Another season in the books! Season 47 ofSaturday Night Livewas a season of many hellos and goodbyes, first time hosts, and the return of fan favorite character, MacGruber. Three of the new writers to the staff doubled as on screen talent, as comediansMartin Herlihy,Ben Marshall, andJohn Higgins, collectively known asPlease Don’t Destroy, made a name for themselves with their whimsical, self-deprecating humor in numerous pre-recorded sketches. The show also introduced three new players with their own distinct voices:James Austin Johnsonbrought along his eerily-accurateDonald Trumpimpression,Aristotle Atharishowed off his subtlety, and the one-of-a-kindSarah Shermanintroduced us to her vibrant and surrealist performing style. We also bid farewell toKate McKinnon,Aidy Bryant,Kyle Mooney, andPete Davidson, four veteran cast members that have all made their mark on the iconic sketch series in more ways than one.
Let’s take a look at the bestSaturday Night Livesketches from Season 47.
RELATED:‘SNL’: Weekend Update Tackles Black Market Baby Formula, Summer Trends Forecasts, and Pete Davidson’s Heartfelt Goodbye
Ladies Night Song
Kim Kardashianbrought her A-game to Studio 8H when she served as first-time host in October. Not only did she prove to have a sense of humor and good comedic timing, but she wasn’t afraid to poke fun at herself and her family. She starred in “Ladies Night Song,” perhaps the best (and most relatable)SNLmusic video parody of the season, which highlights the shift in priorities for women as they get older. In their younger, wilder days, they could stay up all night drinking and dancing. But now, all they want to do is nap, keep an eye on traffic, andnotwear high heels.
The Please Don’t Destroy trio garnered consistent laughs with theirThe Lonely Island-esque sketches that showcase their specific brand of comedy with different celebrity drop-ins. In “Three Sad Virgins,” John, Martin, and Ben are delighted when Pete Davidson stops by their office and expresses interest in a collaboration. Unfortunately, Pete seems to have a very specific vision for their music video that doesn’t put the new guys in the best light.Taylor Swiftlends her pipes to this hilarious and demeaning ballad.
Simu and Bowen
When comedian extraordinaireBowen Yangwas hired as a performer atSNLin 2019, he made history as the first fully-Asian cast member. Similarly, actorSimu Liumade history as the first Asian Marvel lead when he was cast as Shang-Chi inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. But they want you to know that they are definitelynotcompetitive about being the “first Asian” in different categories. It’s not like they are keeping score or anything…
Lonely Christmas Ad
Another stand out host this season was music starBillie Eilish. Her natural comedy chops and genuine enthusiasm and appreciation forSNLwas immediately evident in her monologue, which set the tone for the night. Here she plays a girl who invites her lonely, elderly neighbor (Kate McKinnon) over for Christmas dinner. Simple, right? Well, she soon learns that her seemingly-sweet neighbor actually has a secret dark side, and quickly regrets extending the invitation. Don’t answer the door!
MacGruber: Coronavirus
Saturday Night LiveveteranWill Fortealso made his hosting debut this year. (He’s just as surprised as you are that he hadn’t hosted before.) The crowd couldn’t contain their enthusiasm when the theme song to “MacGruber,” his most popular and beloved recurring character from the show, started to play. As usual, MacGruber (Forte) had plenty of time-sensitive bombs to stop prevent from exploding, but this time he was more concerned about people believing in the “hoax” virus. His sidekicks Vicki St. Elmo (Kristen Wiig) and Dixon Piper (Ryan Phillippe) do their best to follow his orders, but the more he talks about conspiracy theories, the harder it is for them to take him seriously.
Five-Timers Club
Stand-up comedianJohn MulaneyhostedSNLthis past season for the fifth time. And you know what that means? He’s now officially part of the coveted Five-Timers Club. A few ofSNL’s finest club members, includingSteve Martin,Candice Bergen, andPaul Rudd, don their exclusive velvety robes and welcome Mulaney into the club. They express their concern over the club losing its specialness,Conan O’Brienmakes a surprise appearance, andTina Feybreaks down the ingredients that go into making a Five-Timer Fizz. (You won’t want the recipe.)
Subway Churro
When Mulaney stopped by to host once again, he continued his tradition of musical sketches with “Subway Churro,” which showcases a colorful display of New York City characters that emerge once someone is bold enough to buy a churro from a random woman in the Subway station. An elegant woman stuck on the tracks? Oh, she’s just on bath salts. Is that a wizard? No, just another mole person. And whatever you do, donotstep in the mystery puddle. Ah, the everyday joys of the New York City transportation system!
Inventing Chloe
Chloe Finemancontinues to be one of the best (if not,thebest) impressionists on the cast. “Inventing Chloe” spoofs the hit Netflix seriesInventing Anna, which tells the bizarrely true tale ofAnna Delveyand her journey to becoming a fake heiress. Chloe struts around 30 Rock and informs her castmates that it’s her world and they are just living in it. Give her back her sandwich and whatever you do, don’t be poor!
Porch Scene
Why are Kate and Aidy so great at playing nerdy boys? McKinnon returns with her character Josh, a socially awkward middle schooler who does not know how to interact with girls, especially if the one in question is the “Hilary Duff” of his Algebra class.When Cassie (Zoë Kravitz)invites a baffled Josh to spend time with her as he waits for his mother to pick him up, he realizes he has no clue how to behave. Fortunately his best friend Jason (Aidy Bryant) is ready to coach him through all of his smooth moves, and honestly, they can’t believe how well it’s going, either.
Maid of Honor
Cheers, girlies! Tanya (Cecily Strong) is getting married! And who better to talk about her than best friend and maid of honor Sarah (Zoë Kravitz)? Kravitz carries this sketch from start to finish as she smiles through this severely troubling and bombshell-heavy speech about the new bride. How is it that Tanya’s husband (Kyle Mooney) didn’t know about her complicated past with the cast ofJackass? To Sarah and Tanya, this speech is just a fun trip down memory lane.
