It’s gratifying to see Issa Rae, who made her own opportunities in Hollywood, get the chance to shine on a larger platform.
Unfortunately the Insecure co-creator and star appeared in just three live sketches, two of which aired during the first half-hour. Let’s not forget Issa is not a stranger to sketch comedy, having also executive-produced and dropped into ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show.’ Hopefully SNL has her back in the future — and gives her a bit more screen time than she got this time around. We are rooting for everybody black.
COLD OPENING
“NBC laid a thirst trap for President Trump,” the narration explains. It’s Dueling Town Halls — yee-haw! SNL tackles Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s network TV appearances pretty closely.
OPENING MONOLOGUE
Rae calls out Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Molly Shannon. She is very happy and scared to be at Studio 8H. “I’m the first Black person to host SNL y’all,” she lies. If the show goes badly, she says to blame her — Mary J. Blige.
She explains she was originally supposed to host the show in March, when she had two movies and a fourth season of her show, Insecure. Now, her only projects are puzzles. She discusses her show premiering during fall 2016, and how it’s been like high school. SNL is her prom.
CANADIAN NEWS SHOW: BONJOURHI!
https://youtu.be/ug7_4DOWUJw
It’s a French-Canadian talk show! The best parts of Canada, and the worst parts of France.
5-HOUR EMPATHY
Beck Bennett is concerned, and wondering how he can understand oppression and racism. He wants to understand, but doesn’t know how. Kenan Thompson is the commercial’s narrator, explaining Bennett can take Five-Hour Empathy and learn. Beck considers it, but he doesn’t want to.
FIRST DATE EXES
At an outdoor fancy restaurant, Rae and Chris Redd are on a first date. She’s had bad experiences with dating. As Redd selects some crab ravioli to order, a homeless person named Clifford (Kenan Thompson) walks by. Apparently, they dated. Redd is shocked.
Then Karate Man (Pete Davidson) strolls by. “Sharon!?” he exclaims. They also dated. “He just ghosted me!” she explains.
BIEBER PERFORMS “HOLY” FEATURING CHANCE THE RAPPER
https://youtu.be/TlQY-MBWHik
WEEKEND UPDATE
Michael Che slams the recent presidential town halls, especially NBC’s decision to host President Trump in Miami. He likens it to the network’s previous affiliations with the disgraced Bill Cosby and Matt Lauer.
For an update on the election, the Trump Brothers (Mikey Day and Alex Moffat) return to the Update desk. In a fun surprise, Tiffany Trump (Chloe Fineman) also comes out to discuss her recent birthday party .
Aidy Bryant pops up with a new segment, “Aidy in America.”
Carla, the famous ’80s cocaine wife, shows up too. The NYC nightlife scene has been closed for seven months, and Carla “wants to dance.”
YOUR VOICE CHICAGO
Rae and Ego Nwodim join Kenan Thompson to discuss local candidates in Chicago. “I’m voting for everybody Black,” says Rae. “Representation matters!”
Rae advocates for Charlotte Raines, who has no experience. In District 10, they choose the Libertarian entrepreneur. They are both Black but on opposite ends.
Chris Redd plays Reverend D’Angelo Banks, who owns a chain of strip clubs. He’s a mess and has committed tax fraud. Still, Rae supports him. Punkie Johnson and a returning Maya Rudolph play Crystal and Caviar, a Diamond and Silk takeoff. “These ladies… are passionate,” Rae rationalizes.
FUNK JAM
Kyle Mooney is hanging in the hallway outside of Justin Bieber’s dressing room. He also does a rendition of “Respect” in a bid to impress Rae, hoping she’ll put in a good word for him with Bieber. Rae is unimpressed; but secretly, she wants to be Bieber’s backup dancer as well.
BIEBER AND BENNY BLANCO PERFORM “LONELY”
https://youtu.be/rml0FwAL8H0
JACK FLATTS
Jack Flatts is a take on Johnny Rockets, offering curbside service. Kyle Mooney, Andrew Dismukes, and Beck Bennett portray MAGA militia rednecks who just want to eat at their favorite kitschy restaurant and be insulted.
PREBAY COMMERICAL
Is about how ambitious people were with their newly acquired free time due to COVID-19 and quarantine. Consumers across the country have been buying items online, thinking this was their chance to learn how to box/play guitar, etc. But instead, they did stuff like binge-watch Selling Sunset. They want a way to exchange their impulse purchases.
