Rosalind OConnor/NBC
Hey, everybody, a hearty welcome back toSNLin Review. Tonight'sSaturday Night Livehost has had a big week: On Thursday,Teyana Taylorreceived an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. As formerSNLcast memberJeff Richardsputs it to me, "Teyana Taylor is one of the best parts ofOne Battle After Another. She's electric in her scenes withSpicoli.P.T.outdid himself casting her." (It's true.)
Taylor is the latest host to visit Studio 8H amid awards season buzz. I am thinkingTimothée Chalametfrom last season, for instance. Or check out the somewhat infamousJeremy Irons monologue.
Anyway, Geese are this week's musical guest. Should be a fun show! Let's see…
Cold Open
It's the inaugural Trump Awards, the first ceremony honoring the best at being or succumbing to Donald Trump's many ego needs. James Austin Johnson's Trump is of course the ceremony's host. He notes that this is all a diversion from what the psychos at ICE are doing, and you feel the chill in the audience. It's a dark thing to say but right on a few fronts — tough to do broad comedy after seeing what's coming out of Minnesota.
"Speaking of your beard, how's your wife, Usha?" he hisses at Jeremy Culhane's toady JD Vance. Other participants include Amy Madigan's aunt Gladys fromWeapons, played by Sarah Sherman, and another terrifying figure: Stephen Miller (Andrew Dismukes).
I love the high concept here. Arguably this is a week late, as they joked about the Nobel Peace Prize embarrassment during "Update"last week. A lot of strong stuff here though, absolutely watch it. Easily the best cold open of the season, and not close.
The recent cold opens have been pretty stark — just Johnson riffing. This is darker, more complicated. It really captures the hellscape we're all in. It's an old-school cold approach, harking back to when guys like Mike Myers were on the show… Wait, speaking of Myers, there he is as Elon Musk, presenting a dystopian song honoring some of the groups and values we've lost in the past year, such as DEI. (Carrie Underwood and a guy from the Village People perform.)
Monologue
Taylor is a Harlem native but she's cold. That's why she bought a spot in Miami. Yes, half the U.S. is getting hit with a huge snowstorm.
No surprise, she talks about her Oscar nomination. She learned about it while getting fitted for a bald cap next to Mikey Day, ha. She was on MTV'sMy Super Sweet 16! Taylor is very eclectic and describes her busy, challenging work schedule. She's also a mom and recalls looking up with pride during her Golden Globes win to see her kids… scrolling on their phones. They recreate that moment here in the studio, cute.
Gate Agents
It's a big old winter storm at New York International Airport. The airline staffers Shrimp & Grits (Kenan Thompson, Taylor) share an update via song. Everyone is delayed. They don't make the rules, they just sing 'em. Good use of Taylor's background as an R&B singer. (Her fourth album,Escape Room, received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album recently.) I like JAJ's pilot too.
Toy Commercial
One Battle After Another, the critically lauded drama about revolutionaries combating racial tyranny, is now a toy line! (And video game.) We see action figures of all the characters, such as Ghetto Pat and Junglepussy, with Taylor reprising her role as Perfidia. I'm not sure the crowd entirely knows specific references to Benicio del Toro (whocameoed onSNLearlierthis season during the season premiere) and "few small beers" or Sean Penn's Col. Lockjaw, but I love the show putting trust in them. Again, very old-school move, like the excellent cold open.
This is a great commercial parody of the movie, and some nice references to other Paul Thomas Anderson movies, such asThere Will Be Blood(which reminds me ofBill Hader's great spoofof Daniel Plainview from back in the day).
NFL on ESPN
Troy and Joe — Dismukes and Johnson — are hosting commentary on the NFL playoffs. A show about queer chefs is streaming now on Hulu!Quefs! The hosts keep having to plug it as they toss over to Lisa (Taylor).
The Power of You
It's a confidence class hosted by Cassi (Ashley Padilla). She was once passed over for a job, which crushed her. Until she learned a job does not define her. The class becomes obsessed and very critical of her appearance and resume. Turns out she was a Dolly Parton impersonator and wanted to become Michelle Obama's speechwriter (she wrote the FLOTUS doing crowd work).
Padilla and this entire premise remind me of "Driver's Ed" fromI Think You Should Leave—"Tables!"Padilla kind of has a Tim Robinson air to her, seeing her get pushed into corners and react loudly out from the humiliation. Similar comedic DNA.
Geese, "Au Pays du Cocaine"
Great to see a real band play 8H. "Au Pays du Cocaine" is off Geese's third album — it's piano-led with Cameron Winter channeling Thom Yorke in moments, building toward a moving conclusion. I like it a lot.
Jeff Richards notes that the "lead singer looks like a mix of Bob Dylan and Andy Dick." He is not wrong! Reminder: Richards just released hisgreatest-hits music anthologyearlier this weekend. Stream it now on Spotify andApple Music.
Weekend Update
Colin Jost talks about Trump's Board of Peace and affinity for God. Michael Che questions whether ICE agents ever privately wonder if they're being dicks. Other topics: Greenland,Heated Rivalry, Stevie Wonder.
With Gen Z terms like "aura" gaining popularity, Marcello Hernandez comes out to translate. Examples include "chopped" and "glow-up." Jost kills "cap" by using it awkwardly — complete with a funeral bugle. Hernandez is funny when he notes that Gen Z slang is just African American slang young people thought was cool and stole, hence why Che doesn't need any education. I usually dislike Marcello pieces, but this was fun.
Studies are showing Americans are fearful of expressing their opinions. Mr. On Blast (Culhane) has a bunch of corny one-liners, he doesn't hold back. He's got a ridiculous blackjack dealer button-up and hat, and punctuates his burns with organ music. This reminded me of Aristotle Athari or even Alex Moffat's desk work. Good stuff, solid episode so far for Jeremy.
Wedding
A newlywed couple (Padilla, Kam Patterson) want to shout out the groom's 87-year-old grandfather (Taylor). He just had both knees replaced. Dancing starts with Earth, Wind and Fire — and Grandpa feels the groove! He immediately drops some high-caliber moves, losing his glasses in the process. Padilla and Grandpa get a bit close, to Patterson's chagrin. I like the not-so-subtle use of the stunt dancer near the end. Soon Grandpa collapses and his bones turn to dust, medical science can't help him… but maybe the DJ (Mikey Day) can? Really fun work by Taylor here.
Backstab Island
on this island, backs will be stabbedpic.twitter.com/pApYmnQ3Jc
— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl)January 25, 2026
Various contestants square off in thisSurvivorriff. It's stab or be stabbed. Jane Wickline keeps getting drinks thrown in her face. Taylor isn't sure if this show is where you win games or have sex with people, so she's doing both.
Geese, "Trinidad"
This is a pretty cool blues-flavored song, complete with a wild JPEGMafia sample, about destruction and despair. Easy to see the Radiohead comparisons here.
Jeff Richards says ifhehad an indie band named after an animal, he'd go with Naked Mole Rat. Fair! He's seen the music video for"Taxes"and says, "Great video but not one goose in it. Not even a sparrow."
PBS — Minneapolis Raids
Federal officers are roaming the streets in Minnesota. As Chloe Fineman and Mikey Day's liberal commentators note, it's unprecedented. Or is it? Teyana Taylor and Kenan Thompson's talking heads aren't so sure. "Mmmmm," they groan. The out-of-touch white characters keep putting their foot in their mouths. This is akin to previous sketches like Dave Chappelle'spost-Trump-election sketchback in 2016. Well-intentioned, affluent white rhetoric getting doubted and mocked by African Americans' clear-eyed POV on America.
Blowing It
Martin Herlihy meets his girlfriend's parents and mocks Dad's Southern accent. Turns out Herlihy is trying to sabotage his relationship and has a book he's peddling. Dress like a guy from the Lumineers at a funeral! Ignore a complex emotional problem by referencing Harry Potter!
Fantastic way to end the show. (And props for referencing Kevin Spacey hostingSNL.)
Final Thoughts
I loved this! ¿Y tu?
Was it cowardly for the show to cut Tommy Brennan's ICE commentary last week?
Speaking of last week, nearly 60 percent of you enjoyed the show! Stats! We love them.
Next week: The show's 1000th episode! (Who else is having milestone overload?)
Check out Jeff Richards' new album, Don't Know You (But I Miss You)! It is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. The oldest song on there is "Go Stop Wait Go," from way back in the mid-aughts.
Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
