The Best Sketches from the 'SNL50' Anniversary Special
You know, I think we were all pretty damn excited for the SNL50 anniversary special, billed as creator Lorne Michaels's grand celebration of a half-century of the US sketch show Saturday Night Live. But did I expect it to be this good? Absolutely not. Steve Martin's delightful opening monologue? Will Ferrell reprising Robert Goulet? I mean, Brittany Howard and Miley Cyrus's homage Sinead O'Connor's 1992 SNL rendition of "Nothing Compares 2 U" was staggering.
But this is SNL, after all—and no matter how many people want to giggle about Ryan Reynolds's wink to Baldonigate—SNL is about the sketches. And SNL50 overdelivered, delivering not only one, but two Pedro Pascal-played characters, an all-timer of a "Close Encounter" sketch, Marcello Hernandez expanding Domingo's lore, Debbie Downer giving maximum sadness, and much, much more. It nearly feels unfair to rank Sunday night's offerings—any time Bill Murray returns to SNL is a win for us all—but here are the five best sketches of SNL50.
5. "Debbie Downer"
Let's cheers with our favorite flavor of Ensure, because Debbie Downer is back! In SNL50, Rachel Dratch's Ms. Downer is working as a bartender, serving drinks to the likes of Ayo Edebiri, Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, and Robert De Niro. We're treated to an appropriately miserable cocktail of Downersisms, including: "I'd love to sit down, because my right foot is throbbing. I'm pretty sure it's my old friend gout." She also reminds us about impending rhino extinction, her dry eyes, and bird flu. If you take anything away from Debbie's return, just remember: Microplastics! At they're point we're all walking landfills! Someone check Robert De Niro's testes.
4. "Lawrence Welk"
Who else would star in the first sketch of SNL50 but Will Ferrell? The man obviously has an embarrassment of rich characters to choose from—Alex Trebek! Gene Frenkle! George Dub-yah!—but Ferrell swerves and gives us Robert Goulet. He's flanked by the likes of Fred Armisen as Lawrence Welk, as well as guest appearances from Kim Kardashian, Scarlett Johansson, and Ana Gasteyer. But who is the only person (and character) who could take this one over the top? Kristen Wiig’s Dooneese, who, yes, puts three of her itty-bitty hands right in Ferrell's grill. Wiig's Dooneese and Ferrell's Goulet is simply a beautiful marriage of goofs. I have a feeling that we'll quote, “Oh my god. Did they put LSD in my Caesar salad, or do I see three beautiful ladies hitchhiking my way?” for a long, long time.
3. "Domingo: Vow Renewal"
Early in SNL50, we saw one of the best recurring sketches of SNL's modern era—the one where bridesmaids sing an off-key tune about the bride's affair—featuring by far the show's best new character, Marcello Hernandez's Domingo. Martin Short and Molly Shannon open the sketch as the boozy parents, followed by the usual crew of bridesmaids (played by Heidi Gardner, Sarah Sherman, and Ego Nwodim); this time, they're led by none other than Sabrina Carpenter. They launch into a medley of "Defying Gravity" (feat. Carpenter belting her worst huh-huh-UHHHHHHUHHHHUHUHHHH). Then, a twist! There's groomsmen this time: The Three Scotts and Dale. (AKA Bowen Yang, Andy Samberg, Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney.) They give way to Domingo and his new brethren (played by Pedro Pascal and Bad Bunny). The all-star wedding reception gets extra points because it's the only one in SNL50 that gives love to an exceptional sketch originated by its current cast.
2. "Close Encounter 50th"
If you would've told me this morning that—in a "Close Encounter" sketch—Meryl Streep would turn to Pedro Pascal and say, "What's your name, moustache?" I would've placed the it at the top of my rankings sight unseen. (Alas, just one is better.) That's right, folks, Kate McKinnon's Miss Rafferty returns. Rafferty's interviewers are Aidy Bryant and Jon Hamm, while Pascal and Woody Harrelson sit next to her. Of course, the consistently best thing about "Close Encounter" is McKinnon cracking up the celebrity guest—Pascal dutifully plays that role here—but Streep enters the scene as Rafferty's mum and promptly brings the house down. The only one missing was Ryan Gosling.
1. "New York 50th Musical"
If the sportsbooks released odds for recurring sketches we'd be most likely to see in SNL50, the series that originated with the John Mulaney-hosted (and cowritten) "Diner Lobster" certainly would've topped the list. Lo and behold: About halfway through SNL50, Mulaney showed up to deliver the next edition of his bizarro New York City musical. It should come as little surprise that it made for the best ten minutes of the night. If this is somehow your first time seeing the sketch, this is the gist: Mulaney takes Pete Davidson and a buddy (at SNL50, it's David Spade) through a hilariously hellish landscape of the Big Apple, where various unsavory characters cover showtunes. Trust me, it works!
"New York's 50th Musical" provides ample opportunity to feature the most decorated of SNL alum (Kristen Wiig as the green M&M!) and most underrated (I spotted the sorely missed Alex Moffat). The bit is perfect, too. Mulaney takes Davidson and Spade through New York City's past, all the way to Scarlett Johansson dodging e-bikes in the '70s—a sweet nod to the era when SNL began. And I'd be remiss not to shout out the sweaty return of Kate McKinnon's Rudy Giuliani, as well as Kenan Thompson's OG Diner Lobster. In the end, this is the sketch that celebrates the most of SNL's past, present, and future per square capita. That's what SNL50 is all about, right?
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