There may be a lot of (unwarranted) criticism of Dakota Johnson-led episodes of Saturday Night Live, but the actress has an impressive batting average on pretape sketches. That didn’t change last Saturday when Johnson hosted SNL for the third time.
In the best sketch of the second episode of Season 52, Johnson was featured in a commercial parody for a product to help men with passive girlfriends.
SNL Best Sketch of Episode 2, Season 52
In “Mean, Scary Girlfriend,” Johnson is the answer to any man’s prayers as a blunt, no-nonsense girlfriend proxy.
The sketch features these cast members:
- Saidah Belo-Osagie
- Marcello Hernandez
- Tommy Brennan
- Ben Marshall
- Grace Reiter
- Veronika Slowikowska
- Jane Wickline
Why the Sketch is Good
Johnson’s sharp delivery and ability to be icy is perfect for this sketch. It has a vibe like her appearances on roast shows: she is a bad-ass woman who can dish it out. (Maybe that’s why so many women seem to be intimidated by her).
As is the case with most pretapes these last few seasons of SNL: the production quality is amazing. This is a top-notch parody thanks to the writing and performances, but the production value makes it even better.
My favorite part of the sketch is probably the add-on of the “protective best friend,” played by Reiter. The writers capture the “best friend, gal pal” that almost every woman has. And bonus: she’s seen your dick pics.
Why are pretapes consistently better than live sketches? The pretapes don’t get chopped up and scrambled onto cue cards. They are allowed ton be more faithful to the premise and stick to the written words. Of course, the performers can be much better in pretapes too (for the most part) because they have the confidence of knowing there’s a “take 2.”
NEXT WEEK: Comedian Shane Gillis makes his third appearance as host of Saturday Night Live
