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Chris Rock hosts a shaky ‘SNL’ saved by guest star Adam Sandler

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As a long-time fan of comedy and someone who has followed Chris Rock’s career since the early days, I have to say that his latest performance was nothing short of brilliant. The man knows how to deliver jokes that are sharp, witty, and thought-provoking, all while maintaining a level of energy and charisma that is truly captivating.

There’s no denying that Chris Rock is a comedy legend, but that’s not because of the time he spent on “Saturday Night Live” from 1990 to 1993.

Originally, the ex-SNL actor, who soared to fame after SNL with his fiery stand-up performances, came back to host for the fourth time this week. His monologue and pre-recorded segments left the most significant impression, while his performance in live sketches appeared less spontaneous or challenging when it came to reading lines from cue cards.

Despite the challenges, Rock successfully showcased the opening act of the evening, which revolved around a Christmas mall elf presenting parents with an awkward decision between a white Santa (James Austin Johnson) and a Black Santa (Devon Walker) for their children. This sketch bore resemblance to the video “Grandpa’s Magic Car,” featuring a car reminiscent of Herbie from the ’50s, possessing human-like qualities but also harboring racial undertones. Rock’s brief cameo in a video portraying a dull office Christmas party was equally well-received.

A less successful set of sketches included one that centered around Rock receiving a gift to transform him into a “Simpsons” character, another involving Rock and Kenan Thompson’s characters being accused of sexual misconduct towards employees, and a late-show sketch where a man crashes another person’s date with Ego Nwodim’s character.

As a devoted viewer, let me share that one unexpected highlight, a spark in an otherwise assorted collection of scenes, was when Adam Sandler appeared as the surgical patient. The scene turned chaotic as he splattered blood all over Emil Wakim, Sarah Sherman, Heidi Nwodim, and Bowen Yang, along with Rock. Throughout this pandemonium, Sandler playfully broke the fourth wall, engaging in humorous banter that seemed aimed at making Rock crack his composed demeanor. Whether it was scripted or off-the-cuff, it appeared as if Sandler was enjoying every moment, trying to bring out Rock’s natural reactions.

In her first appearance on “Saturday Night Live”, artist Gracie Abrams delivered strong performances of her songs “That’s So True” and “I Love You, I’m Sorry”.

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Nancy Grace, who currently hosts “Crime Stories With Nancy Grace” on YouTube, has been a recurring character on “SNL” for quite some time, well before YouTube was even created. Previously portrayed by Ana Gasteyer and Amy Poehler, the role is now played by Sarah Sherman, who gives Grace an over-the-top Southern accent and a more frenzied persona. In the show’s opening skit, she labeled Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as a “Mordoror,” and criticized America for turning the alleged killer into a sex symbol. Grace made fun of Mangione, saying he resembles “Dave Franco with Eugene Levy’s eyebrows,” and expressed her desire for a “Ghost gun” like the one allegedly used in the crime because, “Every night I wake up to Jon Benet’s spirit screaming, ‘You used me!'” Due to being on YouTube, her show was frequently interrupted by ads for health supplement pills.

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When Chris Rock started his monologue, the comedian sounded out of breath, as if he’d run up flights of stairs at 30 Rock to get to the stage. But he settled in before too long after congratulating producer Lorne Michaels on “25 great years of ‘Saturday Night Live’” — on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. From there, Rock bore down on targets including Mangione (“If he looked like Jonah Hill… they’d already have given him the chair”), Mike Tyson’s boxing opponent Jake Paul (“Is this what the white man has reduced himself to? Who’s he going to fight next, Morgan Freeman?”) and president-elect Donald Trump’s amazing year (“It could happen to a nicer guy”).

As the speech progressed, it became increasingly contentious with Chris Rock making provocative comments about American presidents potentially being rapists (“Did you know there are seven rapists in your wallet right now? That’s how much a cup of coffee costs in America”) and joking about which Latinos Donald Trump might deport. He quipped, “J. Lo is getting married to Ben Affleck again just so she can stay in the country.” Despite lacking some of the intellectual edge of his finest stand-up routines, this monologue served as a stark reminder that when he’s on form, Chris Rock leaves no one unscathed.

Best sketch of the night: The office Christmas party starts at 5:45 p.m. on a Tuesday

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The lameness of office holiday parties is well-trod comedic territory, but this pre-taped sketch hit all the right notes on why keeping employees who only know each other through work together after hours is a bad idea. From the laptop-music fail to the revelation of OnlyFans accounts to “The soggiest food you’ve ever seen… so wet,” the video used awkward zoom-ins and a wide variety of characters to get its point across, the high point being Rock and Nwodim playing a married couple who get into an argument about the husband’s “work wife.” Best detail? The 45-minute Secret Santa with a giant white board chart that seems to never end.

Also good: The surgery is terrible, but stay for the bleeding

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Initially, a comedic sketch featuring Leslie (Sherman), a bumbling assistant during a gallbladder procedure, took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that under the sheet lay Adam Sandler, a former “SNL” cast member. After experiencing some technical hiccups, Sandler managed to activate a prop blood squirter, soaking everyone else, including his fellow castmate Chris Rock. The scene grew increasingly hilarious as time passed, with Sandler improvising and the participants unsure of their next move. Spontaneity is difficult to simulate, but in Sandler’s (blood-splattered) hands, the sketch transformed from a possible flop into something that had genuine viral potential.

‘Weekend Update’ winner: How many bald jokes is too many bald jokes?

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In a recent episode, new cast member Jane Wickline amusingly sang a song about the misconception that it’s inappropriate to question Sabrina Carpenter’s sexuality. However, Andrew Dismukes’ sketch stood out, as he played a bald man delighting in an old England case where calling a man “Bald” could be considered sexual harassment. He joked with co-host Colin Jost, saying “My eyes are down here,” and shared his experience of being on a jury with 11 other bald men, who were compared to a carton of eggs. Instead of just telling bald jokes, Dismukes made the character incredibly sincere, really immersing himself in the role’s mindset.

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2024-12-15 11:01

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