Dakota Johnson hosted a critically panned Saturday Night Live episode, featuring a surprise Taylor Swift cameo in her monologue, but struggling through weak sketches and an overall lack of comedic energy.
The latest Saturday Night Live episode, hosted by Dakota Johnson, was widely described as a 'weak' and 'energy vacuum.' The cold open, set at RNC headquarters, featured impersonations of Republican figures like Trump and was a slight improvement over the previous week. Johnson's monologue saw her making self-deprecating jokes about past relationships, culminating in a surprise appearance by her BFF Taylor Swift, which delighted the audience but couldn't elevate the humor. Sketches included a repetitive 'Press Your Luck' game, a 'Mean Scary Girlfriend' bit, a sputtering hospital gossip scene, a quick 'Glunt' gun commercial, and a 'Game of Thrones' parody with flat jokes. Musical guests Turnstile brought a much-needed burst of energy. 'Weekend Update' featured Michael Che and Colin Jost, with standout performances from Mikey Day as Link from Zelda and Sarah Sherman as the bizarre matchmaker Debbie. Other segments included a middle school sleepover sketch and a short, dark 'Amazing Tales of Truth.' The episode concluded abruptly, with critics noting Johnson's struggles with live comedy and the overall weak writing, making it a largely forgettable night despite a few strong individual performances.
