Donald Trump’s comments about injecting the body with disinfectants were not well received by pretty much anyone in America. But just because Alec Baldwin addressed them as Trump on Instagram didn’t mean SNL would skip the subject.
SNL At Home’s Weekend Update segment was heavy on Trump and jokes about his pondering about ultraviolet light and the healing power of Lysol as the show stepped up its production values for its signature segment. Colin Jost and Michael Che appeared with the show’s traditional globe background behind them, likely aided by green screen. With no audience — or an audience listening in via Zoom like last time — things were a bit different. But the jokes were to be expected given the reaction folks had to some terrible medical advice.
Jost hit on Trump’s comments as well as protests from some small segments of the population that want the country reopened. He also made sure Fox News got some ire, too: “Fun fact if an American flag and a diaper are struck by lightning they become a Sean Hannity.”
Weekend Update also had Pete Davidson appear to riff on a coronavirus pamphlet for a bit.
The segment wrapped up with another blind joke moment, with Jost paying Che back for something he made him say on the last episode of SNL At Home.
It’s all a setup for a charity initiative, which is nice, but it probably means more questionable jokes are on the horizon.
The second episode of SNL At Home featured the cast of the New York-based sketch comedy show performing from the comfort of their own homes. It featured ‘host’ Brad Pitt as Dr. Anthony Fauci dispelling some bad medical advice, sure, but it also included a reference to the biggest story in the sports world.
Charles Barkley appeared from home right after the cold open as a guest during Keenan Thompson’s sketch ‘What’s Up With That?’ Appearing remotely along with DJ Khaled, Barkley was brought on by the musical show and given a strict rule: you have a minute to appear, so you don’t waste anyone’s time.
If you’re familiar with the bit here, you already know that Barkley won’t need that clock to keep him brief. Thompson’s music-happy host constantly interrupts his guests with song, usually sparked somewhat based on what they say. And that’s exactly what happens here, even if Chuck sounds like he has an interesting story to tell that didn’t make ‘The Last Dance,’ the 30 For 30 Michael Jordan documentary which he shows up in and is apparently on the show to promote.
“It was special, and the documentary is excellent,” Barkley says. “But it doesn’t show everything.”
Charles starts winding up on some “incredible stories people still don’t know” but the music was just too much for Thompson. He has to cut him off to sing the line “incredible stories,” which is a signal that Charles might not get to actually say what he wants to say.
“Yeah, you might actually hear them if you let me talk,” Barkley says at one point, interspersed with singing from Thompson as the show’s theme music rises. Chuck is definitely not used to getting cut off on TV, which is what makes this so fun. The sketch is faithfully done to the bits of the original despite the At Home nature of the show — the editing adds in a ton of irreverent effects and Bill Hader as Lindsey Buckingham never gets to speak — and everyone seems to be a good sport about showing up to keep continuity up.
And credit SNL’s writers for knowing the hook here would be a valuable one. There are still plenty of good stories from that era that fans would love to hear. It’s why The Last Dance is proving so popular in a period of time without sports. Perhaps we’ll get to hear those stories someday, just don’t expect anything interesting to be revealed on What’s Up With That.
The warning comes as some governments consider “immunity passports” for people who have recovered from the coronavirus, allowing them to travel or return to work.
