February was sure to be a strong month for Saturday Night Live, as it locked in two big-name hosts, Larry David and Melissa McCarthy. Despite being absent from some of the biggest moments of the night, McCarthy, with her strong display of weirdness and physical comedy, brilliantly closed out SNL this past weekend, almost seeming like a full-time cast member.
The major highlights of the episode were SNL’s video sketches, as both easily took the top spots of the night. “The Day Beyoncé Turned Black” movie trailer was a viral hit and a great response to the outrage that has resulted from Beyoncé’s recent release of her controversial “Formation” music video. The sketch detailed a widespread breakdown of white Americans coming to realize “maybe this [Beyoncé] song isn’t for us?” There was a strong social commentary without sacrificing the show’s characteristic hyperbole and wit.
The other video sketch, “Kyle vs. Kanye,” was a documentary-style tale of the disputable rise of aspiring rapper and Saturday Night Live cast member Kyle Mooney. It felt like another one of Mooney’s YouTube hits, as he capitalized on his unique brand of humor characterized by goofiness, awkwardness and a completely warped view of reality.
It was a good night for the Weekend Update as well, thanks to Vanessa Bayer finally bringing her hilarious impression of Rachel from “Friends” to the SNL stage. Outfitted in a black long-sleeved shirt and overalls, Bayer sounded surprised by everything and doled out empty responses to Colin Jost’s attempts to catch up on how things were going. Even though “Friends” ended over a decade ago, Rachel really hadn’t changed much.
Despite a couple of mediocre sketches and performances, the only major low was the use of recurring sketch “Whiskers R We.” The sketch about two cat lovers is becoming the new “What Up With That?” — it’s a tired premise that consistently doesn’t deliver. Though Kate McKinnon and McCarthy had a few good zingers, it wasn’t enough to overcome the eyerolls and disappointment that inevitably accompanied the sketch.
All in all, though, it was another solid episode for Saturday Night Live. While McCarthy may not have delivered a star performance, her seamless integration into the cast made for a memorable episode and likely locked her into the “Five-Timers Club” for Season 42. But for now, she will remain the lone member of the “Four & 1/16 Timers” Club.
Correction: An earlier version of this article implied Saturday Night Live was in its 40th season. The show is in its 41st season.
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