December 03, 2017
After a hiatus for Thanksgiving, “Saturday Night Live” returned with a new episode Dec. 2 featuring host Saoirse Ronan, star of “Lady Bird,” and musical guest U2.
Alec Baldwin returned as President Donald Trump for the cold open opposite Kate McKinnon’s Kellyanne Conway. Soon Michael Flynn appears in chains as “A Christmas Carol”-style spoof unfolds.
Ronan, who was raised in Ireland, kicked off her debut hosting gig with a song about how to pronounce her name.
One of the most memorable sketches of the night came with “Welcome to Hell,” a music video giving off a Katy Perry in “California Girls” aesthetic while female cast members sing about the maze of horror that women deal with -- a reality getting more recognition as well-known public figures are being accused of sexual assault and harassment.
“Now ‘House of Cards’ is ruined, and that really sucks. / Well here’s a list of stuff that’s ruined for us. / Parking and walking and Uber and ponytails / Bathrobes and nighttime and drinking and hotels and vans,” the cast sings.
“Lady Bird” writer and director Greta Gerwig appeared in “The Race,” a digital short set in an ‘80s office focused on an office race between Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney.
“Weekend Update” went in on Trump and his tweet announcing the firing of Flynn after he pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I.
“I mean, what else does the F.B.I. need? They have a 95 percent conviction rate, a high-ranking snitch, and a confession on Twitter,” said co-host Michael Che. “So if next year Donald Trump isn’t in prison corn-rolling some brother named Lunchmeat’s hair, then dammit, I want the Oatmeal guy as my lawyer, too.”
Later British Prime Minister Theresa May (McKinnon) talked Trump’s retweeting of anti-Muslim videos and Colin Jost touched on Matt Lauer’s boot from the “TODAY” show, saying, “The Rockefeller Christmas tree was lit, and so was Ann Curry.”
Another surprise guest came during “Bachelor Auction,” featuring a very shouty John McEnroe.
U2 performed “American Spirit,” featuring a politically charged animated backdrop, and "Get Out of Your Own Way,” both off the band’s latest record, “Songs of Experience.”
“SNL” returns next weekend with host James Franco and musical guest SZA.
