Scarlett Johansson, in her seventh stint as the host of “Saturday Night Live”, closed out the show’s monumental 50th season. This marked a record-breaking accomplishment for Johansson as the most frequent female host in the show’s history, according to NBC. The episode, however, did not address the swirling rumors surrounding Johansson’s husband, Colin Jost, and his fellow “Weekend Update” co-host Michael Che potentially leaving the show. Instead, the duo engaged in their usual banter, while several guest stars made appearances in various sketches, including Mike Myers, Gina Gershon, and Emily Ratajkowski, along with musical guest Bad Bunny.
Throughout the show, Johansson delivered her usual stellar performance, showcasing her impeccable comedic timing in sketches like a parody of a New York morning show where news puns fall flat, a Please Don’t Destroy video about a disastrous flight to Newark Airport, and a barroom scene where she and Ego Nwodim play love interests to two men lamenting their tumultuous relationships in Spanish. The night also featured a continuation of the “Bowen Yang’s Not Gay” series, with Johansson’s character discovering she’s not the only one in a relationship with Yang, leading to a comedic revelation involving multiple women, including Gershon and Ratajkowski.
As the show progressed, it hit a rough patch with a series of sketches that failed to land with the audience. From a cringeworthy elevator encounter between Mike Myers and a Kanye West impersonator, to a skit about intimacy coordinators fumbling over lesbian intimacy, the momentum dipped. The episode concluded with a bizarre and off-putting segment featuring Victorian women consuming unappetizing foods. Despite these missteps, Johansson’s performance remained a highlight, demonstrating her versatility and comedic prowess. However, a technical glitch during the show’s finale resulted in Johansson being abruptly cut off mid-tribute to producer Lorne Michaels, a rather anticlimactic end to an otherwise solid season.
In a standout sketch of the night, two men find common ground over their disastrous dates at a bar, leading to a humorous exchange in Spanish about their relationship woes. The sketch’s witty subtitles and comedic timing added to its charm, with additional commentary from a duo serving as a Greek chorus. Another notable moment featured the Please Don’t Destroy crew joined by Johansson in a rap video that hilariously unfolds during a turbulent flight to Newark Airport. With visual gags and a surprise appearance by Bad Bunny as an air traffic controller, the sketch provided a comedic high point in an otherwise uneven episode.
Despite its ups and downs, the 50th season finale of “Saturday Night Live” showcased Johansson’s comedic talents and the show’s enduring appeal. From her monologue featuring a song parody to the traditional “Weekend Update” segment filled with risqué jokes, Johansson’s presence elevated the episode. As the season wrapped up, the cast reflected on their shared experiences and expressed gratitude to the audience for their support. While the finale may have had its missteps, it served as a fitting conclusion to a milestone season of the iconic sketch comedy show.
