And so, Dismukes, neutered in an NBC page’s blazer, told Rudolph her car was waiting to take her back to her real life. I could’ve watched Kenan Thompson and Rudolph– pop the hip, tip the hat-as rival, lovesick choreographers all night long. “I wanted to do my character, gay Passover bunny-but it was too smart for the show.” When Jost checked him on that, Yang sneered, “Whatever, you’re scared.” He called on us to look around our communities, instead of our Instagram stories, for real answers to serious problems. “I don’t even want to be doing this character piece,” he insisted. He was graceful and adamant and funny throughout. He mourned the violence against Asian Americans in this country, and called out social media justice warriors who post fleeting solidarity for crises of the moment, without ever losing the audience. Billed as “Asian Cast Member,” he succeeded at walking a tremulous line. Watching Martin Short be taken down by a giant stuffed dog was such an old-school shot of joy.īut besides Rudolph, the highlight of the night was Bowen Yang. Even Major showed up, though Second Gentleman Emhoff’s social anxiety apparently undid his retraining. Alex Moffat’s excellent Joe Biden soon joined them, bragging–after his notecard confirmed–that he’d nailed his first press conference. None was more inspired than Chloe Fineman’s Ella Emhoff, who stomped in to house music and declared herself the most normal-looking girl in Bushwick, however crazy she might appear to Aidy Bryant’s Ted Cruz. “I’m just a shy entertainment lawyer.” They nuzzled and caressed and talked dirty to each other until the guests arrived. “I can’t do this!” he worried, grasping onto his wife. Martin Short as her Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff was an absolute gift. Our twinkly-eyed, sneaker-wearing number 2 was hosting a Unity Seder at the White House. It’s a testament to how in the background Vice President Kamala Harris has been the last two months that it took thirty minutes to get a sketch about her. Especially when they return to remind us how it’s done. Fists in the air, we’ll never forget greats like her. She regaled them with memories of back in the day, how Rachel Dratch was a bit of a princess, strutting around on her Sixteen Candles buzz, and Jimmy Fallon was the bad boy in his jean jacket and fingerless gloves. The sentimentality of their presence had her feeling soft towards the new cast members, so she invited those babies- Andrew Dismukes, Punkie Johnson, and Lauren Holt, who looked like she was going to split open with glee over the fact that this was actually happening in real life-to gather ‘round.

She shouted out her four children in the audience and willed herself not to cry. Rudolph’s monologue was charming and silly and perfect.

Let’s trust that Martin Short is vaccinated. But Chris Redd’s romantic thought she might not mean it: “I think she’s just flirting, so I’m going to say Vaxed.” Nope! Remind yourself that your parents are vaccinated. Rudolph presided over a group of horny dumb-dumbs unconcerned with their “antibody-ody-ody-ody-ody-odies.” Heidi Gardner’s contestant said she didn’t like to wear masks because they irritated her cold sores, which she guessed made her anti-vax and anti-mask. Refreshingly, the cold open took a break from Washington and hit Miami Beach for a game show called Snatched, Vaxed or Waxed. Spring, and the sense that the writers returned rested and rejuvenated after a few weeks off, was in the air. Maya Rudolph, radiant queen mother, returned to her roots Saturday night, and all was right in the world.

Maya rudolph snl host