Saturday Night Live: Jenna Ortega / The 1975

March 12, 2023 4:57 PM - Season 48, Episode 15

RIP title card for Erin Maroney Fraser, who was also Chris Farley's girlfriend before he died.

• Cold Open - Oscars Red Carpet: Heidi Gardner, Marcello Hernandez, Kenan Thompson, Sarah Sherman, Devon Walker, Andrew Dismukes, Mikey Day, Molly Kearney, Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang, Michael Longfellow
• Monologue: Jenna Ortega, Fred Armisen
• School vs. School: Kenan Thompson, Michael Longfellow, Punkie Johnson, Marcello Hernandez, Jenna Ortega, Mikey Day, Molly Kearney
• Roadtrip: PDD, Jenna Ortega, James Austin Johnson
• Parent Trap Remake: Jenna Ortega, Bowen Yang, Fred Armisen
• Ridiculousness: Mikey Day, Kenan Thompson, Chloe Fineman, Jenna Ortega
• Varsity Valley: Marcello Hernandez, Jenna Ortega, Molly Kearney, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Mikey Day, Devon Walker, Punkie Johnson, Andrew Dismukes, Kenan Thompson
• The 1975 - I'm In Love With You
• Weekend Update: Michael Che, Colin Jost
  • Randy McNally: Molly Kearney
  • Impressions: James Austin Johnson
• Exorcism: Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Jenna Ortega, Ego Nwodim, James Austin Johnson, Kenan Thompson
• The 1975 - Oh Caroline
• Donalds & Dominquez: Jenna Ortega, Bowen Yang, Chloe Fineman, Devon Walker, Andrew Dismukes, James Austin Johnson

posted by rhizome (12 comments total)

One word: catball

Pretty good episode. I can’t say there were any blatant misfires, though the cold open just kind of dragged along. I guess Parent Trap Remake was the low spot for me. Why the hell was Fred Armisen even there?
posted by Thorzdad at 4:10 AM on March 13, 2023 [3 favorites]

I thought School vs School was hilarious, especially since the knock-off X-Men were such blatant caricatures. It wouldn't have worked with the actual X-Men characters.

Why the hell was Fred Armisen even there?

He co-stars on Wednesday as Uncle Fester.
posted by Servo5678 at 6:48 AM on March 13, 2023

This one was all "Okay, sure, that's amusing" without any serious home runs. And yeah, Fred Armisen didn't do anything that pretty much anyone else in the cast could have done.
posted by Etrigan at 8:43 AM on March 13, 2023 [3 favorites]

It was indeed a long wait for a laugh, but I lost it at Johnson's impressions.
posted by Flashman at 10:16 AM on March 13, 2023 [2 favorites]

He co-stars on Wednesday as Uncle Fester.

Yes, I know that. So did a lot of better actors. It just felt...odd...for him to be there, to me anyway.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:46 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

Waffle House was a home run! For me anyway.
posted by Naberius at 12:21 PM on March 13, 2023 [7 favorites]

Parent Trap was funny in that "what if?" stoney dorm-room idea way, which Armisen excels at. I'm not saying it was good, and I think it was someone here who noted that his thing is always a "look at me!" thing, but it was speaking a language I knew. I have a feeling Michael Longfellow could do that "slice of Bill Hader" thing pretty well.

Waffle House was really good, particularly since I recently watched the second episode of "Barry," where something like that happens.

Roadtrip is continuing PDDs lunges toward improvement. I laughed.

I dunno, it was all "pretty good." Exorcism was a fine idea. They were all fine ideas.

I thought Jenna Ortega did well...not to say "for a 20 year old," but...for a 20 year old. I can't imagine 20 year old me up there, that's for sure! But she hit her marks and had pretty good delivery.

Oh, one thing that bugged me was Ridiculousness, because I've watched that show quite a bit over pandemic. Kenan did a good Steelo, but Mikey Day, man. It's like he's never smoked pot.
posted by rhizome at 12:35 PM on March 13, 2023

I loved the Ridiculousness skit largely due to Jenna’s performance. Her character and the horrific stories she told was hilarious. The catball story, alone, was a riot.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:10 PM on March 13, 2023 [3 favorites]

"... every 30 seconds, we have to do a few awkward pan-downs to women's feet"

Hey, I resemble that comment. Footwear fashion is cool.

"Here to fill it with James Austin Johnston"

!! Legend.
posted by porpoise at 7:59 PM on March 13, 2023

Ortega's costumes - are they made by SNL, or does she get to choose them from designers/ etc./ have a say in what she dresses?

The cold opener had her in the no-bottoms things that'd been trending, she had a super-mini for the first intro, then the rest ha her in suit-variations.

Damn. 20. Do respect for self consciousness.
posted by porpoise at 8:02 PM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

Roadtrip and Waffle House will go down as two of the best things this season. I am serious. I roared through both of those.
posted by Ber at 3:38 PM on March 14, 2023 [3 favorites]

Mostly I was just confused how The Californians is anyone's favorite sketch
posted by ckape at 7:37 AM on March 16, 2023 [2 favorites]