<\/p>\n
On October 11, 1975, George Carlin hosted the first-ever episode of Saturday Night Live<\/em>. It was only fitting to bring in a seasoned pro to emcee the same night 50 years later \u2014 and former Not Ready for Primetime Player, Amy Poehler<\/strong>, was more than up to the task. After a bumpy start to Season 51<\/a>, SNL <\/em>delivered a solid second episode, chock full of cameos. Here are the standout moments.<\/p>\n SNL’s go-to President Donald Trump<\/strong>, James Austin Johnson<\/strong>, got a break this week. Instead Attorney General Pam Bondi<\/strong> was in the spotlight with Poehler re-playing her contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. As in real life, Poehler\u2019s Bondi arrives ready to brawl, holding a Mean Girls <\/em>burn book of prepared zingers, including: \u201cThe DOJ has many ongoing operations and we\u2019re moving like Kash Patel<\/strong>\u2019s eyeballs \u2013 very quickly, in multiple directions at once.\u201d<\/p>\n More from Gold Derby<\/strong><\/p>\n A few new cast members get some screen time, and Andrew Dismukes<\/strong> also does a nice job as Sen. John Neely Kennedy<\/strong>. But the sketch truly ascends to greatness once Tina Fey<\/strong> shows up as Homeland Security secretary \u2014 and No. 1 Old Yeller <\/em>fan \u2014 Kristi Noem<\/strong>. \u201cDogs don\u2019t just get shot,\u201d Fey says. \u201cHeroes shoot them.\u201d Watching Fey and Poehler shout \u201cLive From New York, it\u2019s Saturday Night!\u201d just feels right.<\/p>\n \u201cSNL <\/em>is such a special place to me,\u201d Poehler says in her opening monologue. \u201cI found my first love here: being famous.\u201d Poehler doesn\u2019t have a big project to promote \u2014 she\u2019s a podcaster now. \u201cIf that\u2019s not a recession indicator, I don\u2019t know what is,” she quipped. But by now she\u2019s also a natural at this, and it\u2019s a joy to see her back in Studio 8H. She even gets a great barb directed at AI \u201cactress\u201d Tilly Norwood<\/a>. \u201cYou\u2019ll never be able to write a joke, you stupid robot!\u201d<\/p>\n It was only a matter of time before SNL <\/em>skewered The Hunting Wives<\/em>, Netflix\u2019s surprise summer hit about a group of gun-toting conservative women. Poehler and Chloe Fineman<\/strong> take the reins here, doing solid impersonations of Malin Akerman<\/strong> and Brittany Snow<\/strong>. The actual show is racy and scandalous, and like all great parodies, this leans into that impression. One of the onscreen blurbs from a fake New York Times<\/em> review is credited to “A.I. Scott” and reads: \u201cIt\u2019s like if The L Word<\/em> took place in Yellowstone<\/em>. This show has healed our nation.\u201d It also features a Parks and Recreation <\/em>reunion: Aubrey Plaza<\/strong> enters the mix as a new character who is quickly seduced by Fineman\u2026 then Poehler\u2026 and then eventuallu everyone.<\/p>\n Role Model<\/strong> performed his smash hit \u201cSally, When The Wine Runs Out,\u201d featuring a cameo from Charli XCX<\/strong>. The Grammy-winning Brat <\/em>artist recently made headlines amid the rollout for Taylor Swift<\/strong>\u2019s new album, The Life of a Showgirl; <\/em>one track is speculated to be a swipe at Charli<\/a>. Last week, Swift staged an NBC late-night<\/a> takeover<\/a>, but the mega pop star has yet to drop by SNL<\/em>. Perhaps she\u2019ll make an appearance next week, when Sabrina Carpenter<\/strong> pulls double duty.<\/p>\n Does it get any better than watching Poehler, Fey, and Seth Meyers<\/strong> crash the Update <\/em>desk? Seeing this classic trio back together is the warm blanket we all need right about now. What follows is a hilarious throwdown between the early aughts SNL<\/em> alums and current anchors Colin Jost<\/strong> and Michael Che<\/strong>. Everyone hits buzzers (that don\u2019t work) to lock in their best punchlines for a joke about a woman in Tennessee who broke a hospital record after giving birth to a 13-pound baby. Fey\u2019s take: \u201cThe new baby\u2019s name is AHHHH.\u201d Jost counters with: \u201cThe baby\u2019s nickname is Magician, because it basically sawed his mother in half.\u201d<\/p>\n In the final sketch of the night, Poehler and Bowen Yang<\/strong> play composers giving a talk about how they crafted theme music for hit shows like Severance <\/em>and The Pitt. <\/em>Most people don\u2019t know that the original versions weren\u2019t gloomy, serious instrumentals \u2014 they actually sounded a lot like the The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air <\/em>theme. Yang and Poehler make this bit with their enthusiastic performances of the crazy lyrics. Take this line from the the little-known original Severance <\/em>theme: \u201cThey take a big knife and cut your brain in half. One half for work, one half for sex.”<\/p>\n Best of Gold Derby<\/strong><\/p>\n Sign up for Gold Derby’s Newsletter<\/a>. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\nCold Open<\/h3>\n
Opening Monologue<\/h3>\n
The Hunting Wives Season 2 Trailer<\/h3>\n
Role Model performs<\/h3>\n
Weekend Update<\/h3>\n
Theme Songs Masterclass<\/h3>\n