'SNL' sees Nate Bargatze return as host, with another controversial cold open

has been Less than a year Since comedian Nate Bargatze made his debut hosting “Saturday Night Live,” the appearance was so well received that he's already back, with a stacked lineup of season 50 hosts that includes Gene Smart, John Mulaney and Michael Keaton.

Was it as strong as last time? not right The monologue was more sparse and less finely crafted than last year, and the sketches were less uniformly great, but there were still some strong elements. Bargatze's every-guy vibe still fits nicely with “SNL,” especially in sketches where he plays with language, e.g. A sequel 2023's fantastic View of George Washington Weights and Measures or a Pitch perfect “Sábado Gigante” parody (It Only Takes 50 Years) where Bargatze plays a confused audience member who is drawn to the show with only an initial — but not entirely blank — understanding of Spanish speaking around him. Bargatze leads a funny pre-taped sketch in which a golf tournament competitor inadvertently harms wildlife.

Elsewhere, Bergatze plays an EMT who tries to convince the water park staff with his partner (Michael Longfellow). Let a corpse go down a slide Rather carry it down 255 steps. He is a figure Coach who wants to pay for football jerseys and a woman's husband (Heidi Gardner). Determined to win a very messy eating challenge Musical guest Coldplay performed at a restaurant.All my love“and”we pray,” featured the latter Palestinian singer Ileana and Argentine singer three. A title card before the closing hug honored Kris Kristofferson, who died on September 28 at age 88. The singer-songwriter and actor hosted “SNL” in the show's first season in 1976.

With Bargatze as host, this week's cold open was a case of: “It worked great, let's do it again.” All guest stars present Last week's cold open “SNL” was back for the vice presidential debate. Bowen Young and Jim Gaffigan returned to the debate stage as Sen. J.D. Vance and Gov. Tim Walz, respectively, while Vice President Kamala Harris (Maya Rudolph) and husband Doug Emhoff (Andy Samberg) watched at home and mostly met a confused President Biden (Dana Carvey). ).

Kamala, on top of the world, celebrated endorsements from Liz Cheney and Bruce Springsteen, but her joy was short-lived as she watched Walz flub lines — “I'm friends with school shooters” — and very friendly with Vance. “Why are they friends?” she exclaimed. “Why are they vibrating?” On the debate stage, Vance and Walz are so familiar that they try to touch hands during a split scene to “Take My Breath.” Away” drama. Walz explained his mistake about being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square massacre and told the audience that he had forgotten he was at Epcot. Vance, meanwhile, inserted a mid-sentence plea for non-verification when expressing support for former President Trump.

But as of last week, it was Dana Carvey's Biden impression that stole the show, announcing things like gas prices and the Emmys for “The Bear” or waving an ice cream cone that landed in an orange's face. Even as Rudolph kept his composure as the ice cream trickled down his chin, it was hard to forget that Carvey and David Spade, co-hosts of the “Fly on the Wall” podcast, said this week That sometimes physical ad libs or flubs on the show are really accidental and intentional, like when Biden buried his head in orange hair on last week's show.

Bergatz's monologue was shorter than last time and without a strong closing, but it was still a great line as the comedian discussed going to community college (“…where they're like, 'You probably live in your community.'”) and, at length , his addiction to processed foods (“I'm a farm-to-factory-to-table guy.”) and ordering junk food from DoorDash late at night. Bargatze said he's even ordering from two places on the double-dashed, simultaneous food-delivery service, which causes him anxiety when two different drivers show up at the same time. “I need to get a pile of them! I'm desperate!” He says he's “addled” to extra virgin olive oil and also had a funny bit about what happened when he ate raspberries for the first time at age 40. Unlike last year's monologue, this one wasn't razor sharp, but the material was overall the comic's signature feature and confusion in the world.

Best sketch of the night: Washington returns to demand freedom for hot-dog lovers

Diminished returns are sometimes okay if the original is this strong. In a sequel to the Weights and Measures sketch, George Washington (Bargatze) stands on a boat and tells his soldiers about the future of the English language. A dozen is a word for 12, but, “only 12 will have its own word.” We spell Jeff two ways, one with a J and the “goofy way with a G.” A hot dog, says Washington, will not be made of dogs. But when asked what they are made of, he said, “No one knows.” When a soldier asks questions, he is invited to leave the boat and go into the water. As last time, Washington mostly ignores a soldier's (Kenan Thompson) questions about what happened to the slaves after the war, at least this war in 1776.

Also good: you don't need to know Spanish to understand 'Sábado Gigante'

Bergatze plays an audience member who is called on stage by host Don Francisco (Marcelo Hernandez), who leads him through a random sketch, dance number and game-show segment, not unlike what the real show was like; Ask anyone who grew up in a Spanish-speaking household before 2015. Hernandez's total commitment to the sketch, to Bergatz's so-real-to-be confused, bearded kid dressed as Bergatz's character and dolled-up orange in a sailor suit, win our hearts like five dogs on a game show.

Likely to go viral: 'Sushi glory hole' is the new 'dick in a box'

Slotted late into the show, a new “SNL” digital short featuring Lonely Island's Samberg and Akiva Schaefer pushes the line so surprisingly, catchy and in good taste that it looks like something that could take off big online. . (The term “sushi glory hole” is actually, There was already a trend in X shortly after the episode aired.) Premise? Two musicians (or are they businessmen?) come up with the idea of ​​a hole in the bathroom wall that feeds you fresh sushi. That's it. That's the joke. But it's taken to ridiculously dumb lengths even as those being pitched (among them Maya Rudolph) are simply trying to leave the room.

'Weekend Update' Winner: Jane Weekline was too late at the party

It sometimes takes a while to get to know new cast members, but this segment was a nice introduction. Jane Wickline Appeared only as the voice of reason in the Water Slide sketch and in a “Weekend Update” segment, playing the piano and singing about staying overnight at a party that has long since stopped being a party. When Colin Jost tries to end the song midway through, he says, “I want to sing.” Clever, witty lyrics and a strong performance suggest great things to come for Jane Wickline on “SNL.”

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.