Episode 65: Shane Gillis (S52E03)
SNL101
We discuss Shane Gillis’s third turn hosting SNL on . After reviewing the harsh critical response, including Dan Levy’s condemnation of Gillis’s gym monologue, the hosts debate whether Gillis is playing a self-aware version of “bro” comedy and how much nuance his sketches actually contain. Luvell examines how fans and critics alike respond to Gillis the person rather than the humor, while Charisse connects this to the “imaginary audience” and shares a media-literacy framework for analyzing the episode’s masculinity themes, including and . Chuck traces back to The Naked Gun...
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Episode 64: Dakota Johnson (S52E02)
SNL101
Dakota Johnson hosts for the third time on , and we are joined by writer, director, and educator Ashleigh Akilah Rucker. To put it nicely, the night was uneven; many sketches seemed to lack purpose, but there were high moments in the Weekend Update, including in the wake of the sexual assault scandal at Cornell, , and . However, the whole episode reads as an erasure of Blackness, culminating in as a failed attempt to mock commodity feminism, but a great opportunity to talk about the distinction between amusement, humor, and funniness. Readings include Toni Morrison and Alan Robertson as well...
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Episode 63: Jalen Brunson (S52E01)
SNL101
Jalen Brunson’s hosting debut on generated a split reaction: sports fans were thrilled, while SNL purists found the show formulaic and too reliant on basketball metaphors and sexual innuendo, but there were highlights. We explore whether ridicule, contrasting Hobbes with Frederick Douglass, effectively counters “uncivil” public figures in , and , a High School Musical parody, to discuss whiteness in teen movies, along with and the paradox of AI executives begging for regulation while racing ahead. Readings include scholarly readings include political theory and film critique alongside...
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Episode 62: Will Ferrell (S51E20)
SNL101
In the Season 51 finale, we debate when Will Ferrell's sixth hosting stint on felt nostalgic and when it felt dated. Although the “” was a bold timely swing, “,” a near-identical rerun of a 2019 cut sketch, demonstrates how humor around teacher misconduct hasn't evolved since the Me Too movement."" sparks a discussion of public nudity laws, drawing on Bouke Frese's philosophical defense of nudism to examine American body shame versus European norms and “" becomes a case study in villain/hero character arcs, referencing The Godfather, Scrooged, and wrestling heel turns. We also dig...
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Episode 61: Matt Damon (S51E19)
SNL101
We discuss Matt Damon's third time hosting on , which was a strong bounce back from the prior week. We highlight Damon's versatility across sketches and praise his comic timing and professional presence. We unpack and the context of disgust, the psychology and ethics of time with , and the power of words and stagecraft in . Resources include "Gag Cinema" and the Psychology of Time as well as another of Charisse’s favorite films, Clue (1985).
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Episode 60: Olivia Rodrigo (S51E18)
SNL101
We discuss Olivia Rodrigo's debut as host and musical guest on . While digital press praised Rodrigo's full commitment to bits, we were more split, echoing an MSNBC critique that SNL is still "figuring out" Rodrigo's comedic voice by slotting her into a pop-star template rather than building around her own sensibility. We gush over Aziz Ansari’s Kash Patel in the before exploring as a case study in white performers adopting Black cultural affect, the deployment of bedroom culture and the collapse of private spaces in , as well as the absurdity of TikTok surveillance and...
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Episode 59: Colman Domingo (S51E17)
SNL101
In this episode, we unanimously declare Colman Domingo's hosting debut the best episode of the season. Praised for his warm charisma, versatility, and what fans called "uncle energy," Domingo appeared in every sketch — each one distinct, absurdist, and culturally grounded. We discuss closely , a sharp, unapologetically queer sketch about fashion-world subculture and , an absurdist riff on inspirational teacher films that opens a philosophical discussion on the nature of knowledge. Luvell shares an essential essay on epistemology and making knowledge and Chuck assigns two of Charisse’s...
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Episode 58: Jack Black (S51E16)
SNL101
In this episode, we discuss Jack Black's fifth time hosting on , which also featured five-time musical guest Jack White. The episode was fun and energetic — if not particularly deep — with standout moments including the , the , and . We unpack , which features Ashly Padilla as an awkward coworker desperately inserting herself into office conversations, to explore themes of social exclusion, belonging, and the psychology of prying. Readings include philosophical ethics, psychological research on ostracism, and critically acclaimed films.
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Episode 57: Harry Styles (S51E15)
SNL101
This week, we discuss Harry Styles' second time as host and musical guest on . We push back against mainstream critics who called Styles’ appearance dull or low-energy; it was genuinely fun, and sketches like MAHAspital, White Castle drive-through, and "She's an Irish Dancer" were hilarious and on point. The final sketch of the night, ",” opened a broader conversation about masculinity, makeover culture, and style identity, drawing on Brenda Weber's academic work on male makeover shows, films like Crazy, Stupid, Love and Class Act, and the philosophical question of whether style can ever...
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Episode 56: Ryan Gosling (S51E13)
SNL101
In this episode, we discuss Ryan Gosling's fourth time hosting on . One of the season's strongest, the episodes highlighted Gosling's comedic commitment and ability to make political commentary feel entertaining. Charisse frames the episode through a "pre-apocalyptic" lens, arguing that SNL is reflecting society's tipping point, while Luvell reads the featuring Harry Styles as a metaphor for political distraction. We explore late-stage capitalism and labor exploitation in , a Willy Wonka parody, as well as Colin Jost’s Pete Hegseth in the as an example of sneering satire undermining...
info_outlineMikey Madison’s hosting premiere on March 29, 2025 was largely unimpressive and was overshadowed by Morgan Wallen’s abrupt departure during the closing credits. We discuss punching down and missed opportunities as well as the art of waiting in Big Dumb Line, reboot culture in Please Don’t Destroy - Mikey Madison is Squidward, and the dynamics of inside jokes with Devon Walker Shares his Morning Routine. Readings include the cultural and industry significance of reboots and the importance of waiting and patience in an increasingly on demand world.