Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | TV | April 5, 2026
Cold Open — It isn’t a great cold open, but it’s not about Trump, so that instantly elevates it. It’s basketball commentators talking … politics during the NCAA post-game show. Mostly, it’s Charles Barkley talking politics in the way that Charles Barkley does, only slightly exaggerated for SNL. And Ashley Padilla plays Pam Bondi probably for the last time, and that at least feels nice. (Score: 6 out of 10)
Jack Black Monologue — Fantastic! Jack Black joins the 5-timers club, but the 5-timers club sketches are so worn out that Tina Feys shows up in her fifth 5-timers club sketch. Also, Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hill, and Candice Bergen appear, too. But it’s musical guest Jack White (also in the club) who joins Jack Black to spruce up the 5-timers with a song that will rock your face off. It’s basically Gen X catnip. (Score: 8 out 10)
Kathy — You know that annoying person who you avoid because if you take pity on her and engage, she will talk your goddamn ear off about absolute nonsense? That’s Ashley Padilla’s character, who is so annoying that her co-workers try to ignore her, but her annoyance is too much to resist. (Score: 6.5 out of 10)
Words to Live By — It’s a nice little country song about the wisdom that these fellas learned from a guru and one of their fathers on his deathbed, only goddamnit, they forgot what the words of wisdom were. SNL is stepping up tonight. Mat skit of the week. (Score: 8 out of 10)
Self Defense — One of those Marcello Hernandez nonsense skits, but this one? It works! It’s a self-defense class, it’s dumb as hell, and so ridiculous it’s bonkres. (Score: 6.5 out of 10)
Husbands — A bunch of husbands who have no idea what to say to each other are sitting around in silence until … someone sings a bar of “Carry on My Wayward Son.” This is why you bring back Jack Black five times. (Score: 7.5 out of 10)
Weekend Update — “Update” is rolling, too, including a segment with Kristi Noem’s husband, where Sarah Sherman dares anyone in Mamdami’s New York to kink shame him, Kam Patterson as Black Snape, and the traditional NCAA Women’s basketball sexist joke from Che. (Score: 7.5 out of 10)
300 — For a bad skit, it’s not that bad. It’s a 300 parody where the Spartans have 301 people but can only take 300, so someone is going to be left out. Guess who? (Watch Here) (Score: 4.5 out of 10)
AirBnB Superhost — I thought this one — about an ArBnB host who won’t leave because he wants to hang out with the cool kids — was going to be a bust … until Melissa McCarthy and her Jerghen’s lotion show up. Turned it right around. (Score: 6 out of 10)
This is what SNL should look like, SNL UK. Big, dumb, funny, and with a song by Kansas.
