SNL After Party (S50 E9 Air Date 12/14/24) - "When She Cries, She Sounds Like a Victorian Ghost"
Host: Chris Rock
Musical Guest: Gracie Abrams
As the nostalgia train begins to pick up more steam, former cast member Chris Rock hosted this week’s episode.
Did he succeed, or was his episode a slap in the face (see what I did there?) to the SNL audience?
Let’s find out at the After Party!
Cold Open : Nancy Grace
Eschewing politics, Dana Carvey, and cameos in general, this week’s cold open had Sarah Sherman doing a hilarious Nancy Grace impression. Sherman nailed Grace’s nonsensical pronunciation and faux outrage, as she did an episode on Luigi Mangione, the alleged CEO shooter.
The sketch had Grace cutting off guests, making up words, and garbling language. It was very funny (and, in a couple of places, it was clear Sherman thought so too).
At one point, in reference to the alleged shooter’s ghost gun, she says, “I could use a ghost gun, because every night I wake up to Jon Benet’s spirit screaming, ‘You used me!’”
A solid, funny start. The lack of political content and old cast members popping in was refreshing.
Monologue
Of course, politics and cameo were the lion’s share of the monologue, as former cast member Chris Rock did a stand up set for his monologue.
It’s hard to believe Rock only appeared on the show from 1990-1993.
The comic congratulates SNL for being on the air for 50 years, and gives kudos to Lorne Michaels for “25 great years”.
He then hit current events, including peoples’ fascination with the CEO killer, noting that “If he looked like Jonah Hill, no one would care.”
He criticized Jake Paul for “punching a 60 year old man in the face” and said he “hates him like cocaine hates monogamy.”
He spent time on Trump, but then noted he’s no worse than a lot of presidents. “You know how many rapists are in my wallet right now?”
He did bits on Elon Musk, immigration, and Biden pardoning Hunter. “I got to hand it to Joe Biden. He doesn’t move as fast as he used to….but that middle finger still works.”
Look, if you like Rock’s stand-up, you probably iiked the monologue. If you aren’t a fan of his, then this monologue wasn’t for you.
For my part, I thought it was well done.
Mall Santas
There is a strong point in this sketch. The problem is that it’s one of those single premise sketches that drags out a bit long.
Here, Rock is a “Santa’s helper” explaining to parents that they can choose from two Santas. One is James Austin Johnson, and the other is Devon Walker.
The whole joke is the discomfort of the white parents as they ask for the white Santa.
That’s pretty much it, though it does take a couple of turns, and does give some screen time to some kids.
But, it’s one of those jokes you get immediately, and then have to keep watching it for another four minutes.
Secret Santa
In a shocking development, there was not a pre-taped segment in this slot! The formula has been lost!
Instead, we get a sketch of a Secret Santa gift exchange, in which Rock receives a Simpsonified picture of himself. He then describes what “his” episode of the Simpsons would be like.
He also really poorly reads cue cards, which would become the theme of the show.
Apart from the cue card reading, the sketch was okay. It was a little different, but just didn’t feel well executed.
But, it was not bad enough for me to demand that anyone eat my shorts, so here we are.
Grandpa’s Magic Car
Here’s the pre-taped bit!
In this one, Mikey Day’s grandpa has died and he and his friends are clearing out a barn/garage.
Inside is grandpa’s old car that appears to have Grandpa’s ghost in it. Turns out grandpa was racist and a tad randy.
Ultimately, the gang burns down the barn and car, and the whole thing is a Lyft ad.
Honestly, this one felt like an excuse to just have some naughty car physical humor. No. I won’t explain that.
Sexual Harassment Charlie
Kenan Thompson revives his character of the older guy in the office who says things that are objectively harassment (and does a little dance), but no one seems to mind. Meanwhile, Rock is an executive who gets lambasted for much less serious offenses.
I guess there’s a message about double standards, but there’s really no new gold in this mine, and there was no real reason to start digging here again.
Weekend Update
A great mix of solid jokes and absolute bombs. (Che notes he got four groaners in a row).
They talk about how the CEO killer suspect was seen in a Starbucks before the shooting and was spotted in a McDonald’s following the crime that was allegedly motivated by issues with corporate America. “So I guess his biggest crime was hypocrisy,” Jost said.
They discussed Trump being named Time’s person of the year because “No one has taken up more of our [EXPETIVE] time.”
And there was even a joke about a cyber attack at Krispy Kreme, which proved the company’s cyber technology “has a few holes.”
(And, yes, there was a joke that led Che to point out that it is the ‘90’s.)
There were two desk guests the week.
Andrew Dismukes was a bald man talking about discrimination the follicle challenged face, and Jane Wickline appeared doing an impression (though not in looks, sound, or musical style) of Sabrina Carpenter bemoaning the fact that no one will start rumors about her being gay or bi, despite a music video in which she kisses Jenna Ortega.
Both desk sets were funnier than the above description would indicate, but Dismukes’ amused me more because it was so random and well played.
Gallbladder Surgery
Here’s a sketch that was a mess in both a figurative and literal sense.
Rock is performing surgery, when he realizes that they took out a gallbladder instead of an appendix, which is what was actually needed.
Sherman is the forgetful nurse who messed up, and then gets upset when she thinks people are made at her.
After a couple of other mishaps that were Sherman’s fault, the patient pops up, and - lo and behold! - it turns out he is none other than The Water Boy himself, Adam Sandler.
Sandler then just starts bleeding all over everyone with the help of a geysering blood tube. At one point he drops it and he and Sherman awkwardly improv their way through her picking it up.
Anyway, the rest of the sketch is Sandler sort of calling it in as he sprays the cast and set with blood. This goes on for a couple of minutes.
I’d like to say it was a misuse of Sandler. But, it probably wasn’t,
Office ChristmasParty
Remember when they used to do those fake ads for weird music festivals with Jason Sudeikis and Nasim Pedrad (as D.J. Supersoaker and L’il Blaster)? This pre-taped bit feels like a parody of that parody, as a bombastic announcer promos the office holiday party.
It isn’t as funny as the music festivals, but it is amusing enough with some genuine laughs.
Blind Date
So, Ego Nwodim is waiting on a blind date. Chris Rock pretends to be that date, and keeps trying to get her to have sex in his car. Eventually he leaves, and the real blind date shows up. It’s Marcello Hernandez, as an annoying finance bro. And then Ego goes after Rock, whose offer now seems much more appealing.
This one let the episode end on a ….. yawn.
The Goodbye Wave
Best Sketch: Sarah Sherman as Nancy Grace cracked me up. She really captured the nonsense of Nancy, and this was a good route to take to deal with the current event issue.
Worst Sketch: This was a tough call. There were a few contenders here. I’m going with Gallbladder surgery for just being a slapdash excuse to have Adam Sandler show up, more or less improvise his way through a few minutes, and squirt everyone with fake blood.
It’s the 90’s, everyone!
Random Notes:
- It cannot be stressed enough that Rock’s cue card reading was among the most obvious in the show’s history. Did he have to skip rehearsals or something?
- Jane Wickline is getting some serious time on the Update desk. These musical bits are what got her invited to the party, but maybe her sketch work will get uplifted as well.
- Musical guest Grace Abrams is a singer/songwriter and is the daughter of J.J. Abrams and was an opener for Taylor Swift on her Eras tour.
- I guess Dana Carvey has been finally forced to leave Studio 8H. I choose to believe he was sleeping in the audience section and was finally made to move on and solve crimes in another town. Just like David Banner.
- Was the sound mix weird this week, or is it that on my end?
- Was Adam Sandler being avoided by the cast during the goodbyes?
This was not a great episode. There were some good sketches, but nothing great. There seemed to be a lot of filler this week.
And, on the cameos, is there a reason they appear to be limited to people who appeared on the show in the 90’s? Look, I’m not saying anyone is dying for Joe Piscopo or Mary Gross to show up, but the show’s been on for 50 years. f we are intent on incessant cameos, maybe cast a wider net.
Grade: C-
As always, we grade SNL episodes in comparison to other SNL episodes. Not TV in general.
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