Saturday Night Live: Charli xcx has fun in otherwise middle of the road episode

Saturday Night Live starts at the White House, featuring outgoing President Joe Biden (Dana Carvey) and re-elected President Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson) having a press conference to discuss the transition. Rather than his usual brash behavior, Trump is acting calm and composed, which seems even more unsettling. Meanwhile, Biden is obliviously assuring everyone that everything is okay, all while a massive fire rages in the background, much like the cartoon dog from the well-known meme.

After the press departs, Trump boasts about the cabinet he is putting together, mentioning figures like Elon Musk and Matt Gaetz (“It’s like Alien vs. Predator”), Kristi Noem and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (“They’re harming dogs and bears”), and Melania (“working from home while dealing with divorce”). The sleazy Gaetz and the bizarre RFK Jr. make appearances, portrayed respectively by Sarah Sherman in a large forehead mask and a gravelly-voiced Alec Baldwin. Both characters are humorously exaggerated, but if the show intends to keep using them, it must avoid glossing over the real personalities, as it has done in the past with incompetent and harmful individuals like George W. Bush and Trump himself.

Musician Charli XCX takes on two roles as both the host and musical performer. The British sensation views herself as a triple threat, humorously stating that, "in England, that means I sing, I drink, and I smoke." Later on, after she asserts that anyone can embody the persona of Brat, former cast member Kyle Mooney makes an appearance to challenge her statement. Mooney is a refreshing presence, and Charli XCX appears comfortable in her role as host.

Following a strangely-timed sponsored ad featuring the Please Don’t Destroy group, a bunch of friends decides to surprise their expectant friend Kelsie (Chloe Fineman) and her patient husband Matt (Andrew Dismukes) at their baby shower. They perform a song highlighting Kelsie's various affairs, including her ongoing relationship with her Latin lover, Domingo (Marcello Hernández), set to the melody of Chappell Roan’s "Hot to Go." I hadn't expected the Domingo segment from earlier this season to make a comeback so quickly, but it seems it resonated more than I thought.

In my recap of last week's episode, I expressed disappointment over the absence of fresh movie parodies, so I can’t really be upset about the new screen test sketch. This segment features various celebrities auditioning for roles in the upcoming adaptation of Wicked. We see the return of some familiar impressions, like Fineman’s hilariously grim Jojo Siwa, Bowen Yang's even more exaggerated Fran Lebowitz, Hernández’s Bad Bunny, and Devon Walker’s Shannon Sharpe. There are also some new impressions, such as Sherman’s excellent Bernie Sanders, Carvey’s mediocre Al Pacino, and Fineman's take on both Martha Stewart and Leslie Mann (credit where it’s due, her Mann is spot on). Charlie xcx portrays Adele and Troye Sivan, as SNL continues to cast people to play this guy, even though it seems like no viewer over 25 has any clue who he is.

Next comes the third recurring sketch, which features a Thanksgiving episode of The Food Network's baking competition. The lineup of cakes is predictably chaotic: the first one looks downright ridiculous, the second is an overly suggestive disaster with stuffing spilling out, and the third is impressively made but lacks excitement. The highlight, however, is when Mooney’s contestant showcases his turkey cake crafted from dark chocolate and topped with a “nine-inch dildo.”

Next, we get a fresh musical digital short featuring Andy Samberg. He portrays a suburban homeowner who takes great joy in reporting his neighbors, dialing 911 on any white person who dares to walk on his property, whether it's an elderly woman, a girl scout, or even Colin Jost. Charlie XCX joins the fun as his proudly ‘Karen’ wife. While it may not be as hilarious or wild as the "bathroom sushi" skit from earlier this season, it's still genuinely catchy.

Banger Boyz is a podcast run by three aspiring alpha males. In this episode, they chat about Trump's latest guest appearance via phone while juggling ads for products like Warm Plunges and Pube Whacker. Trump calls in from Mar-a-Lago to offer one of the hosts the position of Secretary of Commerce (“I believe that means he’ll oversee all commercials”) and recommends another as an ambassador to Iran. While there are plenty of silly, bro-centric podcasts out there that deserve some satire, this one lacks any real edge.

Weekend Update kicks off with Charli xcx’s debut performance. Colin Jost and Michael Che revisit topics from the cold open, discussing Trump’s questionable cabinet selections, including Matt Gaetz (“He said the same thing he does when he spots a teenage girl: I’ll do it”), Elon Musk (“Is anyone shocked that the white African’s initial suggestion is slavery?”), and RFK Jr (“The first person to survive a brain worm to be nominated for a cabinet position”). We need more of this kind of biting humor!

The initial guest is Joe Exotic, an animal handler and convicted would-be killer. He insists he is innocent, stating, "All I did was care for my cats, have relationships with my two straight husbands, and attempt to kill Carole Baskin several times." He also reaches out to Trump, seeking a pardon and a job as the director of Fish and Wildlife, all while being attacked by one of his tigers. Yang does a good job portraying him, though the unfortunate Tiger King trend really should be forgotten.

Later on, Jost introduces Sherman, portraying Hazel, the widow of Peanut, a social media-famous squirrel who was recently put down after biting a cop. Clad in a huge squirrel outfit, Sherman exudes a whirlwind of energy. The squirrel-related jokes (“[Peanut] filled his cheeks on OnlyFans – both sets”) are amusing, but the highlight comes when she takes a jab at Jost: “Can you picture if they removed your manhood every time you tested positive for chlamydia, Colin?” Their dynamic is, without a doubt, the strongest among the show's cast members.

Charli XCX takes the stage for her second performance. Next, we move on to the It Girl Thanksgiving special, hosted by Marc Jacobs (played by Yang) and Julia Fox (portrayed by Fineman). The dinner table is graced by glamorous guests like Naomi Campbell (Ego Nwodim), Victoria Beckham (Charli XCX), Rachel Sennott (Sherman), the Olsen twins (Ashley Padilla, Jane Wickline), Cher (Heidi Gardner), and Law Roach (Kenan Thompson). There are a few decent moments, such as Campbell adding some flair to the dinner and the Olsens getting tangled in their oversized coat, but overall, the segment feels disorganized and frustrating.

In the last skit of the evening, a bunch of friends has a fun encounter with Shrek before and after a showing of Shrek the Musical. One of the standout funny moments from the show is when Charli XCX exits the theater with green paint smeared around her mouth.

This episode was fairly average, but it was a significant step up from last week's. Charli XCX did a great job as the host, though the standout moments came from familiar faces like Baldwin, Mooney, Samberg, and Carvey, who is practically a regular at this point. The show is beginning to capture the essence of its 50th season. With the election in the rearview mirror, it would be great to see SNL put more effort into acknowledging and celebrating this important milestone.