Greetings Conehead nation, it’s SNL in Review. Or should I say, big hello to Club Chalamet! The iconic young thespian, and burgeoning singer/rapper, is back for his third stint hosting. Previously, he stopped by 8H in seasons 49 and 46, creating memorable moments like Tony Horse.
Earlier this week, Chalamet received his second Best Actor nomination at the Oscars, this time for playing the legendary Bob Dylan. I am joined tonight by former cast member Patrick Weathers, who created one of season 6’s most enjoyable moments with this sketch where he portrays Dylan opposite David Carradine. Weathers even met Dylan in the ’80s when he was rehearsing the Never-Ending Tour with bassist Tony Garnier. He notes on Chalamet’s take on Dylan: “the clips of the film are FANTASTIC. Dylan’s ex, Susan Ross, is a dear friend and she is writing a review she wants me to look at.”
In addition to impersonating the legendary Dylan on the show, Weathers also played him as part of musical revue “Rock ‘n Roll! The First 5,000 Years” on Broadway following his SNL stint. So he’s kind of an expert when it comes to Dylan portrayals. Earlier this season, I thought James Austin Johnson stole the Complete Unknown red carpet sketch with his late period Dylan. Weathers disagrees, saying Paul Mescal’s “Bono was the best. [Johnson] does not capture the spirit of Dylan at all. Very forced and cartoonish.”
We will see how Chalamet approaches things tonight. Will this be like when Austin Butler sang as Elvis? Scroll down, Club Chalamet.
Nearly 250 years ago, delegates gathered in Philadelphia to form the Declaration of Independence. John Hancock (Mikey Day) signed it the “biggest.” Cameo alert! Lin-Manuel Miranda reappears as Alexander Hamilton from his iconic musical. But it is a bait and switch.
This is just a preamble for James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump to comment on the first week of his presidency. He freezes time like Zack Slater, monologuing and mocking Miranda for wanting so badly to win an EGOT. He wonders which cast member on the show will play recently confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — no one has the build. Plenty of Zuckerberg options though!
Patrick Weathers’ verdict is: “I hate in-house jokes, but these were funny. In fact, that’s when the sketch became funny, with ‘lots of Zuckerberg options.'”
Back in season 47, Thomas Jefferson (Jason Sudeikis) and the founding fathers (Mikey Day, Alex Moffat, Kyle Mooney, Andrew Dismukes, James Austin Johnson) disagreed on what to include in the Declaration of Independence. Also check out this season 43 Revolutionary War sketch with Natalie Portman and Tina Fey, among others.
Chalamet is hosting for a third time, but it’s his first time with 37 hairs on his hair and lip. The camera zooms in. He comments on being an actor performing songs tonight — he shares this distinction with Gary Busey.
Chalamet received his second Oscar nomination while at the show this week, and he laments about the number of times he’s lost and been unable to give a speech at one of these award shows. So, he asks he have a chance to read something he’s prepared for years to give… sitting in the audience, he waits for his name to be announced and…
Kenan Thompson beats him! He hugs Wally on the walk up to give his acceptance speech. Always the bridesmaid I guess. Too bad! Weathers comments: “He’s charming and that’s a great jacket. Would look better on me.”
Wonder what songs we hear tonight! Chalamet notes they will be obscure, but his personal favorites of Dylan’s discog! “It would be nice if he sang ‘Song To Woody.’ Give a nod to the memory of Bob’s mentor,” says Weathers. He adds that the key to playing Bob Dylan is having “the mindset for it. And you have to have the instrument for it, the voice and the ability to catch the nuances. They’re very subtle, a lot of people don’t realize this but Bob Dylan is a great singer.” The other key to Dylan, Weathers says, is a deep familiarity with the lyrics of the songs, and really listening to “what Bob says. He’s a pretty straight shooter.” For what it is worth, Weathers thought the previous Dylan movie, I’m Not There, “really captured the essence of Dylan, thought it was brilliant.”
This workout is not for the faint of heart. A class of women, and Michael Longfellow, are instructed by a long-haired Chalamet. They fly and do silly moves like the “Jimmy Carter.” Collectively, they burn less than five calories. Everyone is bouncing around and eating Cinnabun.
Weathers says Chamalet “should also play Weird Al in his biopic. He’s a dead ringer in this sketch.” (And he does shout ‘Eat it!’) “Weird Al should host the show. He could host and musical guest.” Yes! Why not? It’s SNL50, people.
Men ages 20-45 are most likely to receive health advice from a podcast. So Medcast is a real doctors’ office that is supportive and light-hearted, set up to reflect a podcast setting.
It is fun to see Andrew and Marcello back in a podcast sketch. Weathers thinks this is clever — and I agree!
At the Bungalow Cafe, trainees are wrapping up when it is revealed that chalkboard quips are required. Coffee puns, that kind of thing. Benny (Chalamet) loves comedy, and busts out a Chris Rock-style joke about Homer Simpson. Chalamet’s delivery here is hilarious, recalling Def Comedy Jam, and playing to the audience. “This is good… FUNNY,” says Weathers. Agreed, impressive performance!
As the voiceover notes, while Longfellow has a girlfriend, the special woman in his life is really his mother (Heidi Gardner). Here is the idea: Oedipal Arrangement. Incest humor! Very dark, as Longfellow imagines the grisly death of his dad (Day).
“This is another good one… new writers?” wonders Weathers.
Another podcast sketch! Learning is now set up like a podcast. A classroom of students watch Chalamet and Bowen Yang play AI friends, calling each other “bae” and talking about a fake person named “Trish” to discuss American history and photosynthesis. This is a funny spoof of unnatural AI conversation and design — both performers have six fingers.
Two sketches based on podcast culture is “the Trump/Rogan effect,” notes Weathers, which is probably right.
“Outlaw Blues” was originally released on Dylan’s fifth studio album, Bringing It All Back Home. “When I met Dylan, he was wearing a parka with a hood,” comments Weathers. Next: Chalamet performs the gospel-tinged “Three Angels” off New Morning. Where does our resident Dylan-ologist Weathers land on these Dylan covers? Chalamet is “personalizing this and making it more spoken word. And that’s okay. I like it.”
In his second appearance this season, Adam Sandler introduces this performance: “I love him too!”
Oh boy, jokes on the January 6 pardons and Elon Musk’s Nazi salute. As Che shares, “it’s a dark Update.” He’s right, they seem to lose the (typically fawning) crowd at times. It’s tough, it can be bleak material. I do like gun-toting Jost talking about Pop Culture Jeopardy.
Ego Nwodim is Giselle, a concerned business woman. As a Black woman, she says to buy as much fake hair as possible before the tariffs kick in. She works in corporate America and has concerns about how she is going to look without a wig in a few weeks. The irony? She voted for Trump! Weathers chimes in: “She was ballsy. Somebody finally showing some raw nerve on this show. The spirit of Belushi lives on.” Well said.
Family can be crazy. Andrew Dismukes and his puppet dad come on to comment. Dismukes has been doing ventriloquism in his stand-up. The puppet makes corny jokes about music and football, but things turn emotional; he is so proud of his son. Dismukes says “I love you,” overcome with feeling. “You amaze me every day, son. You are my pride and joy,” says the puppet, presumably saying things Dismukes’ actual dad can’t. “The 17th most famous cast member on SNL, I hope you know how special you are.” He sings, too. Jost finds this deeply sad and insecure.
If dogs talked and acted like humans. Chalamet and Day chat wearing dog ears and snouts. Pretty hacky. Lots of fake humping and licking. Thompson saves it with his deadpan recurring food bit. Weathers concurs: “Kind of hit and miss. Especially when you consider they are NYC dogs and they are all neutered.” Skip this one unless you are very very into dogs…
Thompson introduces this one. First recorded back in 1963, “Tomorrow Is a Long Time” originally appeared on the album Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Vol. II compilation, released in 1971. This tribute to lost love and reflecting on one’s past was subsequently included in the compilation Masterpieces. A bunch of artists have covered this over the years, including Elvis. “Dylan’s favorite cover of any of his songs,” notes Weathers. “It was just Elvis on guitar singing the song. So beautiful.” He approves of Chalamet’s take, too.
Cool to see James Blake during the first set, too!
A 96-year-old (Sarah Sherman) is celebrating her birthday with her family. Chelsea is even coming over and bringing around her new boyfriend, who is a cardiologist.
Suddenly, Grandma collapses. The boyfriend (Chalamet) appears straight from the hospital and proceeds to fart directly on her, using a new CPR technique. “Get this woman a glass of water and an altoid,” he orders. He recounts all the food he had today. The family is mortified. Grandma is alive, but only due to a fart bringing her back to life. Gross and silly. Weathers has an important question: “Are they pulling all this scat humor off the success of Greg Gutfeld at FOX?”
Love Sherman’s performance here, pretty funny.
From Streeter Siedell and Mikey Day, God brainstorms the origins of earth, from the erupting volcano to kangaroos. I am into it!
- How did it feel? Thank you so much to former Dylan impressionist and expert Patrick Weathers on his commentary during today’s show. “One of their better shows for sure. Great host. He killed it on everything,” he concludes. Yes! “I saw the film today. Amazing performances all around.”
- Keep your eyes and ears out for Weathers’ new album soon.
- Lots of Dismukes tonight! Pleasing to me.
FYI, I spoke with former cast member Christine Ebersole recently, who loved A Complete Unknown. She saw it in theaters with a group of friends and thought it accurately captured that era. Like Dylan, that period of ’60s New York City — its danger and griminess — was the version of the city she first encountered as a 20-year-old. (Also, for the record, technically she and Chalamet were both on the USA Network’s show Royal Pain — though at different times.)
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