Dave Chappelle’s fourth hosting stint on Saturday Night Live, the first of 2025, sparked a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. Known for both his comedic brilliance and controversial material, particularly regarding the transgender community, Chappelle returned to the SNL stage alongside first-time musical guest GloRilla. The episode, while marked by Chappelle’s characteristically lengthy monologue and a few standout sketches, ultimately felt somewhat uneven, leaving some viewers with a sense of incompleteness.
The cold open, a familiar MSNBC newsroom setting with pundits grappling with Donald Trump’s Twitter pronouncements, felt safe and predictable, perhaps a sign of comedic fatigue in the face of a potential second Trump presidency. The episode’s centerpiece, Chappelle’s 17-minute monologue, was a departure from his recent controversial material. Addressing topics such as the LA fires, Diddy’s parties, and cultural differences in his Ohio community, Chappelle’s humor, while still pointed, seemed to lack the mean-spirited edge that characterized his previous stand-up performances. He concluded with a poignant anecdote about Jimmy Carter’s visit to Palestine, urging Trump to strive for better leadership for all, a surprisingly heartfelt moment that marked a high point of the episode.
A recurring sketch, “Immigrant Dad Talk Show 2,” featuring Marcello Hernández as a disapproving Latino father, continued to entertain, this time joined by Chappelle and Mikey Day as fellow dads. Hernández’s dynamic performance anchored the sketch, proving its enduring appeal. “Evacuation Alert,” depicting a family’s chaotic attempt to escape the LA fires, offered strong visual gags and consistent laughter. GloRilla’s musical performances, while boasting impressive production and choreography, were marred by moments of apparent lip-syncing issues, disrupting the flow and engagement.
Weekend Update delivered its usual blend of topical humor, light jabs at various groups, and a near-breaking point for Colin Jost. Michael Longfellow’s appearance, discussing the TikTok ban, showcased his appealing delivery reminiscent of a young Norm Macdonald. Sarah Sherman’s cameo as a vampire, though amusing, felt underutilized, relying more on physical comedy and visual gags than character development. “Police Station,” featuring Devon Walker attempting to describe his missing girlfriend while Kenan Thompson hilariously tries to censor his weight estimations, proved a tight and effective sketch, elevated by Thompson’s physical comedy. Noticeably, Chappelle was absent from this sketch, a missed opportunity given the limited number of skits in the episode.
The final sketch, “Pop the Ballon,” a parody of a YouTube dating show, failed to capitalize on the premise’s inherent humor. The appearance of Chappelle’s Show characters Silky Johnson, Donnell Rawlings, and Ashy Larry evoked nostalgia but lacked substantial comedic impact. Overall, the episode showcased Chappelle’s undeniable talent and stage presence, but the limited number of sketches and some missed opportunities left a sense of unfulfilled potential.
The episode underscored the complex nature of Chappelle’s comedic persona. His monologue, while devoid of overtly offensive material, still prompted reflection on the lingering impact of his past jokes. Can a comedian simply move on from controversy, altering their material and expecting forgiveness? The question remains open, subject to the judgment of both those directly affected by his words and the wider audience. Chappelle’s performance, while undeniably engaging, left a sense of ambiguity, leaving viewers to ponder the delicate balance between comedic freedom and social responsibility.
The pacing of the episode also contributed to the feeling of unevenness. The extended monologue, while captivating in its own right, left less time for a substantial number of skits. This imbalance led to a sense of brevity, with some sketches feeling rushed or underdeveloped. The inclusion of returning characters like Silky Johnson, while offering a nostalgic touch, didn’t fully capitalize on their comedic potential. The episode’s structure felt disproportionate, with the monologue dominating the runtime and the remaining sketches struggling to find their footing.
GloRilla’s musical performances, while visually impressive, suffered from technical or performance issues that detracted from their overall impact. The apparent discrepancies between the audio track and her lip movements created a distracting element that took viewers out of the performance. While her stage presence and energy were undeniable, these technical glitches hindered the full appreciation of her musical talent. This also highlighted a potential area for improvement in SNL’s production, ensuring seamless synchronization between audio and visual elements in musical performances.
The utilization of recurring characters and formats, such as the MSNBC cold open and the “Immigrant Dad” sketch, while providing a sense of familiarity, also contributed to the episode’s lack of novelty. While these sketches offered consistent humor, they didn’t push comedic boundaries or explore new territories. This reliance on established formats could be interpreted as a sign of creative stagnation, potentially stemming from the challenges of navigating the current socio-political landscape. The episode, while entertaining in parts, lacked the element of surprise or innovation that often defines the best SNL performances.
Chappelle’s return to SNL, while generating significant buzz, ultimately presented a mixed bag. His monologue, though less controversial than past performances, still sparked reflection on the evolving nature of comedy and the complexities of public forgiveness. The episode’s uneven pacing, reliance on established formats, and technical glitches in the musical performances contributed to a sense of unfulfilled potential. While showcasing moments of brilliance, the episode as a whole fell short of the high expectations set by Chappelle’s previous appearances and the anticipation surrounding the start of a new SNL season. The upcoming episode, with Timothée Chalamet as host and musical guest, offers a fresh opportunity for SNL to recapture its comedic momentum and deliver a more balanced and innovative performance.
