Sports (or at least sketch) fans, it has gotten real. We are down to the Elite 8, and this week we not only determine the division champs, we also get our Final Four. The Golden Gilda is in sight, and the competition is reaching a fever pitch.

But the time for talk is over, the time for the division championships . . . is now!

Yellow Division: Washington’s Dream vs. Rome Song
Two sketches about history try to make it in this matchup. It’s Nate Bargatze’s portrayal of George Washington setting forth America’s oddly inconsistent weights and measures system versus Jason Momoa’s musical love letter to Rome.

Let’s take one more look at the highlights!

These are two strong competitors that both deserve to be here. Rome Song is funny, smart, and has some actual tidbits of history in a fantastic musical number! But, Washington’s Dream is one of the smartest sketches that’s been on SNL in recent memory, while still being absolutely hilarious.

Honestly, this was a closer match-up than expected, but, as expected, Washington’s Dream clinches the division and makes its way to the Final Four. But, Kudos to Rome Song for putting up such a spirited game.

Green Division: Cold Open-Santos vs. Big Dumb Cups

Tournament watchers agree that this is possibly the weakest division. But at this stage, that doesn’t mean we still don’t have some powerful competition. Can Bowen Yang’s swan song for one of his signature characters take down a ridiculous commercial for giant cups?

Let’s turn to the tape!

This was a battle of the absurd sketches. While I admired what Big Dumb Cups did, and think it was incredibly well written and performed, it just didn’t land as well as Yang’s Santos did. So Yang’s candle in the wind makes it to the Final Four. This is a shock for tourney observers, as it was the only cold open in the tournament, and none of our team expected to see it get to the Elite 8, much less the Final Four.

Red Division: PDD - Gone Too Soon v. PDD - We Got Too High

The Please Don’t Destroy gang is guaranteed a Final Four berth as the Red Division finals includes two PDD teams.

Which will win out? Is it a story of a hilarious death that also features Chef Boyardee? Or will a full blown rap video about the guys have a twisted rockin’ ball with Ramy Youssef and Travis Scott get the high marks?

Let’s check in on the action as Please Don’t Destroy battles Please Don’t Destroy!

This is what this competition is all about! PDD against PDD representing a battle that guarantees the boys make the Final Four, as well they should!

And this matchup was a doozy! Gone Too Soon is absurdly hilarious, but We Got Too High was equally funny and brilliantly put together.

In an overtime barn burner, We Got Too High clinched the Division and advances to the Final Four!

Blue Division: Beavis and Butt-Head vs. Weekend Update Joke Exchange

A team with a vaunted tradition - the Joke Exchange - is always a strong contender. But this game it faced a tourney favorite with Beavis & Butt-Head.

It’s tradition versus, well, a cartoon from the 90’s. Let’s see how the competition compares!

Beavis and Butt-Head controlled this match from the beginning, and lead all the way to the final buzzer.

This is not to say that the Joke Exchange couldn’t have ended up in the Final Four, but not in this division.

Ultimately, Beavis and Butt-Head was such an undeniable force of comedy that Che and Colin just could not match. Maybe they could have pulled it off in another division, but here the MTV hooligans clinched with ease.

Next week we’ll have both the Final Four and the Championship game as the road to the Golden Gilda reaches it’s exciting conclusion.

We’ll see you next week for the final two rounds, but in the meantime, may your brackets remain unbusted!

Comments are welcome. Please feel free to share with family, friends, and vague acquaintances.

SNL After Party (S49 Sketch Face Off - Elite 8)