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‘SNL’: Scarlett Johansson pilots smooth takeoff, rough landing in Season 50 finale

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Acting legend Scarlett Johansson, who holds the record for hosting “Saturday Night Live” most frequently among women according to NBC, brought the curtain down on its remarkable 50th season as the host for the seventh time.

That particular night passed without any confirmation regarding Colin Jost (from “Weekend Update”) or his co-host Michael Che leaving the show, as had been speculated. Instead, they continued their comedic banter, while numerous guest stars such as Mike Myers, Gina Gershon, Emily Ratajkowski in a video segment, and musical artist Bad Bunny made appearances in various skits.

Johansson consistently delivered excellently during the performance, offering her distinctive wit to various skits. These included a parody of a New York morning show where jokes about hard-news stories fell flat, a video segment titled “Please Don’t Destroy” that humorously depicted a flight to Newark Airport (also lacking in subtlety), and a barroom sketch featuring two characters, Marcello Hernández and Bad Bunny, who lamented their unsuccessful relationships with characters portrayed by Johansson and Ego Nwodim in Spanish.

After the set of three drawings, another video segment from the “Bowen Yang’s Not Gay” series unfolded, featuring Johansson entering a romantic relationship with Yang. However, it was later revealed that he was also involved with several other women, such as Gershon, Ratajkowski, Nwodim, and Heidi Gardner, among others.

Following an amusing conclusion to the “Weekend Update” segment with Johansson participating in witty banter, the show experienced a significant drop in quality with four consecutive sketches that fell flat. These included:

1. An outdated and uncomfortable elevator scene involving Mike Myers encountering Kanye West, now portrayed by Kenan Thompson.
2. A sketch about intimacy coordinators who appeared clueless about the intimate aspects of lesbian relationships.
3. A mock TV interview where female actors faced more personal questions than their male counterparts.
4. An off-putting season finale involving Victorian women consuming revolting foods such as eels, BLTs (bunnies and little turtles).

Despite a series of disappointing sketches, Johansson’s emotional tribute to Lorne Michaels during the show’s finale was abruptly cut short, without closing credits, cast farewells or traditional hugs (these were later added online). This wasn’t due to any fault on Johansson’s part, as she received a bouquet of roses and a kiss from her husband before the awkward goodbye incident. However, it was an untidy conclusion to an otherwise impressive season of television, featuring a reliable host.

As a captivated moviegoer, I had the pleasure of witnessing an electrifying musical performance by none other than Bab Bunny! In the heart of a bustling bar and at Newark Airport, this talented artist took center stage alongside RaiNao. The duo delivered spellbinding renditions of “NUEVAYoL” and “PERFuMITO NUEVO,” leaving audiences in awe with their harmonious blend of sounds and emotions. It was an unforgettable spectacle that truly elevated the cinematic experience!

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Most of the opening scenes for Season 50 have heavily relied on James Austin Johnson’s convincing portrayal of President Trump, and this pattern continued in the finale. The focus was on Trump’s recent trip to the Middle East, where he spent some quality time with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (played by Emil Wakim). Trump remarked, “We are vibing,” as they messed around with different sauces and spreads, although he admitted that he eventually ate at a portable McDonald’s. Trump also commented on the $400 million plane he wants to accept from Qatar, referring to it as a “pre-bribe.” He expressed his preference for this over flying an American plane, saying, “No thanks, kid. Have you seen what’s going on… screen is blank. Newark!” The show broke the fourth wall when Trump stepped out into the audience, commenting on the attractive women in the front rows and assuring audiences they wouldn’t forget him during “SNL’s” summer break. He joked, “I’m everywhere, even in your dreams, like the late, great Freddy Krueger. See you in the fall if we still have a country, right? It’s a coin toss.

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During her speech, Johansson guided the troupe in a performance of a tune that echoed Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” with words tailored to the show. The lyrics went something like this: “Sing for us, it’s your monologue / sing for us tonight. / For we’ve created 50 years of wonderful memories / every Saturday Night.” There was a moment when it seemed as if Joel himself would join in, but Johansson clarified, “Ladies and gentlemen, Billy Joel… is the author of this song!” The host kept fielding questions from the audience while continuing to sing, and there were jests about Sarah Sherman being unaware she was leaving the show (just a jest). In the end, the remaining cast (with Jost and Che not present) finished off the song with: “The 50th season has ended / it felt like an eternity / we made it together / and we got to share it with you.

Best sketch of the night: Let’s go home for some soup made from cow feet

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At a bar, two gentlemen named Hernandez and Bad Bunny find themselves on dates with women they’re not overly fond of – Nwodim and Johansson. In response to their girlfriends’ urging, they engage in a fight, but instead, they switch to speaking Spanish and open up about their issues, ultimately forming a friendship. They both acknowledge their preference for tumultuous relationships and predict that they will likely return to those they should leave behind romantically. The subtitles are well-done, and the girlfriends’ humorous attempts at joining in with Spanish phrases (“Nipple crazy cafeteria!”) add to the sketch’s charm. Two other men – Andrew Dismukes and Johnson – sit at another table, serving as the sketch’s narrators or Greek chorus.

Also good: ‘Is something going on at Newark?’

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In simpler terms, the characters named “The Please Don’t Destroy boys” encounter Johansson who inquires about their gloomy mood. She wonders if they’re disheartened because the season has ended and they only made two videos. Johansson invites them to travel first class with her, but the reality is far from glamorous – they’re on a troubled flight to Newark airport.

The scene features a Lonely Island-style rap video, along with real-life struggles such as a prayer symbol on the overhead panel and a Microsoft blue screen of death on the TV screens. However, things take an unexpected turn when Bad Bunny appears as an air traffic controller, helping to resolve the issues on his first day at work.

It’s noteworthy that two of the best sketches this week featured Johansson and Bad Bunny. Though he didn’t host this season, his performance in 2023 was impressive.

‘Weekend Update’ winner: Did Lorne Michaels know about this?

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In the latest episode, Miss Eggy (Nwodim) delivered another passionate soliloquy, much like the one from a month ago. This time it was the classic comedic sparring between Jost and Che, where they make each other read uncomfortable or racially insensitive material, which gets more extreme every time. During this skit, Jost was compelled to say to the show’s producer, “Retire, b—, let me take charge,” while Che was made to utter, “I haven’t been this thrilled since I saw a white woman drinking alone.” Jost was put down for making fun of rap feud maestro Kendrick Lamar and with his wife watching, Che was forced to apologize and comment on his time on the show, “I’ve told countless jokes and received many laughs,” and about Jost, “I adore you.” However, it was Jost who suffered the most, being manipulated into saying Nick Kerr’s name, son of Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, and using lipstick to tell Michaels, “I’ll do anything to lead this show.” If this is their final appearance as “Update” hosts, we can be sure they left no taboo unexplored.

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2025-05-18 10:31

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