Welcome back toSNL in Review, fellow Coneheads!
Tonights host,Jennifer Lopez, made her firstSaturday Night Liveappearance as a musical guest in February 2000.
Subsequently, she pulled double duty as host and musical guest during season 26 and 35.
Jennifer Lopez hosts ‘Saturday Night Live’.NBC
Shes also been impersonated by Maya Rudolph, Cheri Oteri, and even Lucy Lawless way back in 1998.
I am joined tonight by formerSNLcast member,Ellen Cleghorne.
Today, Cleghorne is an educator and has taught students at a college level about Lopezs legacy.
She adds: There is a vast difference between Mexican Americans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans.
Sketch comedy can be a great intervention here.
While Cleghorne appreciates Lopezs symbolism and business savvy, she also brings it back to her origins: J.
Lo was a Fly Girl.
I hope she dances.
Cleghorne is supportive: Yeah!
I also think her body of work is saturated with women who make bad choices.
Shes every abusive husbands nightmare.
Naturally, the show immediately enlistsJimmy FallonandJames Cordento play hack versions of Trudeau and Johnson.
(Guest starPaul Ruddcan do no wrong.)
As much as I hate this cameo fest, I will say Corden looks remarkably like Chris Farley.
Those are my best friends, we run this!
The best is yet to come, she assures me.
They tried to count me out so much.
But Im still here.
Its a heartwarming moment, leading to her Rockette-assisted rendition of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.
This is a genuinely strong monologue which of course concludes with J.
Lo in a signature outfit that iconic green Versace dress.
She was a judge onAmerican Idol.
She is a judge on her dance contest show.
And now shes a judge in the Bronx municipal night court.
Who wouldnt want to catch a case and get some face time withJenny from the Block?
HGTVs Surprise Home Makeover: Holiday Edition
Kenan Thompsonis surprising homeowners (Lopez, Mikey Day).
The joke here is that Lopez would be married to a nerd, her husband-by-choice, Smurf-man, Matt.
I never get lucky like this!
an oblivious Matt says.
He has no clue the hand hes drawn the guy has a Smurf tramp stamp, for Christs sake!
Fun camerawork entering the house from the outside set.
Good to see some movement on live TV.
Lo stage rehearsal and the return of Chad
Chad (andPete Davidson) is back as a roadie!
Lo went from being romanced by Chris Kattans Mango, to Pete Davidsons Chad.
Chad is one-note, seemingly, but I think hes such a funny Gen Z spoof.
Or rather, a blank canvas other people project onto.
Somebody had Doritos, she murmurs before a distraught Alex Rodriguez shows up.
(You will remember A-Rod popped up in the Charles Barkley Champions sketch in 2018.
He was also played by Drake in 2014.)
What Do You Figure Is Goin On in That House?
In this Baby Jane riff,Kate McKinnonandAidy Bryantteam up again to deny Lopez her own reflection.
Theyre trying to keep their beautiful sister from sight, despite her instincts to be instantly, insatiably attractive.
Its too hot when she moves!
Them Trumps
Kenan is back as Darius Trump, alongside Chris Redd and Ego Nwodim in thisEmpirespoof.
Honestly, this reimagination of Trumps appeal works way better than the Baldwin cold opens.
Cleghorne hopes the Americas Best Dance Crew performers appear alongside Baby tonight.
Good performance masks and all!
This was the second single off his album,Kirk.
It was co-produced by Jetsonmade, the mastermind behind Suge.
(Side note: I wonder why Lil Nas X hasnt been on this season.)
Weekend Update
More Trump gallows humor with a side of Trudeau blackface humor!
Granted, theres certainly a ton of news to mock.
And Ill be needing that Trump-Giuliani TikTok ASAP!
Amy Poehler also played her before Kristen Wiig took over through 2011.
Also showing up: Beck Bennetts Jules, who sees things a little differently.
This is Julesthird appearanceon Update.
He really captures a specific bang out of privilege, doesnt he?
Che giggled a lot this segment!
There are a ton of fun references toHome Aloneand Lopez kills it.
And thats before DaBaby shows up to rob the family.
Its wild to see J.
Lo in a nostalgic spoof, since she was a peer of many of those late 90s acts!
Hoops
Oh, man, this is great.
Lopez is Ginos girlfriend and Melissa Villasenor is her cousin, peddling various hoop earrings.
Lo ran this look and made it iconic.
The bigger the hoop, it hurts more!
Potty PM commercial
Kyle Mooney shells out a new product, only to be confronted by J.
Lo, who wants to know how this nighttime toilet assistant can be catered to women.
His only solution is they sleep on the toilet.
A sturdy addition to Kyles off-kilter, late show bits.
You want to hear Lopez try a Midwestern accent?
Here you go, universe!
This sketch flails, and never gets off the runway.
We dont get a dog show this episode, butSNLdoes toss in a giant bear costume!
This is entertaining full of backflips and dance moves.
But DaBaby has an aggressive, energetic style.
Hes got crossover flair, but a menacing ethos underneath the presentation.
Im so sorry for the way things worked [out for Tupac].
Too many great talents, gone too soon.
Its a metadiscourse in black life, though.
Hip-hop was and is our audible humanity.
Baby keeps the tradition flowing.
Barrys Bootcamp Audition
The workout audition sketch returns!
Always great to see Bowen Yang in his element.
You likely remember theirSoulCycle sketchfrom theDavid Harbour episode in October.
This one suffers a little bit by comparison, despite Yang and J.
(I love Lopez quoting Britney Spears but attributing it to Mother Teresa.)
I wish Yangs trainer would just be his own recurring character and make this less an ensemble.
Final Thoughts
What a fun episode.
Good luck to Lopez this Oscar season!
If nominated, she would join fellowIn Living Coloralum Jamie Foxx, who won an Oscar in 2005 forRay.
Thanks again to Ellen Cleghorne for her insight!
Did you like tonights episode?
Let me know in the comment below or vote here!
