Tonight represents a full-circle moment in television history as Amy Poehler returns to host Saturday Night Live on the very evening the show celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oct. 11 marks five decades to the day since Mr. Mike first taught John Belushi to feed his fingertips to the Wolverines back in 1975, kicking off a cultural institution that would come to define modern comedy (and inspire Jason Reitman’s recent cinematic love letter). For Poehler, one of the show’s most beloved alumni, it’s a homecoming charged with emotion and legacy, a reminder of how keenly her sharp and fearless humor shaped SNL in the 2000s and beyond.
This year has been one rolling celebration of SNL‘s milestone, with retrospectives, specials, and tributes including the official SNL50 festivities. (Next week Peacock will premiere the long-rumored documentary Downey Wrote That, saluting the career of Jim Downey, one of the most influential writers in the history of the show.)
Poehler is not just a former cast member returning for nostalgia’s sake, my fellow Coneheads: She’s a reminder of the show’s deep roots and ability to reinvent itself while (occasionally) still feeling unpredictable after 50 years. I am joined tonight by former cast member Siobhan Fallon Hogan, who attended the SNL50 show! She says: “Kudos to Lorne Michaels for 50 years, he is a rock star!” That sentiment surely echoes throughout Studio 8H tonight. If there’s any host who can honor that legacy with both mischief and love — especially after a season premiere that nearly two thirds of you shockingly felt was underwhelming — it’s Amy Poehler. (Let’s see how the show chooses to honor Diane Keaton as well! RIP!)
Cold open
Earlier this week, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the Senate and failed to meaningfully answer any questions. So she has been recalled for follow-ups. This is that follow-up.
Amy Poehler plays the enraged, indignant Bondi. Immediately, I have a negative reaction to this — nothing against Poehler, just the concept of stunt casting in these political cold opens sends a shiver down my spine.
Okay, the positive: Andrew Dismukes as the folksy and cartoonish Sen. John Neely Kennedy is pretty funny, and some of the new cast members get a nice opportunity here. SNL has a long history of Senate hearings as the backdrop for some classic cold opens — it’s a fun platform to cover material such as the ongoing federal government shutdown.
And in a fun but not surprising development, Tina Fey appears, playing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. “When I played the birthing specialist in Baby Mama, it was clear that Tina and Amy were a great comedy team,” says Fallon Hogan. “It is so great that SNL is bringing her back.” Just great seeing them back; fun to hear references to burn books.
Monologue
Amy Poehler’s first love was found here: being famous. Her new podcast, Good Hang, is on Spotify. She also jokes that’s she’s peddling Poehler’s Colers, a low-sugar, high-tequila soda banned in Connecticut. Just like George Carlin 50 years, she’s extremely high.
Poehler watched SNL back in the ’70s. Back then, women could not even own credit cards. Now she jokes about AI versions of her replacing her and doing full-frontal nudity. As always, Poehler is delightful, even if this is low-stakes.
She welcomes the newest cast members. I thought they’d make some hay out of this as I loved when Tina Fey did this. But nope, keep it moving. Just me, but isn’t it weird seeing Ben Marshall silently in roles like this? He’s known! Please Don’t Destroy has/had status at 8H, Peacock gave them a movie! Distracting seeing him as a “new guy.”
Remarkably, it has been almost a decade since Poehler hosted, for those keeping score… the classic episode cohosted by Fey, in fact. (Of course, Poehler appeared back in season 48 with Aubrey Plaza.)
The Rudemans
Ashley Padilla brings home her boyfriend (Dismukes) to meet her standoffish, passive-aggressive family. “So, that just happened…” “I’m fine but thanks for the help up I guess?” Lots of judgement and unnecessary eye-rolling, which is definitely relatable.
I am into the song and classic sketch format here, very late-’70s. These last-name-as-premise sketches used to be incessant. Google the “Widettes” sketch featuring Milton Berle and Dan Aykroyd as family members with large bottoms. Or the Needlers with Amy Poehler. It’s obvious and hack (far cry from, say, Poehler’s Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Central show, I’d say) but good homage given tonight’s anniversary.
I am enjoying seeing so much Padilla so far tonight — she was Diane Keaton’s personal assistant!
Non-Alcoholic Beer
In this commercial parody, a dad (Dismukes) just tried switching to non-alcoholic beer. But the problem was he wasn’t getting drunk. So he switched to non-non-alcoholic beer, 96% alcohol. It smells like gasoline. This is a fun spoof of things like Athletic Oktoberfest.
Psychic Talk Show
Sad, desperate people look for answers from a rude, fast-moving psychic (Poehler) on this talk show. Here’s the gist: Everyone is dead. Likely drowned. “Does that make sense to you?” she says, before kicking off a speed round. She has a stomach issue working its way through.
The Hunting Wives Season 2 Trailer
The straight, conservative but lesbian Netflix soap opera is back. It is like Call Me By Your Name by people who shop at Bass Pro Shop. This is funny (especially the critic quotes), watch it! It features a fun Parks & Rec alum cameo!
Work Birth
A corporate manager (Poehler) is nine months pregnant and refuses to take time off before a major deal for her firm. Her water breaks, and she’s in a birthing pool but stays on the job. Not bad, but not nearly as electric as this sketch with Josh Brolin. Though Ben Marshall is great here as Poehler’s doula.
The ending is silly, I liked this! So far the show is letting Poehler be game, even if the material is familiar turf for her.
Role Model, “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”
“Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” is from Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye), the deluxe edition of Role Model’s second studio album. This is his breakout hit, it first went viral from videos of him performing it with various celebrities — tonight Sally is played by Charli XCX! Pretty catchy, I could see this being a great live song.
Wild that Charli first appeared on the show way back in 2014!
Weekend Update
Colin Jost covers the Middle East ceasefire deal and Trump being snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize. Other topics: Columbus Day, Che’s AI clip inserting Jost into the Trump/Epstein video.
Rhonda Licenzo (Sarah Sherman) is a panicked New Yorker, concerned over the possibility of “hipster jihadist” Zohran Mamdani being elected mayor. Sherman is from Long Island, and captures that overcaffeinated energy well. She’s scared of all Islamic people, but asserts she is not Islamaphobic. Tonight’s Sherman appearances (including “The Rudemans”) remind me that we live in a post-Heidi Gardner/Ego Nwodim world.
It’s cuffing season, so the loud Grant (Marcello Hernandez) and mousy Alyssa (Jane Wickline), the couple you can’t believe are together, have returned. Standard fare for this — she calls fall “autumn” and is fascinated by its pagan origins. He likes when the trees get bald. We see their different approaches to making jack-o’-lanterns. Eh. Marcello and Jane are in fine form, just don’t think I need to see this again!
It’s a long “Update”! Amy Poehler comes out for a “Weekend Update” Joke-Off. Tina Fey and Seth Meyers join her. “First wife, second wife,” quips Poehler. A woman in Tennessee gave birth to a 13-pound baby — and, go. Fey lands a great one. So does Che. Watch this!
This recap will be updating live throughout the episode…
