it. "This place gave you Coneheads!" she says as she struts. I love all the various references here, including her famous scene in Bridesmaids. Why can't all of the monologues have this energy and execution?

Related: Maya Rudolph says she couldn't create what she did on Saturday Night Live today

"Hot Ones 2"

This is a sequel to the season 46 Hot Ones spoof with Rudolph's (now Cowboy Carter-flavored) Beyoncé. "I am Zuul," she intones as the Ghostbusters poltergeist after consuming a very intense spice. Kenan Thompson, as her assistant, giggles a bit while putting lotion all over her.

Beyoncé has become a staple for Rudolph on the show — she first popped up over 20 years ago as a character during the "Prince Show" sketch then more recent one-offs like the "Baby Blue Ivy" sketch.

Please Don't Destroy — "Explore Page"

It's date night and our heroes, feeling replenished creatively after several weeks off, are in a new setting: A restaurant with their girlfriends. The ladies are bonding over what the algorithm recommends for them on IG. Innocently, they ask their beaus to see what their pages reveal.

Two words: Uneesa Confidence. There's an epidemic of male loneliness in this country. While I have tired of Please Don't Destroy this season, this short has a different vibe and ambition than the autopilot, fast-cut ones. This is a tentative watch.

"Teacher PSA"

Y’all won. COVID broke something that education cannot fix. Sometimes the classroom feels like a battlefield between students and teachers. but now things have gotten out of control with drugs and spectrums that did not even exist back in 2006.

Ego Nwodim has the best moment here. So true. Check it out if you are familiar with the perils of school.

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"British Cavemen"

4000 B.C. research reveals how these primitive beasts looked and even sounded. Lots of British dialects and tropes are explored. There is some good character work here, particularly from Rudolph and narrator James Austin Johnson. But skip this. It's silly and life is too short.

"Can You Pick Me Up?"

One patient, loving mother (Rudolph) is forced to come up with excuses when summoned by her anxious daughter looking to leave many sleepovers in the middle of the night. Really nice work here. Watch it!

Vampire Weekend performs "Gen-X Cops"

This is really good. “Gen-X Cops” tackles the broad dilemmas faced by millennials juggling more financial insecurity while being more free from serving in literal war, surrounded by a war of ideas. This jazzy indie song is co-produced by Ezra Koenig, Ariel Rechtshaid, and drummer Chris Tomson.

One note on a classic SNL musical performance, especially since Rudolph is opening for Vampire Weekend this summer as part of her Prince cover band, Princess with Gretchen Lieberum. Denny Dillon was on the show when Prince performed back in season 6. She recalls: “The galaxy Prince, for he was more than a star, made his television debut on my season of SNL. 8H was even more electric that night with his magnificent charisma and spellbinding performance. We were all transfixed. We tiptoed around the halls hoping to get to actually see him. He was very shy and private. I did get a glimpse as he walked toward the stage, delicate and shimmering like a diamond.”

Weekend Update

The Trump trial! Michael Che flops! Colin Jost is being racist! This is modern Update.

RFK Jr.'s brain worm (Sarah Sherman) comes on to discuss her journey — and riff on Jost. Modern Update. I think Worm Sherman channeling Marilyn Monroe is surreal enough to justify watching Weekend Update.

Some gift ideas for Mother’s Day from a woman who says she’s not mad (Heidi Gardner). She also hates Jost! Vintage Gardner performance. I think many people will find this relatable!

"This might be my Emmy show," guffaws Che, before slamming Drake.

Related: Heidi Gardner was afraid to break character on Saturday Night Live because 'I thought I'd get fired'

"Coffee Commercial"

Legendary actress Dawn Farraway shows up to set for Tip Top Coffee. She has a reputation for being difficult, but initially seems very game. Turns out she has never had coffee before, and her doctor told her to abstain from it. Hijinks ensue! Crew members are fired and toots are heard.

Lots of flatulence and sound effects humor in this episode. Not sure it's worth the click.

Vampire Weekend performs "Capricorn"

"Capricorn" is about identity and dissonance. Another good one.

"Nurse Appreciation"

Another warm, heartfelt tribute to the work done by an overlooked segment of society — in this case, nurses who look after the elderly. It's not bad, but we have just seen a few of these throughout the episode already. Rudolph and Nwodim do good work.

"Lanzetti's Lawn Care"

They do it all! Mulching, weeding, whatever. Their one guarantee? This company will not sleep with your wife. Day and Rudolph's owners only hire the sexless and socially awkward. James Austin Johnson steals the show with a nice Eminem riff.

Things take a dark turn in this one. Typical 10-to-1.

Final Thoughts

—Thoughts? Vote here!

—Huge, huge thank you to the great Denny Dillon for her thoughts! ("Maya's show was sensational," she says.)  Recently, she guest-starred on David Schwimmer's new series Goosebumps and is now putting the finishing touches on her book of memoirs, which has a title too good to share and will include stories of her experience on SNL. Keep an eye out for that and all things Denny!

—Everyone should read Bronwyn Douwsma's thoughts on SNL, but especially this blog post. Really sharp.

—RIP Roger Corman.

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