6 Best 'SNL' Sketches Last Night, Including ScarJo's Cold Open
Josh Brolin
Josh Brolin hosted Saturday Night Live for his third time this week, but it was his first time doing an ice plunge on the sketch show. Kicking the night off with his host monologue, the Dune 2 actor made fun of his viral poem dedicated to co-star Timothée Chalamet (and devoted a new one to Kenan Thompson). He then played played a host of relatable and wacky characters, in everything from a skit on the tribulations of people pleasers to a song parodying the desire to watch other airplane goer's entertainment screens. Joined by musical guest Ariana Grande, and with a surprise appearance from Scarlett Johansson, Brolin delivered on his leading duties. Read on for our pick of the night's six best sketches.
Related: Everything to Know About 'SNL' Season 49
6 Best SNL Sketches From Last Night, Including Scarlett Johansson's Cold Open
1. State of the Union Cold Open
While hosting duties belonged to Brolin, Johansson stole the show with her timely Cold Open satirizing Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt's widely shared rebuttal to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. In the sketch, Johansson recreates Britt's speech to comical effect, featuring such gems like "women love kitchen" and "now I'm going to get weirdly seductive for no apparent reason." There's even a spot-on Get Out reference featuring Thompson.
Related: Everyone Who's Hosted 'SNL' Season 49
2. Wine and Cheese Night
There's nothing like the temporary superiority complex that comes with a party host's pet choosing to spend their company with you. Well, that's what happens to Brolin's character in the "Wine and Cheese Night" sketch. Riding that high, the character—who does not, in fact, actually have "good energy"—ends up lashing out at his fellow guests, particularly as the cat in question, Tiger, chooses another guest to cozy up to. There's table flipping, blood gushing and even interspecies slut-shaming: Winning a pet's friendship is no joke!
2. Lisa From Temecula
No cast member was spared from breaking character in this installment of the "Lisa From Temecula" sketch, including host Brolin. Featuring Ego Nwodim's beloved character's signature table-shaking chaos, the skit saw gut-busting laughs from Bowen Yang and Punkie Johnson, closing out the night with a reliable, always-funny sketch.
3. Airplane Song
Who hasn't sneaked views on someone else's entertainment screen on the plane? When Andrew Dismukes' character finds himself without a working phone or tablet, he opts to lurk on Brolin's TV, watching Ad Astra sans subtitles. The duo break out into heartfelt song, complete with mood lighting and romantic costuming. It's a duet for the ages.
5. People Pleaser's Support Group
In this sharp sketch pointing out a common dilemma many face, Yang struggles to tell his boyfriend he doesn't want to have a second dinner, Brolin proposes to his girlfriend when he actually wants to break up with her and Molly Kearney leaves a high tip to a barber who makes the Fleabag haircut look stunning. Grande's appearance is just the icing on the cake.
6. Bank Robbery
In this hostage crisis, a married couple decides to victimize the robbers instead. While being held up at a bank, Brolin and Heidi Gardner's characters—who have recently opened up their marriage—bestow the honor of being their third on the heist group. Oh, and Yang's bank manager character is to film the illicit acts. What unfolds is a zany sketch where Brolin and Gardner play off of each other's physical comedy, tying and handcuffing themselves while stripping down to their underwear. Those poor robbers will never attempt another job again!