‘SNL’ recap: Host Quinta Brunson joined by fellow short girl Sabrina Carpenter for monologue

It’s SNL in Review – the 50th anniversary season. We’re in the home stretch, Conehead nation. Tonight’s host is Quinta Brunson. She last hosted in season 48. And recently, during the 50th Anniversary Special’s Q&A segment, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler answered questions from audience members, including Brunson. (She was first.)

Speaking of – I am joined tonight by the fantastic Denny Dillon, a former cast member who has written an upcoming memoir, Two Tickets to Calamity. Viewers of the SNL50 pre-show will recall Bowen Yang gave her a very nice shoutout on air. She says she was “so touched when Bowen mentioned me and Gail Matthius on the red carpet. Loved meeting him, such a gentleman and class act.” She adds that the “SNL50 concert was mind-blowing.” She particularly enjoyed seeing season 50 host Lady Gaga perform, as well as Devo, Bonnie Raitt, David Byrne and “surprise guest CHER. I screamed and I am not a screamer.”

Benson Boone is tonight’s musical guest. Scroll down and follow along! 

Cold Open

It’s been President Trump’s first 100 days of his second term. When FDR was starting during the Great Depression he took great strides, that Trump has essentially reversed. We open up to James Austin Johnson’s Trump for a riff on pop culture and his recent actions. This is a pretty quick one. 

Mikey Day is Stephen Miller, who reminds Trump of Kylo Ren. “God you’re creepy,” Trump says as he signs new executive orders. Topics include interracial couples in Hello Fresh commercials and bringing back Columbus Day. And making “girlfriends young again,” in a reference to Coach Belichick’s recent issues around dating the 24-year-old Jordan Hudson. There’s a huge audience laugh about Harry Potter – and Marcello Hernandez returning as an embarrassed but broken Marco Rubio. Fast and simple. Nothing wrong with that. 

Monologue

Brunson had to come back – she forgot her phone charger last time. It’s been an eventful period since her first hosting gig. Last year Brunson received an honorary degree at Temple University’s commencement. Denny Dillon is a fan: “Quinta Brunson deserves every award she’s received. Love Abbott Elementary, her creation. Writing is sharp and she and all the other actors, originals.”

She also discusses being short cueing up a song about being 4’11. She notes other short stars like Kendrick Lamar.

Sabrina Carpenter cameos to discuss her height. Short stories feel like novels to them. Short rib tastes just like rib, har har. SNL must love Sabrina. They also love Marcello Hernandez, who has discussed his height on the show a few times. He comes on stage to feel tall.

Former NBA star Dwyane Wade is 6’4, he just wanted to be in the song. The number ends with dancers surrounding the four stars, singing about the benefits of being short. Cute stuff. Body positive.

“Will & Todd’s Radical Experience”

Viewers from TBS are enjoying a repeat of a Bill & Ted style 80s time travel comedy. The two stoner high schoolers (Dismukes, Hernandez) bid farewell to the historic figures who taught them key lessons. Everyone is ushered back to the phone booth time machine. Until they get to Harriet Tubman (Brunson) and Frederick Douglass (Kenan Thompson) – they are not going back. Slavery is not an experience they want to relive, and they are not concerned with the impact on time. Dismukes is especially funny here. 

Punkie Johnson played Tubman back in 2022 with host Jake Gyllenhaal. 

“OnlySeniors”

Elderly parents Brunson and Thompson finally got life insurance, despite having preexisting conditions or background checks. Turns out they are on Only Fans. Black Mirror just had an episode on this – the modern popularity of making dirty money through platforms like Chaturbate, where regular people can earn tokens and money from anonymous strangers online. 

“Leadership Summit”

Employees are learning new skills, like how to critique colleagues by sandwiching negative feedback within two positive statements. Brunson tries one out, but makes it very personal. Dismukes also is not work-related, instead hitting on Ashley Padilla. Motivational incentives are also discussed – James Austin Johnson suggests sexual threats. And Kenan Thompson is focused around sandwiches. Bowen Yang pops up in the end, in a fun wink.

“Ferry car”

Ah, the return of this. Two drivers (Quinta Brunson, Mikey Day) get into an argument via their cars, this time after boarding a ferry. Brunson did this last time, then it returned with Martin Short. Again, like the previous times, daughter Chloe Fineman escalates things with sexual gestures. “You – raise – a – hoe,” signals Brunson. Why don’t they just step out of their car? I wish this wasn’t just the exact same template every time, could Brunson be the same character and recognize this angry father daughter pair?

Instead of Melissa McCarthy showing up at the end in the passenger window (like last time), we get… Colin Jost. The audience is excited about this, but unsure who Jost is playing. He’s playing himself, reminding us about how he and Pete Davidson, both native Staten Islanders, purchased a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry boat in 2022. It is interesting seeing the surprise be Jost here, not even Pete. Maybe Pete wouldn’t be keen about doing that. Or could there be something about the rumors Jost is leaving? 

“Forever 31”

Your 20s are over, it is time for Forever 31. Styles that are fun but not ‘fun fun’ – lots of Navy Blue. Pretty fun riffs here. “I make Diane Keaton look like a prostitute,” coos Heidi Gardner. It’s the style that says parents are older now and you think about that a lot. Giant purses! Sensible flats! References to Carmen Sandiego are made. This is really funny. Watch it! 

2 Bitches versus a Gorilla

100 Men or a Gorilla has been viral lately – who would win? SNL offers a counter: who would win at Gorilla Kingdon, two bitches (Brunson, Nwodim) or the gorilla. I love the framing here – SNL is asking, and that’s all you need. Love the meta. 

Nwodim and Brunson kill it. Very funny. Watch it! 

Benson Boone sings “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else”

Brunson introduces Boone then hangs around for the first few beats of this performance, almost being serenaded on-screen. I like that playfulness. This synth rock tune was released on February 27, as the lead single from his upcoming second studio album American Heart.

Weekend Update

Jokes about the Trump AI Pope picture. Jost’s new Seth Meyers-flavored segment “Oh Hell No!” is debuted to rant about the President’s recent admission that US kids may get ‘two dolls instead of 30’ due to his China tariffs. This is a “groan train,” according to Che. Jokes about Matt Gaetz, the Vietnam War ending, killing a dog with a lawn mower and Osama bin Laden.

On May 7, Real ID will be required to board an airplane. Michael Longfellow is not doing it: “Hey Government! No.” He notes he has not been in many sketches this season. He points out airports should not be making demands these days, and lists conditions on getting the Real ID. I like this, but not sure it was a home run for him. 

Darlene and Duke, two Applebees barflies played by Sarah Sherman and Bowen Yang, come out to comment on the retail issues for chains like TGI Friday’s. They make an impassioned argument for these style of corporate chains – it’s also an ode to the caliber of American who gather together there. Denny Dillon notes Yang “is a major talent as a performer. Fearlessly funny and generous.” Benson Boone comes out to present them with steaming fajitas.

Addicts Anonymous

A few new faces are at tonight’s meeting. Marcus (Thompson) just moved to a new city to escape his demons. But it is hard. He not so subtly uses the group to learn about the local dealer and spot to get cocaine. “How did I never think of that,” he blurts out, after hearing how Heidi Gardner used to dress up as a cop at college parties and confiscate coke, to get her fix.

Nice to see Thompson at the anchor here. And the dark material gives this an important edge once you realize he’s playing them and they’re oblivious.

Benson Boone sings “Mystical Magical”

It’s the moonbeam ice cream song! This was just released as the second single from American Heart. The song features interpolations from “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John which she performed on the show way back in season 7. Lore!

This showcases Boone’s falsetto voice and a nice little flip he does mid-song.

The Greats

James Austin Johnson’s host celebrates the great sports personalities, like Jerry Jackrabbit Tulane (Brunson), a precursor to Muhammad Ali. 

Tulane talks a big game in the press conference, yet immediately gets knocked out of the ring during the actual fight. And the rematch. And after that. 

Johnson’s deadpan is pretty fun to watch.

Final thoughts

• Thank you Denny Dillon! Look out for her book. She will also be in an exciting new play this summer written by Renee Taylor and directed by Elaine May, Dying Is No Excuse. Keep your eyes peeled for both things!
• What did YOU think? 
• If you are interested in more SNL content, check out my recent podcast appearance arguing for why Eminem is an all-time great musical guest. Also, here is a fun conversation with season 11 writer Carol Leifer!