Saturday Night Live returned after a week off with host two-time Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson and musical guest Kendrick Lamar. This was a great episode and I think I’ve cracked the problem with SNL lately: confidence. Harrelson got his big break on the hit sitcom Cheers and has since been known for his fearless film roles that span all genres from Kingpin, Zombieland and Now You See Me to Natural Born Killers, The People vs. Larry Flint and No Country for Old Men and everything in between. I would argue that tonights episode was just as diverse (within SNL parameters, of course) showcasing Harrelson and his affinity for weed and hemp to having him sing and play the guitar in a few sketches to him playing the straight man a couple of times, too.

One could attribute the success of last nights show purely to Harrelson but I would point out that the content of the writing was pretty funny, too, so perhaps it comes down to the writers just going for it and hoping that the cast and that the guest will do the same.

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Opening Monologue: Woody Harrelson and the cast of The Hunger Games

For a guy who is best known for film and television, Woody Harrelson was wonderful during his live opening monologue. The True Detective star was joined on stage by his Hunger Games co-stars Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawerence to reminisce about 1989, even though they weren’t born yet, and even though lines were flubbed (mostly on Lawrence’s part), the four sang through a fuzzy version of Taylor Swift’s hit song.

New Marijuana Policy

A celebratory digital short reacting to the news that posession of up to 25 grams of marijuana is now legal in New York City. Unfortunately, while explaining New York’s new drug policy to a group of pot heads, someone forgot one important part.

The Dudleys

Thank you, Saturday Night Live, for shining a light on not only the silliness of social media backlash (possibly as a veiled reaction to the heat that came from Chris Rock’s opening monologue on the last show?) but also CBS sitcoms. This sketch also features a pretty awesome cameo…

Match’d

MTV’s hot new game show featuring a lot of horny waiters looking to go on a date with Desiree. Little do they know that Desiree’s dad is watching and not too far away.

Weekend Update: Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson

Taran Killam joined Woody Harrelson as Matthew McConaughey in a silly and fun parody of the True Detective co-stars and real life good friends dynamic behind the update desk. Watch Harrelson as he fights the giggles during Killam’s spot-on impression.

Campfire Song

In what was one of the silliest sketches of the night, Woody Harrelson sings a campfire song about apples that he loves but that leaves everyone else in the dark and some of the campfire friends soaking wet.

Saturday Night Live returns next week with host Cameron Diaz and musical guests Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.