Host Nikki Glaser Can’t Lift 'SNL' Out of Its Season-Long Funk

Cold Open — James Austin Johnson’s Prez returns, speaking from the Oval Office, yapping on about the state of the country while a pharmaceutical rep is passed out. Spoiler: The state of the country is not great. Upside: We won’t have to worry about expensive Thanksgiving turkeys because all the planes are grounded and our families won’t be able to to travel. “Killing two birds with another bird. Now you’ve got a bunch of crazy birds.” (Score: 5 out of 10)

Nikki Glaser Monologue — I like Nikki Glaser, I do. But her comedy leans toward the cruel (she does three minutes on how short her boyfriend is here), and while that plays well in her stand-up specials, it feels … weird and out of place on SNL. This is not your audience, Nikki! There’s probably a bunch of Gen Xers who are watching for musical guest, Sombr, whoever that is, that are completely lost. (Score: 6 out of 10)

Karaoke Night — A family goes out for karaoke night with the brother’s new girlfriend, and the brother and sister sing very sexual songs to each other. And then the Dad gets up and grinds with his daughter. It’s … a lot. But also, too easy and predictable to be that funny. It was funnier when Paul Rudd made out with his family. (Score: 5 out of 10)

Spirit Tunnel Anxiety — A pre-tape about the anxiety a celebrity feels before having to dance through the spirit tunnel on Jennifer Hudson’s talk show (and the unexpected solution for that anxiety). This should be funny, but it doesn’t feel that funny. (Score: 5 out of 10)

Beauty and the Beast — It’s Beauty and the Beast, only the Beast is Mr. Beast, and he makes people do weird things for cash prizes. There is a really funny idea buried in this sketch. Unfortunately, the writers failed to capitalize on it. Everything is falling flat tonight. (Score: 5 out of 10)

Mechanical Bull — Here we have two “dumb b*tches” on a mechanical bull, which takes off and travels the world (and space) while James Austin Johnson sings a country song about their journey. This one was really dumb, and almost weird enough to work. But not quite. Still, it needs to be seen. (Score: 6 out of 10)

American Girl Doll XL — Another pre-tape ad for life-size American Girl dolls for adults, which men buy for … nefarious reasons? The jokes, they just aren’t landing. Glaser is just not meeting SNL where it is. (Watch Here) (Score: 4 out of 10)

Pilot Announcement — During a flight delay while the passengers are on the runway, the pilot (James Austin Johnson) recounts his experience with a woman he met on the apps while the passengers provide commentary. This one doesn’t hit, either. (Watch Here) (Score: 3 out of 10)

Weekend Update — Sometimes when an episode doesn’t work for me, I worry that I’m just not in the right headspace. But “Update” still works, inasmuch as it usually works with Jost and Che, who target Trump and Cuomo this week. This feels like SNL. And then, Pete Davidson arrives to talk about the Staten Island Ferry that he and Jost bought. And bless him, Pete Davidson is the best thing about the entire episode — most of the jokes are at his own expense (or that of Jost). (Score: 7.5 out of 10)

Pinwheel — Glaser plays an adult who revisits the make-believe land of her childhood and gives two bunnies a pinwheel, and they absolutely lose their s*** over the pinwheels, so much so that Bowen Yang’s character screams at them at one point, and this. This is the energy the episode has been missing. This is the Mat sketch of the night. (Score: 7.5 out of 10)

Brad and His Dad — Weird. An animated short about a Butthead-type 11-year-old visiting his Dad for the weekend. His Dad tries to coax him outside to do things besides play video games, and it doesn’t go well. It’s fine. (Score: 6 out of 10)

Sorority Meeting — A sorority meets to discuss a frat guy wearing a hyperrealistic mask to pose as a sorority girl … and he’s in their midst. Played by Mikey Day, who looks like a character in White Chicks. And it’s just dumb enough to work. (Ashley Padilla helps). (Score: 6.5 out of 10)

Verdict — I had high hopes thinking that Nikki Glaser could give the show some new energy this week to get the season out of its funk. And it definitely was new energy, but it doesn’t work for the show. Nikki Glaser’s vibe just doesn’t match the vibe of SNL, which isn’t Glaser’s fault. I think that the two just don’t mix well, although people who typically don’t like SNL may find this funnier? Also, the episode didn’t have nearly enough Ashley Padilla. It’s not a total loss, however, because “Update” and the back half salvage the episode.