Host Inde Navarette Turns in the Best 'SNL' Episode of the Season

It is the best episode of the season, but the first three were mediocre to bad. This one is a solid B+ across the board. No major highs, but no lows, either.

Cold Open — It’s a David S. Pumpkins sketch … that is sadly interrupted by JAJ’s Trump. He ruins everything. Also, he apparently comments on men’s backsides now and makes weird, vomit-y noises? I like the new additions to JAJ’s Trump, but I still don’t want to see him, especially when it means short-circuiting the return of Bobby Moynihan! (And Tom Hanks). (Score: 6.5 out of 10)

Inde Navarette Monologue — Decent monologue, lots of energy, lots of costumes, and a dig at Shane Gillis. I really like Navarette. Gotta good feeling about this week’s episode. (Score: 6.5 out of 10)

Ghost Ship — Hmmm. A ghost appears on a haunted ship to tell the passengers where a treasure it, but she keeps getting interrupted by the spirits of some annoying 1920s kids who want to go swimming. Lots of high energy, not a lot of creativity. (Watch Here) (Score: 5.5 out of 10)

Delta Disruptive — A new Delta section on flights (in Florida) with an entire section devoted exclusively to crazy people. “THIS PLANE IS MADE OUT OF ISRAEL!” (Score: 6.5 out of 10)

The Uninterested Woman — A dating show where the woman is a married lesbian who has no interest in dating, but all the men (here entirely played by women) keep hitting on her anyway. Decent idea, well performed. Padilla’s exasperation never fails. (Score: 6.5 out of 10)

The Inventor’s Wife — A very sweet short about the wife of an inventor who left her a robot after he died, and the robot’s purpose doesn’t become apparent until the six years later. I saw it coming from miles away, but still I laughed. The surprisingly violent end is my favorite genre of SNL skit. It’s also the Mat sketch of the week. (Score: 7 out of 10)

Product Placement — Two very dramatic telenova actors try to work product placement in for a hideous new flavor or Sprite with amusingly disastrous results. It’s been a very 6.5 kind of night. Good! But not great. (Score: 6.5 out of 10)

Weekend Update — I’m sorry. I don’t follow social media anymore, and my news diet does not apparently include Trump rallies — he actually said that about John Husted’s butt? What is actually going on? Also, that Israel joke … 😲. Pennywise the Clown also makes an appearance to talk about his new Gen Z vibes and start an intervention for Che (watch here). Decent “Update” jokes, but Bobby Moynihan’s cold open appearance was not for naught! He returns as Drunk Uncle to talk about the Brewers World Series win, which pushes update to a (7.5 out of 10)

Paw Patrol: Special Victims Unit — OH MY GOD. (Score: 6.5 out of 10)

Plates — Denise is the cool friend at dinner, and she tries to maintain her cool even after the waiter drops a stack of plates on her head, and then it turns into another Ashley Padilla farting sketch and god help me, it still works. (Score: 7 out of 10)

… and then the Gracie Abrams’ number ends the show, it runs short, and there’s two and a half minutes of goodbyes. There’s probably a good cut for time sketch arriving later this week.