Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | TV | April 6, 2025
Cold Open — I think James Austin Johnson does the best Trump impersonation in the business. It’s an excellent impression of Trump’s rambling, incoherent, nonsensical word salad, and it’s not even that exaggerated. I appreciate that SNL continues to parody Trump, but it’s also the last thing I want to see. There’s a good Morgan Wallen swipe in here, and Mike Myers’ Musk impression continues to improve. But sometimes, it’s not funny because it’s true. (Score: 5 out of 10)
Jack Black — I wish I had half the energy of Jack Black, who sings about being back for the first time in 20 years and generally has a blast on stage. Dude kills it with energy (and he’s so-so on comedy here). What a fun guy. (Score: 6.5 out of 10)
Love Match — It’s a Dating Game-style show, only one bachelor — played by Jack Black — is dressed exactly like Indiana Jones but insists he’s never heard of Indiana Jones. It’s dumb, and it works because Jack Black wills it to work. (Score: 6.5 out of 10)
Flamin’ Hot Commercial — Jack Black promotes a new product, Flamin’ Hot Preparation H, and even the Flamin’ Cheetos mascot is like, “What the hell, dude? No, you do not fight fire with fire on your anus!” Brilliant. Here’s your Mat sketch of the week, and the best SNL ad in ages. (Score: 8 out of 10)
One-Uppers — A group of friends over dinner one-up each other about how awesome they are. The script isn’t actually funny, but the one-up mugging poses are a riot. (Watch Here) (Score: 5.5 out of 10)
The First Play — It’s 500 B.C., and they’re putting on the first play ever in Ancient Athens, only the audience has never seen a play before and doesn’t understand how it works, which leads to amusing results. Great concept. Decent execution. (Score: 5.5 out of 10)
Goth Kid on Vacation — Kenan, Ego, and Jack Black perform a Jamaican song about a goth kid on vacation with his family in Jamaica, and it’s perfect. (Score: 8 out of 10)
Weekend Update — The political jokes, given what’s going on in the country, seem a little tame this week. In the back half, meanwhile, Che delivers some real groaners. Grant and Elissa are back as the “couple you can’t believe are together,” and Marcello Hernandez and Jane Wickline can barely keep from cracking (they may be the best recurring Update segment now). Ego Nwodim, however, brings down the house with her White House Correspondents’ speech, which avoids being politically divisive by just focusing on the food. (Score: 8 out of 10, mostly for Ego and Grant and Elissa)
Making Love — Jack, Sarah, Bowen, and Brandi Carlile sing a song about making love while on high wires, and y’all: What else do you even need out of SNL? (Score: 7 out of 10)
Bass Lake — It’s an outdoor jam, and the singer invites anyone who wants to join, but they’re all bass players! It’s dumb as hell, but it’s got great energy. (Watch Here) (Score: 5 out of 10)
Times Square Kiss — The war is over, and the girlfriend of the guy who drew all the racist Japanese commercials keeps kissing all the returning sailors. They can’t all be winners! (Watch Here) (Score: 4 out of 10)
Average Score: 6.18 — One of the better episodes of the season, and it had a whole lot to do with Jack Black’s manic energy, which seemed to bring out the best in everyone, including musical guests Elton John and Brandi Carlisle, who crushed it themselves. Great episode.
