After taking some time off after their epic 40th anniversary special that aired President’s Day weekend, Saturday Night Live returned with host Dakota Johnson, fresh off of the record breaking success of 50 Shades of Grey, and musical guest Alabama Shakes. The episode seemed to rely more heavily on video segments but Johnson brought her dry sense of humor to the show and proved to be a very enjoyable host! Let’s take a look at some of the highlights of the night.
Giuliani Cold Open
For all of you Birdman fans out there, this one is for you. After seemingly transforming into a partisan politics playing politician former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has his own Inarritu- style realization about where his career has gone since being “America’s Mayor.”
Father Daughter Ad
It’s that moment every parent dreams of. After high school graduation a loving father drops his daughter off with her bags packed, ready to embrace the next chapter in her life… Joining ISIS. This sketch is so wrong and so very right all at the same time.
Say What You Wanna Say
In another pre-taped bit, SNL hits a cultural nerve where a cast of women stop being polite and start getting real. No, this isn’t The Real World, it’s a ridiculous parody all about speaking your mind set to the tunes of the one and only Sara Bareilles.
I Can’t
The weather across the northeast has made national headlines and a group of three, hipster New Yorkers (Dakota Johnson, Cecily Strong and Bobby Moynihan) just can’t. Unfortunately for physically injured Aidy Bryant who has two broken arms and actually can’t, things do not go well in her current office environment.
Weekend Update: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
While the Weekend Update pairing of head writer Colin Jost and former Daily Show correspondent Michael Che continues to find its groove, they have made the wise decision to bring as many guests up to the desk as possible. The first best of this week was the always funny and future Ghostbuster Kate McKinnon as US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She may be in her 80’s but that isn’t stopping the Notorious RBG from throwing out some sick Gins-Burns.
Weekend Update: Kanye West Apologizes
The criminally underused Jay Pharoah makes his way to the desk to shine with his spot-on Kanye West impression. West made headlines this week for apologizing to Beck and Bruno Mars for any shade he might have thrown their way and SNL took the story a step further showing that a Kanye West apology is truly the greatest apology of all time.
Net Neutrality
If you’re like most Americans, and guests in this sketch, you don’t quite understand what Net Neutrality is but you know it’s really important. Fortunately Gennifer Owens (played by Sasheer Zamata) and her guests are around to explain it to you. Kinda. Well, mostly. With porn.
