Saturday Night Live's Teyana Taylor Episode: A Mixed Bag with One Shining Moment
The latest episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Oscar nominee Teyana Taylor, delivered a so-so performance overall, but was dramatically rescued by one standout sketch that has already garnered critical acclaim. While Taylor made her hosting debut with charm, the episode struggled with weak material, only to be almost single-handedly redeemed by a genius parody commercial.
Political Satire Takes Centre Stage
The show opened with a sharp political sketch, the 1st Annual Trumps, which humorously recognised the first year of Donald Trump's hypothetical second term. James Austin Johnson reprised his role as Trump, hosting an awards ceremony designed to distract from controversial actions, such as ICE operations. The sketch featured Jeremy Culhane as JD Vance, Sarah Sherman as Aunt Gladys, and Andrew Dismukes as Stephen Miller, with Ashley Padilla portraying Kristi Noem. A highlight was Mike Myers' return as a glitching Elon Musk, accepting a Lifetime Achievement in Comedy award while listing losses like NATO and Marjorie Taylor Greene. This segment effectively skewered Trump's insatiable desire for recognition, though some critics felt it could have gone harder on the administration's policies.
Teyana Taylor's Hosting Debut
Teyana Taylor, a Harlem native and star of One Battle After Another, celebrated her recent Oscar nomination during her monologue. She shared anecdotes about her career, from My Super Sweet 16 to raising her children, who made a cute cameo. While Taylor appeared comfortable on the live stage, her segments lacked memorable humour, setting a tone for an episode that often fell flat.
Sketch Highlights and Lowlights
The episode featured several sketches that missed the mark. An airport delay sketch with Taylor and Kenan Thompson used R&B songs to deliver bad news but devolved into unfunny banter. Similarly, an NFL on ESPN parody with Troy Aickman and Joe Buck was sidetracked by promos for a lesbian cooking drama, Quefs, and lacked focus. A night school confidence class sketch also struggled, with actors seeming to fumble lines.
However, the One Battle After Another toy commercial sketch emerged as a saviour. Taylor reprised her role as Perfidia Beverly Hills, presenting action figures from Paul Thomas Anderson's film to white children, who reenacted scenes like Jungle Pussy's proclamation of black power. This clever update of a 1994 Philadelphia toy commercial provided one of the funniest moments in recent SNL history, blending satire with social commentary.
Weekend Update and Other Segments
During Weekend Update, Michael Che addressed ICE agents' actions with pointed humour, asking if they ever question their methods. Marcello Hernández guest-starred to explain Gen Z slang, noting its roots in African American culture. A wedding reception sketch showcased Taylor's dance moves as an elderly grandpa, while a PBS news roundtable discussed ICE's occupation of Minneapolis, though it felt like a retread of past material.
The episode concluded with a digital short by Martin Herlihy on Blowing It, teaching men how to sabotage relationships to get dumped, reminiscent of Please Don't Destroy's better work.
Overall Assessment
In summary, this Saturday Night Live episode was another weak entry, with most sketches failing to land. Teyana Taylor as host was an improvement over previous weeks but didn't particularly shine. Yet, the One Battle After Another toy commercial sketch alone made it worthwhile, promising to top best-of lists this season. For fans of political satire and innovative comedy, this moment was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable night.
