NYS Music 202​1

Tag: saturday night live

  • Saturday Night Live Presses on with Paul Rudd, Limited Cast and No Musical Guest

    Saturday Night Live was back this week with host Paul Rudd for the NBC staple’s Christmas episode, but with a scaled back cast and crew, no musical guest and no studio audience, due to concerns over the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

    paul rudd

    Recorded earlier in the evening, a departure from the typical live taping, SNL adjusted and made the most of the situation, with a blend of fresh and classic holiday sketches. The cast was limited to Kenan Thompson and Michael Che, and only two members of the Saturday Night Live Band on hand – Lenny Pickett (sax) and Tuffus Zimbabwe (piano).

    The show began with an atypical intro, Tom Hanks walking out to introduce host Paul Rudd, and no cast montage to begin the episode. Rudd kept things light and soldiered on in his fifth appearance as a host, joining the Five Timers Club in the process, thanks to special guests and fellow club members Hanks and Fey.

    Earlier Saturday afternoon, Saturday Night Live announced the changes for this week’s episode, which included Fey filling in for Colin Jost on Weekend Update. This brought Fey back to the Update desk, despite there being no actual desk due to a limited crew for this episode’s taping. Jost, along with Aristotle Athari, and Sarah Sherman had reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

    The musical guest for the evening was slated to be Charli XCX, but shortly after the official word from SNL, Charli tweeted “Due to the limited crew at tonight’s taping of SNL my musical performance will no longer be able to go ahead. I am devastated and heartbroken. I am currently safe and healthy but of course very sad. Please look after yourselves out there,” along with a follow up clearing any confusion that she did not cancel or pull out of the show. Although Charli did not perform, she did take part in the digital short “Christmas Socks,” a take on “The Christmas Shoes,” as a bird named TJ Rocks.

    Classic holiday sketches like “Dick in a Box” and “Christmastime for the Jews” (sung by the great Darlene Love) filled in where new material would normally be found. The brilliant “An Evening with Pete” looked at the career of Pete Davidson in the year 2054, a take on Raging Bull and Christmas movies of the past.

    The fully decorated set found the five actors – Che, Fey, Hanks, Rudd and Thompson – on stage at the end of the episode for goodbyes, as well as socially distant hugging. Only Pickett and Zimbabwe stood on the stage playing the outro music as the credits rolled.

    Tonight’s show marked the first time since October 11, 1986, when Sigourney Weaver hosted, without a musical guest in the show’s history. Madonna did appear that night to read a statement apologizing for the previous season, noting it was only a dream, ala Season 9 of Dallas. While not the musical guest, Buster Poindexter performed “Oh Me, Oh My,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (a duet with Weaver), and “Smack Dab in the Middle.”

    Saturday Night Live will return in 2022.

  • Billie Eilish Is Happier Than Ever On SNL Double Duty

    Billie Eilish returned to Saturday Night Live, this time as both host and musical guest. She previously played the stage in September 2019, where she performed her breakout hit, “Bad Guy.” Last night’s hosting debut makes her the first SNL host to be born in the 21st century.

    The episode’s cold open featured a briefing about the Omicron variant from Anthony Fauci, played by Kate McKinnon. Cecily Strong and Chloe Fineman also appeared as Marjorie Taylor-Greene and Lauren Boebert, both armed with assault rifles. When Fauci tried to find common ground between the divided members of Congress, Taylor-Greene cocked her gun and said “We can all agree that the Fox News Christmas tree arsonist must be executed.”

    During her opening monologue, Billie Eilish revealed that her mother dissuaded her from pursuing acting while encouraging her brother FINNEAS. The singer-producer sibling duo’s mother then appeared onstage, wearing a shirt that said “Finneas’ Mom.” Eilish also poked fun at her past wardrobe of baggy clothes, saying it was to hide secretly being two children on each other’s shoulders in order to get into R-rated movies.

    Eilish appeared in the next sketch, where Miley Cyrus had a surprise cameo. She played herself posing for Punkie Johnson’s Christmas card, who insulted her music but threatened to call her racist if she declined a photo. As for Eilish, she played a grown-up high school bully who continued to taunt her victims through annual Christmas cards. Other sketches showed Eilish as a Christmas lounge singer, a TikToking nurse and a concierge at a lackluster hotel.

    Eilish’s first song of the night was “Happier Than Ever,” the hit single off her album of the same name. Beginning as a 50s traditional pop song not unlike Julie London’s “Cry Me a River,” it builds into a cathartic rock release. The song peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and saw nominations for both Song and Record of the Year at the 2022 Grammys.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdeJ8v0z64w

    While “Happier Than Ever” gleefully burns all bridges with its subject, the night’s second song, “Male Fantasy,” expresses some regrets. In the chorus, Eilish admits she still has feelings for him and can’t fully hate him. Both songs are back to back at the end of the album, ending it on a surprisingly hopeful note.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfDy6sdWRR4

  • Watch Saweetie ‘Tap In’ to SNL while Pete Davidson pays Tribute to Staten Island

    SNL returned last night with first-time host Simu Liu accompanied by musical guest Saweetie. The juggernaut rapper, fresh off her own McDonald’s Meal and a newly inked deal for a Netflix series, performed favorite hits and a brand new single for the crowd. 

    Saweetie Simu Liu SNL

    The episode opened with Cecily Strong parodying Judge Jeanine Pirro of Fox News discussing the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. Chloe Fineman played a white female analyst discussing the shocking nature of the exoneration, while Chris Redd’s Howard University professor notes the American justice system has behaved this way before. When Fineman mourned “This is not who we are!” a sarcastic Redd responded, “I kind of feel like it is though…” James Austin Johnson returned with his pitch-perfect Trump impression. Above all, the sketch was a strong, hilarious opening.

    Simu Liu, star of Marvel’s Shang Chi And The Legend of the Ten Rings, brought energy and ease to his monologue. He joked at his status as the first “openly Chinese superhero,” and a strong later sketch between Liu and Bowen Yang expanded the joke. In his opener, he mainly skewered his Canadian heritage and the uniquely polite way he obtained his breakout role. Spoiler alert: he tagged them on Twitter, and got about ten likes. 

    Firstly, Saweetie hit the stage with a montage of “Tap In” and “Best Friend.” Dressed in old Hollywood glam and flanked by dancers in tutu’s, she introduce a jazzy rendition of “Tap In.” In a floor-length gown, she performed a gracefully choreographed routine. As the whistle-heavy beat faded in, her backup dancers removed the train on her dress.

    With her blood-red curls serving Jessica Rabbit, Saweetie cemented her status as a classic R&B girl with a diverse catalog. Dance, fashion, rapping, singing; all of it is in a day’s work for Saweetie. Above all, the montage was a celebration of Saweetie at her peak, highlighting her greatest hits.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOItdP6ZjU8&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJ_skvlwzfzWQSdOpi13UJM&index=5&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

    Throughout the night, standout skits included a “karaoke recap” from a dive bar, aptly parodying many types of karaoke singer. From “Guy Who Was Doing Great Until The High Notes Came In” to “Girl Who Claimed Her Friend Signed Her Up But We All Know The Truth,” each was spot on. Later on, Simu Liu perfectly embodied a crotchety professor in a skit of a 420-friendly Friendsgiving celebration. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyKnQPpLR2I&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJ_skvlwzfzWQSdOpi13UJM&index=3&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

    Later, Saweetie returned to the stage to perform a brand new single, “Icy Chain.” On the track, she bodies an opportunity to flex her harder flows. She impressed with her breathless flows, never missing a beat even in the midst of a high kick or twerk. Clearly, Saweetie takes her craft seriously. However, the rapper wasn’t afraid to have fun during “Icy Chain,” laughing and smiling through the number. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx0Ag3fEeDE&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJ_skvlwzfzWQSdOpi13UJM&index=10&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

    Pete Davidson recruited fellow Staten Islander Method Man and rapper Big Wet for “Walkin in Staten,” a parody of Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis.” Cohn was at first reluctant to join the video, but then appeared with the trio, adding to the hilarious take on the outer borough. Davidson and company sang about the unique attractions found in Staten Island – pizza places on every corner, bagel shops, and pizza places within bagel shops, among others.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W62Vmju18Vw

    SNL will return on December 11th with Billie Eilish serving double duty as host and musical guest. Later next month, Charli XCX will perform alongside host Paul Rudd on December 18th.

  • Watch Taylor Swift Perform 10-minute “All Too Well” on SNL

    For the sixth episode of Season 47 of Saturday Night Live, actor Jonathan Majors was joined by four-time musical guest Taylor Swift, fresh off the release of Red (Taylor’s Version) on Friday.

    taylor swift all too well

    Swift made her first appearance of the night in a digital short from Please Don’t Destroy, a New York-based comedy trio featuring Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy, the latter the son of former SNL writer and Adam Sandler collaborator Tim Herlihy. What seemed to be a music video on a day in the lift of Pete Davidson suddenly turned into “Three Sad Virgins,” with Davidson mocking Marshall, Higgins and Herlihy, joined by Swift partway through.

    Swift would only perform one song this evening, the first time in seven years – Prince performed a single tune in 2014 – with the ‘new’ “All Too Well,” an extended update of the same song from Taylor Swift’s Red, released in 2012. The new take on the album was rerecorded to circumvent a dispute with her former label, and received immediate praise in scope and execution.

    “All Too Well” featured Swift performing in front of a screen that shows clips from the short film of the same name, which was also released on Friday. Starring Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) and Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf) as “Her” and “Him,” the couple moves from romance to break up, due to uncaring behavior from “Him.” “Love is so short, forgetting is so long,” a quote from Pablo Neruda, references Swift’s brief three-month relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

    Clad all in black with a red guitar, Swift performed, “All Too Well” and live scoring the film clips behind her. A rose petal filled stage, with alternating blue and red lighting, lasting an impressive 10 minutes. Swift put her guitar down towards the end, singing passionately for a build up that drifted into falling snow as the performance came to a close.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2uxc01fUXU&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hIsVnV1d2tS26Q1vDUp4FWh&index=15

    Jonathan Majors was underutlized this evening, but shone particularly well on “Broadway Benefit,” a Broadway musical spoof where he flexed his singing chops alongside Bowen Yang and Cecily Strong.

    Swift and Majors would joyfully bump chests (while wearing masks) during the show closing goodbyes. Next week Shang Chi star Simu Liu with musical guest Saweetie for the Thanksgiving episode of Saturday Night Live.

  • Ed Sheeran Bounces back from COVID, Performs on Saturday Night Live with host Kieran Culkin

    Ed Sheeran performed as musical guest and Succession’s Kieran Culkin returned to Saturday Night Live on Saturday, November 6. The hosting duties for Culkin occured almost 30 years to the day since his brother Macaulay hosted in November 1991.

    This past week, Kieran shared a memory on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon from his time hanging around Studio 8H while his brother held hosting duties:


    I remember during rehearsal day, being on the stage and I was with my mom, and Kevin Nealon walks by, and she grabs him and she goes, ‘Oh hey, you’re great. By the way, you’re my son’s favorite.’ And he goes, ‘Oh, thank you very much, that’s nice to hear.’ And I went, ‘Mom’ — cuz I’m 9, kids don’t have a filter — ‘I told you, he’s my second favorite, Dana Carvey’s my favorite.’

    Kieran Culkin, November 1991

    Kieran appeared in three sketches that night – “Bill Swerski’s Super Fans,” “Medieval Scalders” and as Froggy, in a flashback during the “Richmeister” sketch, seen below.

    kieran culkin ed sheeran

    Sheeran made his first appearance of the night as a guest on the Dionne Warwick Talk Show, with the talented Ego Nwodim playing the legendary pop singer who recently discovered Twitter. As a surprise, the Warwick appeared, just as Nwodim’s Warwick suggested she interview a true icon. After sharing “I’m not perfect, I’m just very good,” the two sang a duet of Burt Bacharach’s “What the World Needs Now.”

    Sheeran was announced as musical guest for this episode back on October 23, and the next day shared a diagnosis of COVID-19 for he and his daughter, despite he being vaccinated. Sheeran was able to finish his isolation period and was cleared to perform, although he did not appear in the traditional SNL promos with Culkin.

    For the first song of the night, Sheeran played “Shivers,” the second single off his new album = (pronounced “equals”), which was released just last week. There were no signs he had just been under the weather, as Sheeran didn’t miss a beat on this dance pop number.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ItgpYfAT14

    Sheeran returned later in the show to sing the folksy “Overpass Graffiti,” fist-bumping members of his band at the end.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGiVv_iFaGI

    During the goodbyes, fulfilling his monologue wish, Culkin was hoisted by cast members Chris Redd and Keenan Thompson, flexing as he did nearly 30 years ago.


    Next week, Saturday Night Life welcomes host Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country, Loki) with musical guest Taylor Swift.

  • Watch Brandi Carlile perform “Broken Horses” and “Right on Time” on Saturday Night Live

    For the Halloween episode of Saturday Night Live, former cast member and Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis returned to Studio 8H for his first time as host. Joining Sudeikis was country rock superstar Brandi Carlile, who played two songs off her new album, In These Silent Days.

    brandi carlile

    Following a cold open that featured multiple versions of Joe Biden, including Sudeikis’ finger-gun shooting, aviator shade wearing rendition from Biden’s time as Vice President, Sudeikis launched into a reflective, funny and heartfelt look back at the stage and studio that SNL has been filmed in for 47 years. Sudeikis tugged heartstrings in the way only Coach Lasso can do, reminiscing on how SNL changed his life.

    This room, here. To be here. This place is historic. For a second, just look around, for real. Even all you amazing people who work in the crew, just look around for a second. Think about all the brilliance that’s happened here. All your favorite sketches: Wild and Crazy Guys, Gilly, Cowbell, Wayne’s World, all happened in right here, in here, where you are.

    This place changed my life, twice. Once as a castmember and a writer here. But most importantly as a kid watching from home. And there’s a good chance that if you’re watching tonight, there’s probably something from this place probably changed your life too.

    Following three sketches perfect for Sudeikis – a frustrated host of a kids science show, Mellen (a male version of Ellen) and a hilarious open house sketch with Ego Nwodim and Kyle Mooney, Carlile performed her first song of the night, “Broken Horses.”

    Wearing a gold tuxedo and singing into a golden mic with an orange electric guitar, Carlile was joined by collaborators Phil and Tim Hanseroth, who also backed her on harmonies, as well as Shooter Jennings on piano, who produced her 2018 album By the Way, I Forgive You. “Broken Horses” also doubles as the title of her recently released memoir.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDjeuXAME-A

    After a lively Weekend Update that saw the return of Sudeikis’ turn as The Devil, the classic “What up With That?” appeared for the first time since 2012 (if you don’t count the remote April 2020 version from SNL at Home) with Kenan Thompson and surprise guests Oscar Isaac, Emily Ratajkowski, Nicholas Braun.

    Brandi Carlile began her second song of the night, “Right on Time,” the lead single off her new album. Playing solo piano in a sequin-covered black and white tux, Carlile allowed the impressive tune a slow burn on the ivories, before picking up her guitar to join the band for the song about two embattled lovers, bursting forth with vocals that set the bar high for musical guests this season, only four episodes in.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWnVjSD6xzY

    Saturday Night Live is off next week, and returns on November 6 with Succession actor Kieran Culkin and musical guest, Ed Sheeren.

  • Watch Young Thug Perform ‘Punk’ On Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live returned this week with rapper Young Thug as the musical guest. Young Thug’s highly anticipated new album Punk was released in the early morning hours on Friday. Actor Rami Malek hosted the episode; Malek stars in the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die. 

    Photo via NBC

    The episode’s cold open featured a “Message from the NFL.” Colin Jost performed as Roger Goodell, addressing coach Jon Gruden’s offensive and racist emails. The skit played on the NFL’s history of scandals. As a press conference passes through coaches like game-show contestants (they all resign, most in Twitter scandals), the joke settles in. 

    Malek’s opening monologue skewered his lack of comedy experience; after all, he usually plays villains. In fact, according to Malek, villains are misunderstood. Was the shark in Jaws not just hungry, after all? Malek’s self-aware humor and strong stage presence shone through. He was high-energy and charming. 

    Young Thug took the stage for his first televised performance since Punk’s release. Wearing a tinseled, pink leopard-print jacket, he opened with the album’s lead single “Tick Tock.” From his outfit to his energy with the band,  he brought his traditional in-your-face swagger to the performance. “Tick Tock” especially benefits from a live band and drummer, elevating the laid-back trap song to a throttling punk banger. Iconic Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker jumped on the kit to support the song. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml3Bp4veA1A&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hKJRnrMAKVhKGFIPYFAHPFi&index=5

    Other sketches included Bowen Yang as a vogueing, glittery spider, and a sketch where Malek competes with Pete Davidson and guest Daniel Craig in a Prince biopic. The latter plays on the late auteur’s iconic guitar licks, hollers, and thrusts. Weekend Update segment featured standout turns from Kenan Thompson and Mikey Day as an erring hypnotist and his subject. 

    Young Thug returned for his second track accompanied by protege Gunna and FUN! Frontman Nate Reuss. They debuted their collaboration from Punk, the syrupy love song “Love You More.” Though Travis Barker again stood out on drums, the song felt lackluster. On top of that, the performer’s energies didn’t match; while Ruess worked too hard to hype the crowd, Gunna never moved from his perch on a bright red grand piano. Though Thug’s voice sounded smooth as ever, his sweeping new project has stronger tracks. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14tO_zMjC9U&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hKJRnrMAKVhKGFIPYFAHPFi&index=8

    Next week, Brandi Carlisle will take the SNL musical guest spot, with Ted Lasso star and long-time former cast member Jason Sudeikis hosting.

  • Halsey Surprises SNL Audience With Lindsey Buckingham

    Halsey performed two songs on last night’s episode of Saturday Night Live, with influencer and reality star Kim Kardashian West as host.

    halsey

    The episode’s cold open depicted the Facebook whistleblower hearing, with an appearance from Pete Davidson as Tom from Myspace. Last week, former Facebook employee Frances Haugen alleged that the company’s properties “harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy.”

    Kim Kardashian West’s opening monologue came next, and it exceeded everyone’s expectations. Fully conscious of the backlash to her hosting, she roasted her equally polarizing family to appeal to her critics. Between her sisters, Kanye West, and Kris and Caitlyn Jenner, no one was safe. Kardashian West appeared in many skits throughout the night, such as Princess Jasmine in a parody of Disney’s Aladdin, and a Freaky Friday-inspired sketch with Aidy Bryant.

    Other celebrity guests included Chace Crawford, Tyler Cameron, Blake Griffin, SNL alum Chris Rock, Jesse Williams, John Cena and Amy Schumer, all as Kardashian’s potential suitors in a The-Bachelorette-meets-Squid-Game reality show sketch.

    Around the episode’s halfway point, Halsey performed her first song. “I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God” is the lead single from her latest album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power. While Halsey’s music has always had a dark bent, her latest effort is a major step up. It’s far more experimental and risky than her past work, with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on production duty. “I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God” in particular is a dead ringer for Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwiasA-IGCs

    Weekend Update was less eventful than in last week’s premiere, but Michael Che managed to get in a good dig at the evening’s host.“This week Instagram was down for an entire day, forcing many Instagram addicts to fill their time with Twitter, TikTok or hosting SNL.”

    Halsey concluded the episode with “Darling,” one of If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power’s warmer and quieter moments. Accompanying her was surprise guest Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, and she deliberately styled herself to resemble Stevie Nicks. “Darling” is dedicated to Halsey’s first child, born last July.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H099BjA6FKk

    No Time To Die star Rami Malek is hosting next week, with rapper Young Thug joining him as the musical guest.

  • Kacey Musgraves Shines On The Star-Crossed SNL Premiere

    SNL has returned for its 47th season, with Owen Wilson hosting and Kacey Musgraves as the musical guest.

    The episode began with a cold open featuring prominent Democrats and what they’ve been up to in the offseason, including President Joe Biden and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cecily Strong stole the show as Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, as did Melissa Villaseñor as a post-Met-Gala AOC. In his opening monologue, Owen Wilson poked fun at the negative reviews he’s received from critics over the years.

    One of the night’s strongest sketches was of a school board meeting derailed by conspiracy theories and critical race theory outrage. Alex Moffat and Ego Nwodim took on nearly the entire cast of SNL as unhinged parents and townspeople, each more absurd than the last.

    Later, Kacey Musgraves took to the stage with new single “Justified.” The song kicks off the second act of her fourth studio album, star-crossed, which she conceived as a three-act Greek tragedy in album form. Every song references her 2020 divorce from fellow country singer Ruston Kelly, trading in her signature sass for sentimentality.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0z7GH78oGo

    Then, continuing their Weekend Update tenure, Michael Che and Colin Jost cracked jokes about missing white woman syndrome and R. Kelly. At the end of their set, Jost commended late SNL alum Norm MacDonald for inspiring him to do Weekend Update, leading into a montage of MacDonald’s best moments on the show. On September 14, 2021, MacDonald passed away from acute leukemia after privately battling the disease for nine years.

    Finally, Kacey Musgraves closed out the episode with star-crossed’s biggest tearjerker, “Camera Roll.” Lyrically, the song is about looking back on a relationship with rose-tinted glasses after only preserving the good memories.

    Kim Kardashian-West will be hosting next Saturday, with Halsey serving as the musical guest.

  • Saturday Night Live Unveils Hosts, Musical Guests for Season 47

    Saturday Night Live has revealed the first four hosts and musical guests of its upcoming season 47. Returning on October 2 on NBC, the lineup includes Kacey Musgraves, Halsey, Young Thug and Brandi Carlile. The premiere is the first episode of SNL since last May, when Anya Taylor-Joy hosted as Lil Nas X took the stage. Cast members Beck Bennett and Lauren Holt are exiting the show, while three new featured players are set to join: Aristotle Athari, James Austin Johnson and Sarah Sherman.

    Saturday Night Live Season 47

    Fans of the show can likely anticipate a tribute to late alum Norm Macdonald, who passed away in September.

    The season premiere kicks off on October 2, with Loki star Owen Wilson hosting and country-turned-pop singer Kacey Musgraves as the musical guest. Musgraves’ fourth studio album star-crossed was released on September 10, supported by a visual album that premiered on Paramount+. She previously performed on SNL in 2018:

    On October 9th, Kim Kardashian West hosts as Halsey performs. Her August album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power received the best reviews of her career to date, attracting new listeners thanks to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s production. Halsey has guested on SNL annually since 2018, doing double duty as a host and musical guest in 2019.

    Rami Malek hosts on October 16, a change of pace from portraying the most recent Bond villain in No Time to Die. Young Thug joins Malek as the musical guest, his first time as the main performer despite assisting Megan Thee Stallion last season.

    The furthest out host and musical guest announced for Season 47 of Saturday Night Live are Emmy-winning Ted Lasso star and former SNL alum Jason Sudeikis, and singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, both for October 23.

    https://twitter.com/brandicarlile/status/1440763673887215619