'SNL' recap: Jacob Elordi and Reneé Rapp kick off first 2024 episode

It’s a new year, and that means SNL in Review is back. We are jumping in with Jacob Elordi hosting tonight's Saturday Night Live. The actor has gained prominence through his roles in The Kissing Booth as well as Euphoria. Last year, he portrayed Elvis in Sofia Coppola's Priscilla biopic then starred in zeitgeisty, pulpy Talented Mr. Ripley spin, Saltburn.

Two big burning questions for me though: Will Lorne Michaels scratch the Mean Girls musical itch, since star Reneé Rapp is tonight’s musical guest? And, of course, how will the show approach former President Donald Trump’s swift ascent in the Republican presidential primary?

Tonight’s recap features commentary from former SNL cast member Jeff Richards, who recently played Gary Busey in a new Donald Trump-themed episode on his deep fake podcast. He says, reflecting on trading off against a legitimate Trump impersonator: "Going up against the great John DiDomenico, it’s like hanging on the side of the building, you can fall or you can get busy and clean those windows!"

Let’s kick things off, folks - former staff writer Steven Castillo returns to the writers room. Welcome back, sir!

Cold Open

This is how surreal our times are: tonight’s Cold Open is set outside the courtroom of Donald Trump’s civil trial with E. Jean Carroll, a former SNL writer. A former NBC employee, who leveraged his network platform and access to SNL into the presidency, is being sued by someone who was at the show in the '80s.

After an intro by his inexperienced attorney Alina Habba, played by Chloe Fineman, Trump (James Austin Johnson) comes out to comment on an array of issues - mostly Trump-related but also not. “I’m always in ski boots, make it make sense,” he quips. JAJ’s Trump leans into the stream of consciousness pop culture references. “Where’s Lacey Chabert?” he asks of the original Mean Girls star. He also calls out Twin Peaks and Jeffrey Epstein.

As he himself says, this has a very “dark energy” – it’s a fantastic monologue by JAJ, but it’s such a bleak portrait of what’s happening in politics.

What else does he predict for the coming year? “Frankly, the Purge."

Monologue

It’s the first and so far best episode of 2024! They immediately jump into the Saltburn TikToks. Elordi opens up to some questions from the audience. He likes Lilo & Stitch Elvis the best. Some of the writers and cast (Rosebud Baker!) ask questions. Sarah Sherman chimes in to say The Kissing Booth was gross.

He is right — not good at public speaking! Historically, this is usually a slam dunk... but there is little premise here.

"Crown Your Short King"

Bachelorette Tiffany (Fineman) is poised to choose one of three short, goofy contestant bachelors. Suddenly, a fourth option emerges: Elordi, tall masculine perfection. She is immediately smitten. This has been a steady segment for SNL in recent seasons – Adele appeared a few years back, and failed to get a rose.

"Club Shay Shay Extended Cut"

Eight hours more, the extended version! Katt Williams (Ego Nwodim) recently went on Club Shay Shay to hold court and call out names in Hollywood (or, as Dave Chappelle pointed out, Black comedians). So this short is spoofing his truth telling and tics from that viral episode, which still has called out figures like Tiffany Haddish and Ice Cube reacting. It’s a little surface, but Nwodim is fantastic here!

"Entertainment Tonight Lip-Readers"

Awards season is underway! We have had a few high profile moments capturing private conversations among celebrities at things like the Golden Globes. Professional lip readers (Bowen Yang, Elordi) come out to fill in the blanks and pick up on subtle body language. This is a classic Yang premise, coming out of his viral lip-syncs. Their “little lesbian intern” (Reneé Rapp as herself) joins them. She has had to community service because she has been “going off” in interviews. Meh.

"Bowling Pins"

Heidi Gardner is out bowling with Elordi. After she knocks down a few pins, a cute animation appears. A ton of visual bowling puns commence. For Elordi’s "split," the cartoon pins discuss divorce. A father pin (Mikey Day) chides his daughter (Chloe Troast) over smoking cigarettes - he doesn’t want her to live in the "gutter." Sarah Sherman’s bowling pin has the best line. Also: "stuck ball." This is hacky, but silly and fun!

"Alaska Airlines Ad"

“Still better than Spirit.” Earlier this month, a panel tore off from the side of an Alaska Airlines plane as it reached just over 16,000 feet, leaving a refrigerator-sized hole in the plane. Here, the airline promises to make amends. They will tighten bolts in the plane! Sully Sullenberger (JAJ) is also being brought out of retirement. We get a nice shot of Andrew Dismukes getting his shirt sucked off.

Reneé Rapp performs "Snow Angel"

This is the title track off Rapp’s debut album, also called Snow Angel. I will say this about the burgeoning Gen Z icon: she can absolutely belt power ballads like this. At just 24, Rapp has a strong track record performing on stage; even before diving into the role of Regina George (on stage and now on the big screen), she played Wendla in Theatre Charlotte's regional production of Spring Awakening.

Jeff Richards says, of course, his favorite Broadway musical is Mean Girls. (FYI Jeff attributes the success of his Drunk Girl character on Weekend Update, in part, to Tina Fey.)

"Weekend Update"

Colin Jost starts with a misguided and lame both sides-ism plea for Joe Biden and Donald Trump to not be the nominees.

Devon Walker plays Senator Tim Scott who just endorsed Donald Trump. He riffs on the South Carolina politician’s unusual voice. Like if Bill Clinton was Black, or Forrest Gump doing Ja Rule. Nice to see Devon at the Update desk, which includes a funny bit about Jost reacting to a literal racist dog whistle.

Deobra Redden (Punkie Johnson) went viral for a video of him literally flying at a judge in her courtroom. They examine the tape - how did this happen?! Michael Che seems to be amused at some of his jokes failing to land tonight.

"Women's AA Meeting"

Women supporting women - there’s a lot of solidarity in the room. These bonded women even turn away Mikey Day, an alcoholic just looking for a meeting. Read the sign! Men not allowed. Their hypocrisy is revealed when Jacob Elordi arrives. Lo, they accept him! So, another sketch where Elordi is cast as the hot guy, and the female cast members ogle at him. In addition to drugs and booze, he was a sex addict - and apparently a capable lover. They swoon. “Don’t beat yourself off — up!” stumbles Chloe Fineman. Cringe. This episode is reminding me of when Jennifer Lopez hosted and her attractiveness underpinned like 80% of the show.

Reneé Rapp performs "Not My Fault"

Wow! The original Regina George, Rachel McAdams (who is hoping for an Oscar nomination next week for her work in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret) introduces the performance. Fun!

“Not My Fault” is the lead single from the new Mean Girls movie musical soundtrack. In the track, Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion — who is also here in another nice surprise — riff about love and confidence. (Megan served as host and musical guest in 2022. She also was the musical guest in 2020, and Chance The Rapper performed "Handsome" with her back in season 45.) Do we briefly) hear Lindsay Lohan at the very top of the song?

Acting Class

Bowen Yang is an acting teacher, giving advice on aspiring thespians. Rachel McAdams pops up to play Natalie Partman, who is grappling with looking exactly like Rachel McAdams, but is "not a fan." Cool to see her in a sketch – she seems a little shaky. (Combined with Julia Stiles’ "Update" appearance a few episodes back, the early 2000s truly are nostalgic now! And, as a reminder how things go, previously McAdams was the young star, now she's the 'elder' statesman calling out The Notebook.) Anyway, Pertman started an Only Fans and was sued by McAdams for being a Deep Fake version of her. Again, Elordi plays someone whose defining trait is he is gorgeous. He was discovered by Selena Gomez off the plane, never faced rejection, and has not even auditioned.

"Garrett from Hinge: Wedding"

The return of Yang's Garrett from Hinge! He was in the Travis Kelce episode. “You cannot kill them!”

Tonight, Garrett interrupts Chloe Troast’s marriage to Elordi. We get a few Family Guy impressions. This is maybe the best Elordi has been all night. The last one was written by Yang along with Jimmy Fowlie, Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, Ben Marshall.

Final Thoughts

—Hi! Want to read a fun interview I just did with former member Taran Killam? Of course you do! He’s a great guy, and we dig into some fun anecdotes.

—Thank you Jeff Richards!

-So tonight leaned on some cameo appearances and "hot guy" tropes. What if McAdams actually hosted? Or Rapp? Vote here and let your voice be heard!

—One last thing: wild that PDD's short film was announced, then cut during the live show. When did that last happen?

Saturday Night Live returns next week with host Dakota Johnson and musical guest Justin Timberlake.

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