SNL Review: A Bleak Night Salvaged by Moments of Brilliance (October 28, 2023)
Saturday Night Live’s October 28th, 2023 episode, hosted by Timothée Chalamet, proved to be a decidedly uneven affair. While punctuated by flashes of inspired comedy,particularly during Weekend Update,the night was largely weighed down by sketches that felt underdeveloped,reliant on tired tropes,or simply didn’t land.This review offers a detailed breakdown of each segment, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses, and contextualizing it within SNL’s broader comedic landscape. As a long-time observer of late-night comedy and SNL specifically (over 20 years of consistent viewership and analysis), I aim to provide a nuanced and insightful assessment.
Opening & Monologue: A Strong Start, Quickly Fumbled
The show began promisingly with Chalamet’s self-deprecating monologue, leaning into his heartthrob status and playfully acknowledging the audience’s expectations. He demonstrated a willingness to poke fun at himself,a crucial element for a successful SNL host. However, the momentum stalled quickly as the night progressed.
Sketch Breakdown: Hits, Misses, and Questionable Choices
* “Plain-sight”: This pre-taped digital short, featuring Chalamet and Kenan thompson, offered a genuinely funny premise – a seemingly normal situation unfolding with increasingly bizarre and unsettling details.The understated absurdity was a welcome change of pace.
* NHL Promos: This sketch, featuring Teller as a Nashville Predator, sadly fell flat. The initial concept – NHL players awkwardly attempting community outreach – held potential, but the execution was hampered by lazy writing and a reliance on increasingly uncomfortable and predictable pedophile references. The humor felt forced and lacked subtlety, ultimately detracting from any comedic impact. SNL has a history of pushing boundaries, but this felt gratuitous and poorly conceived.
* “Gone with Several Traces”: The remote fake documentary trailer was a missed opportunity. The premise – husbands claiming thier wives disappeared when they simply hadn’t listened to their plans – was weak and lacked a compelling punchline. It felt like a sketch that ran out of ideas halfway through.
* “Newspoint Studio”: This sketch, attempting to satirize the increasingly visible behind-the-scenes aspects of news broadcasts, suffered from a one-note premise. While the initial idea of employees struggling with constant camera presence had some merit, the gags (Mikey Day’s accident, Teller’s inappropriate viewing, Bowen Yang’s electrocution) felt repetitive and ultimately uninspired. The sketch lacked escalation and a satisfying resolution.
* Brandi Carlile Musical Performances: Brandi Carlile’s performances were a clear highlight of the evening. Her songs, “Church & State” and “Human,” were powerfully delivered, showcasing her exceptional vocal talent and songwriting prowess. the deliberate channeling of U2’s sound,particularly The Edge’s signature guitar work,was a clever and effective stylistic choice. Carlile’s stage presence and genuine artistry elevated the entire segment.
* weekend Update: A Mixed Bag with Bright Spots: Weekend Update, as always, was a crucial component of the show. Colin Jost and Michael Che delivered their usual mix of topical jokes, some landing better than others. Jost’s Trump-related material felt tired,while che’s observations on Curtis Sliwa and Rudy Giuliani were more pointed. Bowen Yang’s portrayal of george Santos was a standout, capturing the politician’s penchant for outlandish lies with comedic precision. Though, the segment felt overly long and meandering, with several jokes falling flat. The segment featuring Ashley Padilla and Andrew Dismukes as a newly-hooked-up couple discussing the government shutdown was a genuine success, demonstrating sharp writing and excellent comedic timing. Their subtle, loving glances amidst political debate were a clever and unexpected touch.
* “Steak knife Slasher”: This sketch, featuring Teller as a detective, was absurd and surprisingly effective. Andrew Dismukes’s character hijacking the press conference to pitch his comic book, Gar-Girl, was a brilliant subversion of expectations. The abrupt ending, while jarring, added to the sketch’s overall comedic affect.
* “Italian Restaurant”: This sketch, attempting a callback to classic SNL bits like the Dana Carvey/Adam Sandler Italian waiters, was a complete failure. The relentless harassment and abuse directed at Chloe Fineman’s character felt uncomfortable and lacked any comedic justification. The sketch lacked a narrative arc and simply devolved into a series of unpleasant interactions. This is a prime example
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