There are so many talking points for
SNLs 38th season finale that I hardly know where to begin! Maybe itll help to organize them as a list:
1. Tonight marks Ben Afflecks fifth time hosting
Saturday Night Live, which grants him membership to
SNLs storied Five-Timers Club. Usually, a moment like this would occasion a big, cameo-stuffed sketch featuring veteran hosts like Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. But
SNL just gave us a cameo-stuffed Five Timers Club sketch when
Justin Timberlake hosted in March and its way too soon to repeat that same conceit. So how will the show acknowledge Afflecks milestone? Maybe Timberlake will show up to induct him?
2. As you may already know, Stefons very first
SNL appearance wasnt a Weekend Update visit. It was this
little-remembered sketch from the last time Affleck hosted the show in 2008, which casts Bill Hader and the host as brothers pitching a movie together. (According to the clip, Stefons last name is Zolesky who knew?) This has to mean that Stefon and Afflecks David are going to appear together again tonight, right?
3. Speaking of Stefon: Its Bill Haders last show! Which of his beloved characters/impressions (James Carville, Al Pacino, Herb Welch) will show up again and will he get a goodbye as sweet as Kristen Wiigs Rolling Stones-assisted sendoff?
4. Haders not the only one leaving
SNL.
Fred Armisen is reportedly done with the show, and Jason Sudeikis will likely exit as well after tonight. Will they each get their own individual send-offs? Which of Armisens worst recurring characters (Manuel Ortiz, Regine, Rodger Brush) will we have to tolerate because hes on his way out?
5. And then theres Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallons
Late Night heir apparent. Hes not actually departing
SNL until this winter but clearly, the show has to acknowledge the news of its head writers new gig. Could Fallon stop by to give Meyers his blessing, or to come back to the Weekend Update desk for old times sake?
6. Kanye West, too, will be an
SNL five-timer as of tonight, albeit only as a musical guest. I was really looking forward to seeing Jay Pharoah impersonate Kanye while standing
next to Kanye but unfortunately, it seems unlikely that the rapper will appear in any sketches tonight. Why? Because heres one of the things he said during a
long rant at an Upfront presentation this week: Hell nah, I aint doing no motherfing
SNL skits; this my ####### life. This aint no motherfing joke!
7. Then again, it looks like Beyoncé
might be pregnant again so that at least should be good for a Pharoah as Jay-Z sketch, right?
8. Hey, why doesnt Jay Pharoah get more screen time?
Ponder these questions before, after, and during tonights show and Ill be back in the morning with a full recap.