John Mulaney

Even a preponderance of recurring sketches can't hold five-time host Mulaney down.

(I’m on record questioning the whole post-9/11 “The Boxer” cold open as well, just to prove my crotchety cred.) SNL has a range, and this mawkishness—unlike the soaring voices of the fine folks of the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka—is well outside of it. The simple switcheroo of the premise is carried off with aplomb once again by Mulaney, whose facility with everything from the “Cupid Shuffle” to the need for washcloths in the shower is thankfully underplayed in performance rather than being the gag itself. Of all the comebacks, I most enjoyed the return of Cecily Strong as the militant spokesperson for smugly gourmet dog food, Blue River. As was the case in her first outing, way back when, Strong acts the living hell out of her role as a person whose obsession with her dog’s nutrition trumps any and all other human concerns. And here’s to Jost for inserting a little absurdism into his usual line of smirk, with a joke about late Kentucky Derby winner (and doped against his will animal) Medina Spirit ending with a solemn, “I hope it’s hot in horse-hell, you cheating bastard.” Committing to a joke outside your comfort zone is a good look, Jost. Keep it up. Especially as the single-gripe takes of “Diner Lobster” and (to a lesser extent) “Bodega Bathroom” broadened into a grab-bag of NYC grievances and Broadway influences. Not that I’m confident SNL could cobble together a more traditional Ukraine-based cold open that wouldn’t collapse into a soggy mush of lukewarm takes and celebrity impressions, but when the show goes to this bathetic well, the self-satisfied self-seriousness is awfully hard to recover from. (Almost literally in Alex Moffat’s case, his subway masturbator singing an enthusiastic “Fappin’ On The Train” with an analog-pixilated ding-dong.) But like all but the rarest of recurring sketches, the more they become an institution, the less exciting they are as comedy. And Mulaney’s judge pokes holes in the defense’s case by noting that Melissa had been wearing a different hat on the day of the attack, noting incredulously, “You walked up to this monkey as a different shape?” No further questions. Honestly, the loony brilliance of “Diner Lobster” was how lavishly single-minded it was in mining Les Mis, Kenan’s tragic crustacean building a whole, accumulating pageant from the single joke that nobody ever orders lobster in a diner. I initially wondered if it was Rudd quaffing celebratory champagne and beers in deference to Mulaney’s recovery, but then Mulaney was in the mix, too, and I remembered I’m not Mulaney’s mother and just enjoyed it. I suppose there might be some satirical spin to be had about the capricious and potentially life-ruining power of an alpha in a robe, but, naw—it’s just Monkey Judge. Mulaney, decked out in a tasteful amount of monkey hair and rubber monkey hands, is—and again, I say this with all respect—a perfect person to play a judge who just happens to be a monkey.

John Mulaney and Cecily Strong return to a terrific and inspired episode. A recap of all the sketches from Saturday Night Live's February 26, 2022 episode, ...

As crazy as it was, the “Monkey Trial” became almost too routine and was begging for a curveball. The ending of “Cupid Shuffle” similarly lost momentum, and they even recycled the Chris Rock “Robitussin” joke. With sketches like “Monkey Trial,” “Cupid Shuffle,” and “Nickelodeon Show,” it feels like SNL is going back to basics. “How much do you pay for Blue River? $80?” “It’s not $80; it’s $73.99.” This is a slicker, repackaged version of an earlier Blue River dog food sketch with Seth Rogen. However, this works better, and Cecily is great as the histrionic dog owner. (“I hosted my own TV show for decades.” “What do you do now?” “I have a podcast.”) The group grows fearful, knowing how difficult it will be to toe the line between a nuanced COVID discussion and a COVID-denier. This sketch is inspired. Cecily is buying real dog food made with real ingredients, and she asks Heidi to read the ingredients of hers out loud to her dog. And she said, “Michael, you no pay me to talk, baby.” SNL replaces its cold open with the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York singing “Prayer for Ukraine.” I would have almost put money on Beck Bennett returning as Putin, but SNL opted for a respectful tribute. While his personal life has been a bit of a rollercoaster in the last few years, Mulaney has been putting out consistent funny work, with Documentary Now!, Oh, Hello on Broadway, and the uproarious John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch. I don’t consider myself part of the ravenous John Mulaney fandom, but sometimes you have to tip your cap. But John’s choice to talk about his ultra-personal struggles set a friendly tone for the night. Amidst an international crisis (Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) and a domestic crisis (Kanye West threatening Pete Davidson for dating his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian), John Mulaney stops by to host Saturday Night Live with musical guest LCD Soundsystem. This is John’s fifth time hosting, and like all five-timers, this should be a good show.