Jack Harlow

First of all, before I get to the specifics of this episode of SNL, I'd like to point out the awfulness that is a host pulling "double duty" as host and musician. There are only 20-some episodes of SNL per year, and each is an opportunity to showcase new talent, give that rising star "their shot". This recent trend of a host being guest and music guest robs some individual of "their shot". It goes against everything this show used to stand for, and needs to stop. I don't care "who" it is.

To the episode itself, I think I realized what is wrong with SNL the last few years: their skits no longer have punchlines. There is a premise, then the setup, but no punchline in 95% of the skits.

An example: The View Whoopi Goldberg skit. The premise: Its The View. Premise: Jack Harlow is "into" Whoopi. The punchline: There is none. It never goes beyond "he's got a thing for her". One note.

This phenomena results in skits having no where to land / end, so they just sort of drag on until they do end. Often times I think the audience even gets confused, waiting for a punchline that never comes.

The David S. Pumpkins skit is a rare success for SNL because it actually features a punch line, a solid ending. But unfortunately the majority don't go that way anymore.

A generous 3 stars for the return of David Pumpkins, which coincidentally had nothing to do with the double duty host. Maybe Tom Hanks should've just, ya know, hosted?

As you know, Saturday night live usually has a musical guest. But they did something really funny and new tonight. They had some new cast member pretend to be a musical guest. He came out twice like usual and did something non-musical which was actually pretty funny. I don't want to see too much of the new cast until I get more familiar with them, but this guy pretending to be musical was so funny. They should do this more often with other non-talented non-musical new cast members. Not sure what his name is, but he has a big future in non-musical parody. Unless they get big name real musical acts in the future, this may be the way to go.

If you missed this episode consider yourself lucky! I NEVER write reviews but I've NEVER been so perplexed at how ANYONE at SNL thought the content in this episode was funny! It was absolutely JOYLESS and free of ANY humor! Even cameos from Tom Hanks and Bobby Moynihan (not that they SHOULD have) could even save this putrid entry. It wasn't the fault of Jack Harlow he was CLEARLY game for the show but the writers and Lorne Michaels should be ASHAMED of themselves! This wasn't comedy it was like pulling teeth watching everyone involved TRY to be funny and failing miserably. An insult of a show!