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emma-thompson-snl-monologue.jpg

'SNL' Highlights: Emma Thompson Is the Perfect Mother's Day Host

By Dustin Rowles | TV | May 12, 2019 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | May 12, 2019 |


emma-thompson-snl-monologue.jpg

Cold Open — In the Meet the Press cold open, Chuck Todd tries on a number of scenarios with Lindsay Graham (Kate McKinnon, naturally), Mitch McConnell (an unrecognizable Beck Bennett) and Susan Collins (Cecily Strong, killing it) to see if one of them would cause them to lose Trump’s support. It’s not all that funny, but it is vicious if you’re one of those three Republican Senators, you are up for reelection in 2020, you live in a blue state and your reputation for being a craven pushover just got advertised all over the nation. In other words, it was an OK sketch, and I loved it. (Score: 6 out of 10)

Emma Thompson Monologue — How do you ensure the perfect Mother’s Day monologue? You invite Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to join you, and then the three of you decipher Mother-speak for Mother’s Day in one of the funniest and loveliest monologues of the seasons. What a goddamn delight. (Score: 10 out of 10)

Royal Christening — I don’t want to ruin the surprise of this one, but let’s just say that Emma Thompson plays a Mary Poppins type who has a special set of skills when trying to instruct an unruly cousin of Meghan Markle as to how to behave at a christening. You’re going to want to see this one. Emma Thompson is fantastic. (Score: 8 out of 10)

The Perfect Mother — Another in a series of hilariously spot-on looks at the realities of relationships, in this case mothering. This is the one you’re going to want to show to your own mother (although, Mat, Hazel is not gonna get this one because she really is the perfect mother and really is the Emma Thompson of mothering). (Score: 9 out 10)

Cinema Classics — I understand the desire to go back to this well given how well Kate McKinnon did in a similar skit a few weeks ago, but as delightful as McKinnon and Thompson are as two actresses trying to get the last line in, it’s not as successful this time around. (Watch Here) (Score: 5 out of 10)

Chopped — The judging sequence in an episode of Chopped might have been funnier if I’d ever seen an episode of Chopped, but as it is, it is marginally entertaining, even if it feels like the recycled leftovers of the last time they did this. (Watch Here) (Score: 4.5 out of 10)

Judge Court — It’s like Judge Judy, but with three judges, and my God, how much fun is the cast having with Emma Thompson this week? Motion to make Emma Thompson permanent host. Is that a seconded I hear? Motion passes! (Score: 6 out of 10)

Weekend Update — “Update” is actually firing on all cylinders this week. They crush the Trump section, Che delivers the obligatory (and funny) groaners, and Pete Davidson brings out his mom, with whom he lives. (Heidi Gardner is also pretty good as the teen critic, which you can watch here). (Score: 8 out of 10)

Live-Action Beauty and the Beast — Turns out, Beast likes to pump iron with his barbells — which have come to life — and he impregnated the teapot and gave birth to a Pete Davidson. Belle is just pissed because she keeps falling in love with her captor. (Watch Here) (Score: 4.5 out of 10)

Tracy — Is this based on an actual talk show? Or is it playing off the oft-used phrase, “You don’t know me?” I dunno. I don’t really get it. BUT, I do appreciate that the entire cast is getting to play tonight. (Watch Here) (Score: 3.5 out of 10)

Continuity Errors — Spoofing the Starbucks cup in Game of Thrones, Kyle Mooney takes a look at several other continuity errors in Roots, Downton Abbey, Jurassic Park, etc. Meh. Obvious joke is obvious. (Watch Here) (Score: 3 out of 10)

Finally, I have no idea why, but Jon Hamm was at the sign-off hanging with Pete Davidson’s mom. Seems like a very Jon Hamm thing to do, though.




Header Image Source: NBC