'SNL' Recap: We've Been Trumped
Republican presidential candidate — and walking punchline for bad hair jokes — Donald Trump, opened his Saturday Night Live monologue with a question the nation has collectively been wondering since his hosting gig was originally announced. “Why are you hosting Saturday Night Live? Why?” It turns out the answer is pretty simple. “I really have nothing better to do,” Trump admitted.
Of course, Trump was just kidding around. (We think.) The real reason he’s hosting SNL is to show that he can take a joke. Heck, he can take all the jokes the show has thrown at him over the years. (Actually, the real real reason is for all the free attention and exposure, but that’s obvious enough to not require explanation.) “I don’t hold grudges against anybody,” he insisted, pointing out that he’s even gotten over his feud with Rosie O’Donnell…although she probably shouldn’t expect a dinner party invite anytime soon, since he can’t tell the difference between the real O’Donnell and SNL cast member Aidy Bryant. Speaking of dopplegangers, The Donald then welcomed his “twins” to the stage: current Trump impersonator Taran Killam and his predecessor, Darrell Hammond. For the record, the latter’s version of Trump is more appealing than either Killam’s interpretation or the real deal. We’re starting the grassroots campaign now: Darrell Hammond in 2016.
The audience in the room tittered nervously throughout Trump’s monologue, no doubt because reports had been flying all week about the increased security measures that were being taken lest a protestor slip into the studio and interrupt the live show. And it seemed like those fears came to pass when someone offstage shouted “You’re a racist!” as the host prepared to throw to commercial. But it turned out that rabble rouser was just Larry David, who had returned in the cold open to reprise his already beloved impression of Bernie Sanders. “I heard if I yelled that, they’d give me $5,000,” explained the Curb Your Enthusiasm creator, who isn’t exactly hurting for cash.
That moment was supposed to puncture the ballooning tension of Trump’s appearance, but it turned out to be the only big surprise (and laugh) of the night as the show struggled to figure out how to best use its controversial host. While Weekend Update co-anchor, Michael Che, pointedly directed a few jokes his way — albeit only after he and Colin Jost went after his Republican rivals Jeb Bush and Ben Carson — everyone involved preferred to play it safe, just trying to get to the end of the 90-minute telecast in one piece. Or maybe, unlike Trump, they all just had better things to do.
Best Sketch: “Hotline Bling”
Jay Pharoah busts out his Drake impression, parodying the Canadian rapper’s meme-friendly music video and the crazy dance moves contained therein. Crazy dance moves like the “Sneaky Fish,” the “Miracle Whip” and the always-classic “Ed Grimley.” And you know what that name means — Martin Short cameo! Why couldn’t he have hosted the show?
Worst Sketch: “White House 2018”
Too many options to choose from, but Trump’s first sketch of the night indicated just how awkward a show we were in for. Uncomfortably pitched halfway between comedy skit and campaign commercial — with Trump and his faux advisors (including Secretery of State Sasheer Zamata-as-Omarosa) reeling off his many accomplishments since taking office — the writers seemed to be laying the groundwork for some kind of “It’s all a dream!” twist that never arrived. The only funny part was that moment that Trump’s real-life daughter Ivanka appeared and was greeted with resounding silence by the studio audience.
Best Use of Donald Trump: “Live Tweeting”
Recognizing that Trump is a more natural Tweeter than he is a comedy performer, the writers smartly chose to sideline him from this sketch, allowing him to mercilessly mock the performers via social media instead. Honestly though, his Tweets were less insulting than the terrible jokes the cast members were forced to deliver.
Episode MVP: Larry David
Let’s face it, the Seinfeld guru is pretty much going to be the permanent winner in this category until Sanders quits the race or David quits SNL, whichever happens. His rant about bridges in the cold open was vintage Larry/Bernie, and while he claimed that he insulted Trump purely for the cash, we could tell that he primarily did it for pleasure.
Saturday Night Live airs at 11:35 p.m. on NBC.
