Acclaimed actress Cicely Tyson was a dignified and graceful host. She wasn’t a comedian, but she brought a powerful presence to the stage. The writers smartly built sketches that played to her strengths as a dramatic actress, including a powerful cold open about African history. The show wasn’t filled with big belly laughs, but it was intelligent and thoughtful. The highlight of the night, and one of the season’s best moments, was the musical guest. Talking Heads, in their prime, delivered a quirky, intense, and brilliant performance of “Take Me to the River.” Their new-wave art-funk was a revelation and injected a huge dose of vibrant, modern energy into the show.
