Saturday Night Live continues its impressive streak with another captivating episode this week, featuring host Ryan Gosling and surprise guest Harry Styles.
The latest episode of the live sketch comedy show started strong and maintained a lively rhythm throughout the night. Here are some highlights from this week’s show.
Ryan Gosling’s SNL Monologue
This marks Gosling’s fourth time hosting Saturday Night Live, and it may be his best episode yet. During his monologue, he noticed Harry Styles, next week’s host, in the audience. In a playful twist, he asked Styles why he was there, to which Styles replied that he wanted to observe for preparation. However, Gosling was visibly distracted by the pop star’s presence, leading to a humorous amount of shared screen time between them.
SNL’s Battle of the Riddles
In this sketch, three cyclops (Gosling, Kenan Thompson, and Mikey Day) embark on a quest for hidden treasure behind a mysterious door. Two guardians (Ashley Padilla and Veronica Slowikowska) inform them that they must solve a riddle to unlock the vault. After struggling with a couple of very simple riddles, the women ultimately give up and hand over the key.
Gosling and the Pastry Factory
Gosling plays a Willy Wonka-inspired character named McTreat. When a group arrives for a factory tour, he and his employees (Slowikowska and Day) are eager to showcase their work. Unfortunately, once the doors open, it becomes clear that the factory workers, reminiscent of Oompa Loompas, have been meeting tragic ends behind the scenes. According to the handyman (Kenan Thompson), this is part of their species’ mating ritual; after mating, the males commit suicide to ensure resources for the females and their offspring.
SNL’s Flops of the Night
While this episode of Saturday Night Live was generally strong, one sketch fell flat and did not resonate as well as others.
The Wedding Reception
A bride (Sarah Sherman) and groom (Day) are delivering speeches at their wedding reception. During a toast, it is revealed that they have a tradition where guests must tap their champagne glasses with a knife to prompt the newlyweds to kiss. Gosling plays an awkward bystander who keeps insisting that the couple kiss. The situation quickly escalates into discomfort as he even urges two siblings making a toast to kiss.
Saturday Night Live airs new episodes Saturdays at 11:30 PM ET and 9:30 PM PT.
- Release Date
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October 11, 1975
- Showrunner
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Lorne Michaels
- Directors
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Dave Wilson, Don Roy King, Liz Patrick, Andy Warhol, Linda Lee Cadwell, Matthew Meshekoff, Paul Miller, Robert Altman, Robert Smigel
- Writers
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Will Forte, Bill Hader, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Chris Parnell, Asa Taccone, John Lutz, Tom Schiller, Simon Rich, Michael Patrick O’Brien, Nicki Minaj, Herbert Sargent, Matt Piedmont, John Solomon, Chris Kelly, Alan Zweibel, Kent Sublette, Ari Katcher, Marika Sawyer, Sarah Schnedier, Scott Jung, Justin Franks, Jerrod Bettis, Rhiannon Bryan
