First up was the night’s cold open, and another welcome return: After a seven-episode hiatus, two-time Emmy-winner and all-time SNL great Kate McKinnon was greeted back with audience roars, as her ever-funny, ever-bug-eyed and grumbling Dr. Anthony Fauci, here to deliver a “holiday message” about Omicron to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Kyle Mooney, Mikey Day, Melissa Villaseñor, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, and Bowen Yang were good at playing terrible “actors” from the CDC, dramatizing our routine pandemic struggles… or at least a heightened version of them. Gleefully mugging Pete Davidson and Andrew Dismukes appeared as disgraced Cuomo brothers (who “lost their jobs because of Covid,” obvs!) Frankly, the funniest part was Cecily Strong as rifle-toting Marjorie Taylor Greene (seriously, how on Earth has Strong still not won an Emmy?!), with a squinty, slipshod call to arms opposite Chloe Fineman’s also on-point Lauren Boebert. Aidy Bryant got laughs as Ted (“weirdo with a beard-o”) Cruz; it’s a funny impression after innumerable appearances, even if the sketch started to feel overstuffed and underdeveloped (as these admittedly enjoyable political cold opens often do). In Eilish’s opening monologue, the “everything i wanted” hitmaker appeared in a festive spin on her signature baggy clothes look, which she herself described as a cross between “Mrs. Claus going to da club” or someone about to “get married in an anime.” Eilish reflected on her upcoming birthday (“middle age” according to the internet), and shared about the early death of her acting career several years ago, when mother (and Groundlings alum/improv instructor) Maggie Baird cast son FINNEAS in a film as her son—with no role for Billie. Baird appeared onstage in a a sweatshirt with FINNEAS’ face plastered on it for effect. A relatable look at Christmas cards on the fridge is one of those SNL sketches that’s bound to get shared around the internet over the holiday season. Villaseñor and Alex Moffat soaked in a tableaux of holiday greetings that—face it—we’ve all seen. Highlights include Eilish relishing a turn as a picture-perfect, pajama-clad “tacky, fake bitch” showcasing her incel son (Dismukes)—and a surprise appearance from Miley Cyrus! The best sketch of the night—one of the best sketches so far this season—was a technically innovative TikTok scroll-through montage, offering SNL’s talented ensemble cast room to shine in wildly different moments with wildly different characters. This is genuinely clever, always fun, even dazzling. Just watch. Another high point of the night was this mega-dark, steadily escalating “Nextdoor” Christmas nightmare. Eilish, McKinnon and Day starred in what was basically Love, Actually gone straight to hell. It’s broad; it’s lowbrow. It’s hilarious. Great expressive silent acting from Eilish. Eilish, Gardner, a mostly-naked and twerking Dismukes—and wigs, big wigs—enlivened Hip-Hop Nativity. Dumb, definitely. Funny, for sure. It was just like a Groundlings sketch. Our host showed off her undeniably formidable singing pipes alongside Nwodim and McKinnon in a strange, hopelessly awkward, occasionally uncomfortably horny jazz love letter to Saint Nick. Kenan Thompson appeared as Santa to rowdy applause. It’s never not great to see the 19-season SNL vet. On Weekend Update, Colin Jost and Michael Che got big, merciless laughs (as always) from topics like the Jussie Smollett verdict, Jeffrey Epstein—and drugs! It’s arguably the meanest Weekend Update era ever right now… it’s also one of the absolute funniest. So, whatever. Oh, also, NBC canceled them briefly in the middle of this week’s segment! Punkie Johnson joined the news desk to share about her family’s traditional and not-so-traditional holiday traditions. It all ended with a pregnancy announcement, only not really. Perhaps the most unusual (and on SNL, that’s a good thing) moment of tonight’s SNL came with Dismukes appearance at the news desk, showcasing amazing animals—and accepting imminent death with dignity and bravery! This was one of the best bits of the night. Kyle Mooney’s first digital short in a hot minute (the absence of Beck Bennett at SNL is sadly, undeniably an issue right now) sees the self-proclaimed misunderstood cast member seeking Christmas company at 30 Rock, with the worst social skills imaginable, and maybe homicidal ideations. McKinnon appeared in nearly every sketch tonight; she’s already developed a shorthand with Eilish. They were cracking each other (and us) up in a deadpan advert for a stain-filled murder hotel. FINNEAS appeared as an apathetic bellhop who’s also the “in-house doctor.” Our host put on her musical guest hat for two performances tonight: first was Grammy-nominated “Happier Than Ever”… Finally, her latest single “Male Fantasy.” The way she sings with emotion and experience beyond her years kind of evokes a young Judy Garland, for the 21st century, right? Eilish really was a breezily confident, irresistibly mirthful host. Terrific. Here’s to her next hosting gig. The final SNL episode of the year airs next week Dec. 18 11:30 p.m. ET with Paul Rudd and Charli XCX. What did you think of Billie Eilish on SNL? Sound off in the comments.
