Against odds, Connor Storrie found himself hosting Saturday Night Live less than a year after he was cast in the HBO series Heated Rivalry.
Further defying odds, Storrie was superb in Studio 8H, helming arguably the most consistent episode of Season 51 for Saturday Night Live. From the opening sketch to the final minutes, Storrie was supported by solid writing and competent performances by the cast. Twice, Mumford & Sons filled the studio with pleasing sounds, adding to an SNL episode that stands above the too-many mediocre episodes of the late night NBC show.
Other than a predictably ho-hum cold open that was hastily slapped together in response to the U.S. and Israeli instigated violence in the Middle East, episode 13 did not have a dud in its lineup. At this point, the James Austin Johnson faux Trump is nearly as annoying as t6he real one. Though obviously not as dangerous.
The first sketch of the night could be called lightweight, but at least it was charming and had some laughs. At this point, Marcello Hernandez has become a polarizing figure with SNL fans. It seems half enjoy his silliness and cartton-like humor, and half think he’s a caricature and unfunny.
Storrie displayed a comfort in being on stage in a live variety show, even though his fame is still very new. He was the lead in a few sketches that landed very well, and also provided a surprising ability at physical comedy and impression.
SNL veered away from using Storrie as a sex symbol (something Heated Rivalry relies too much on). Only the final sketch, the so-called “10-to-1” slot, showed off Storrie’s body, which was one near-full demonstration, from his broad shoulders, to his fat-free abs, to his man-junk.
Noted sketches were Office Dance Party, where Storrie’s character proposes a middle school style event for his co-workers, and a silly pretape titled “The Gentleman’s Code.” In the latter, Storrie, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, and Kenan Thompson engage in a glove-slap fight, with Ashley Padilla flittering in and out of the scene with her typical acting virtuosity.
Even Weekend Update, which has been far too tiresome and not funny enough for many years under the stubborn occupation by Jost and Michael Che, was good this week. Veronika Slowikowska debuted a new Update character called “Katie the Maid of Honor,” which was a perfect vehicle for her to show off her great (though so-far underutilized) comedy skill. In addition, Sarah Sherman did what she does best: folded herself into a costume to be a playful foil to Jost, as the mother of Punch, the monkey, a social media meme.
SNL’s writers seem to be finding their footing more than halfway through Season 51, following several mediocre or dreadful episodes in October and November. Finally, SNL has found the formula for placing “red-meat” sketches toward the top, with quirkier pieces mid-show. SNL would also benefit from less Jost/Che jokes on Update, and more characters and guests. Jeremy Culhane, Padilla and Dismukes, Jane Wickline, and now Slowikowska, have proven they can provide the laughs during that segment, which often accounts for 40% of the show’s non-musical content.
Next week there will be another new episode of SNL, with Ryan Gosling returning to host for the fourth time. The musical guest will be Gorillaz.
