In a new feature for Season 52, we’ll be sharing our pick for best sketch of each episode. In Week 1, it’s a pretape, featuring much of the female cast of Saturday Night Live in a parody of the Dream Academy reality show.
SNL Best Sketch of Episode 1, Season 52
The sketch features host Jalen Brunson, as well as cast members:
Why the Sketch is Good
Anyone who has seen Dream Academy will recognize that SNL has captured the feel of that show in this parody: the filming style, the quick cuts, the rapid interview clips, and the drama involving participants. The costume department, wig and makeup department, and set design folks did a fantastic job with this longer pretape.
The funniest parts of this sketch are the interactions between Duff (Wickline) and Margle (Reiter), two clueless yet enthusiastic young women looking to be picked for a music video as part of the next great girl band. It’s obvious that Reiter and Wickline are very comfortable with each other. I especially loved the bit where Reiter is creating the “Newton Cradle” song while Wickline riffs with her.
Also a shout to Jane for the choreography bit where she tries to understand the dance moves. Wickline is simultaneously awkward and enchanting. But always funny.
Padilla’s parts are spot-on, and even host Jalen Brunson is solid in his brief cameo as a choreographer.
NEXT WEEK: Actress Dakota Johnson returns to host SNL for the third time
