'Wasn't That Special' Season 44 Clips Package
We know, we know. We owe you a few Bonus Materials and Clips Packages posts, which will now be coming in rapid succession. We apologize for the delay - work travel, sickness, and actually having to watch 988 episodes of SNL (plus specials) can really eat up a lot of time.
Below are some of the Saturday Night Live sketches and media clips we reference throughout the Season 44 episode, to enhance the listening process:
Career Day
An Adam Driver command performance.
Teacher Fell Down
The recent Lorne Michaels biography goes into detail about how this sketch was conceived, edited, and ultimately performed. An odd concept that really works.
The War in Words
The first version of what would become a regular bit.
Weezer
This one was bumped from the Jonah Hill episode earlier in the season, but people consider the Matt Damon version a classic.
Toilet Death Ejector
Cha Cha Slide
It was John Mulaney’s second time hosting, but probably his best episode.
What’s That Name
Another Mulaney bit, but Bill Hader steals this one.
Can I Play That?
Another data point demonstrating the show wasn’t afraid to take on the prevailing political culture.
Future Self
Sandra Oh was an underrated host.
Cheques
Some brilliance from offbeat writer Julio Torres.
Dorm Room Posters
There’s a reason Emma Stone became a 5-Timers Club member.
The Actress
More Julio Torres.
Chris Farley Song
Adam Sandler tugged at the heartstrings during his return to the show after decades away.
Don’t Stop Me Now
Again, the season wasn’t all great, especially some of its political sketches. This was among the worst.
The big news at the beginning of Season 44 was the addition of new cast member Ego Nwodim, profiled here by the New York Times:
Nwodim’s hiring came just before former cast member Ellen Cleghorne talked to friend of the podcast Andy Hoglund about the show’s race problem.
In the Salt Lake Tribune, Scott D. Pierce argued Donald Trump’s attacks against SNL were “silly” and “un-American.”
In November, Slate writer Eric Harvey argued Pete Davidson had “taken over” SNL despite his limited talents:
'USA Today entertainment writer Kelly Lawler thought SNL had lost its “Trump Bump glory.”
A writer at Vulture argued SNL should start a half hour earlier, at 11 PM ET.
Mark Harris at Vulture didn’t like the show’s treatment of Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination hearings, but Emily St. James at Vox defended the Matt Damon-starring bit.
Catholic organizations did not care for Pete Davidson comparing Catholics to R. Kelly fans.
The Neighborhood News conducted a fun interview with former SNL writer (and Lorne Michaels wife) Rosie Shuster.
A Hollywood Reporter/Morning Consult poll found that 39 percent of Americans thought SNL was “too political,” while only 30 percent disagreed.
Former cast member Taran Killam said in an interview that the show’s energy really changed after Seth Meyers left as head writer, given he was one guy who could stand up to Lorne Michaels. After that, Killam says the show became a “competitive, exhausting environment.”