SNL Season 42: Alec Baldwin

He's felt like a cast member this season, but Alec Baldwin hosted for an unprecedented 17th time. So how did it go? Onto the review

Sean Spicer Press Conference Cold Open: You knew this was coming, but they still hit this out of the park. Melissa McCarthy returned, portraying "Spicey". While trying to appear more calm, Spicer still flys off the handle. This didn't have the surprise factor like last week, but that didn't hold this back. They even upped the game here, with a motorized podium now, making for an even better visual as Spicer goes after reporters. We also got a brief cameo of Kate McKinnon as Jeff Sessions. (9.3)

Monologue: The monologue featured Alec and Pete Davidson, with Pete reflecting on how much older Alec looks compared to his first hosting gig. (7.7)

Russell Stover (ad): Russell Stovers aren't just selling chocolates for Valentine's Day any more. In this ad parody, they've started to sell chocolates commemorating Black History Month, featuring different prominent shaped figures. You know there's some executive out there that thinks this is actually a great idea. (7.5)

Pitch Meeting: This is what a lot of board rooms probably looked like in preparing for the super bowl ads. Alec and Aidy Bryant pitch deep Cheetos ads, but having nothing to do with the actual product. The best line though was from Kyle Mooney and Melissa Villasenor, who catch on and throw a beginning to a pitch of "we open on the twin towers". (8.0)

Jake Tapper (short): This short sees Jake Tapper (Beck Bennett) finishing up his interview with Kellyanne Conway (McKinnon). She then follows him home, and they have a "Fatal Attraction" - esque interaction, with Conway begging to go back on TV, threatening Tapper. There were plenty of hot-takes defending Conway, but I think this short made a good point. Just a week ago, Conway claimed she wouldn't go back on CNN....only to show up days later for this Tapper interview. Quite frankly, she is addicted to television coverage. Its almost like she feels powerless without her ability to go on camera, scolding media. (8.7) 

Drill Sergeant: (6.0)

(Ed Sheeran): (7.0)

Weekend Update: Colin Jost and Michael Che were cleaner than last week. 

The first guest saw Kate playing Sen. Elizabeth Warren, following McConnell's silencing of her on the senate floor. Is there anyone Kate can't play? Hopefully this means she'll be around for the 2020 race for a prospective Warren campaign.

Alex Moffat played "A Guy Who Just Bought A Boat". Nothing really that memorable, though this character would have fit in perfectly on The Californians".

Leslie Jones and Mikey Day then played a couple dabbling in BDSM, with Day showing a few injuries. (7.3)

Trump People's Court: I was wondering if they would do something like this. Following his "SEE YOU IN COURT" tweet after the 9th circuit ruling against Trump on his travel ban, we see him taking them to the People's Court here (Cecily Strong). Maybe not the best Trump sketch, but there were still a lot of good moments, from seeing Grim Reaper Bannon sitting in the audience, to Beck's Putin as a witness. Though Cecily had the best line on being exhausted to this point in the Trump administration. (8.0)

Beyonce's Babies: (6.9)

Leslie Wants To Play Trump (short): In a behind the scenes style of short, Leslie Jones prepares to audition to play Trump. She then goes on to freak out at Lorne when denied the opportunity, but Melania (Cecily) picks her up outside. If Trump saw this, I imagine it certainly got under his skin. (8.3)

(Ed Sheeran): (7.4)

Gym Class: (6.5)

SNL has embraced this new political era we're currently in. They've shown that they won't hold back, and are willing to take risks. (7.58)

Dave Chappelle: 8.83
Kristen Stewart: 8.13

Tom Hanks: 8.03

Aziz Ansari: 7.82

Lin Manuel Miranda: 7.74

Felicity Jones: 7.62

Alec Baldwin: 7.58

Emma Stone: 7.56

Casey Affleck: 7.40

Margot Robbie: 7.38

John Cena: 7.19

Kristen Wiig: 7.09

Emily Blunt: 7.07

Benedict Cumberbatch: 6.60