Miles Teller / Brandi Carlile - November 1, 2025

(PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS)

Miles Teller is hosting. Having just reviewed his previous episode from 2022, I hope that this is a much better showing given that he was a good host in that episode despite some crappy material. Also, I don't usually mention the musical guest here, but I'm excited for Brandi Carlile's musical performances, given that she's one of the only modern artists I listen to, and I loved her other performances on SNL.

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(COLD OPEN) 2025 New York Mayoral Debate

Highlights:

• Shane Gillis was pretty funny as Curtis Sliwa. Not funny enough to bring a non-cast member in to play the role, but his performance made me laugh. The SNL fans who hate Shane with a passion are definitely not going to be happy about this, but I like him so I don't have too much of an issue with seeing him.

Lowlights:

• Are we really stunt casting, SNL? I guess we're trying to boost ratings after the 50th season has wrapped up.
• Ramy Youssef's Zohran Mamdani impression left a lot to be desired. Boy, what a bland performance, although I'm not sure who in the cast could have convincingly played him. Now, if Emil Wakim hadn't been given the sack, maybe I'd have different opinions on the matter. And not just because of his appearance; I think he's a great match for Mamdani even in demeanor. But alas, he is gone. 
• Miles's Andrew Cuomo impression could've been a lot better.
• And of course, SNL had to shoe-horn Trump in. There was no reason not to leave it Trumpless, but the over-saturation of James's Trump continues.

Additional Notes:

• Uh-oh, I hope Kam doesn't get the Eric Adams curse that Chris Redd and Devon Walker seemed to catch.
• If I were to put cast members in each candidates' roles, I would cast James as Sliwa, Andrew as Cuomo, and... well, Emil Wakim as Mamdani because if it were up to me, he would never have been fired.

(MONOLOGUE) Miles Teller

Highlights:

• Yet another charm-alogue this season. This was pretty much the same as his last monologue, but I don't have too much of an issue with it.

Lowlights:

• None.

Additional Notes:

• None.

(SKETCH) What Did I Do Last Night?

Highlights:

• A decent lead-off sketch, and the first this season that didn't totally suck.
• Kam's walk on as Kenan's nephew was funny. He's been killing it with these simple walk-on roles so far into his tenure.

Lowlights:

• None.

Additional Notes:

• Weird seeing Kenan in an anchor's role in both the cold opening and this game show sketch.

(COMMERCIAL) Property Brothers

Highlights:

• Now, this is how to use Trump. Very funny topical premise.
• Some great jabs at Trump here, especially his coup line, even if it does feel tiring to see Trump right after the cold opening.
• The "inspo-board" scene in particular was very funny.
• Between this and the epic White Potus pretape from last year, SNL should follow this pre-tape Trump appearance format instead his rambling cold opening interruptions. 

Lowlights:

• Chloe's Melania really isn't there yet. She's really hamming it up here.

Additional Notes:

• None.

(NEXT WEEK) November 8 - Nikki Glaser

I'm not super familiar with Nikki Glaser's comedy, so not sure how this will go.

(SKETCH) Hockey PSA

Highlights:

• Andrew and Ashley are unsurprisingly a great pair. Other than that, this sketch sort of passed by with no thought from me.

Lowlights:

• None.

Additional Notes:

• None.

(COMMERCIAL) Gone Without A Trace

Highlights:

• Good twist here. SNL's been doing pretty good with horror movie trailers lately, although they are starting to get old.

Lowlights:

• None.

Additional Notes:

• None.

(SKETCH) Newspoint

Highlights:

• An fun, timeless premise.
• Some good gags here, like Jane's printer mishap.

Lowlights:

• None.

Additional Notes:

• None.

(MUSICAL PERFORMANCE) Brandi Carlile

No comment.

(WEEKEND UPDATE) Jost & Che, with George Santos, Two People Who Just Hooked Up

Highlights:

• Ashley and Andrew's commentary as Two People Who Just Hooked Up was funny, and made even better by Ashley and Andrew's performances. I'm loving their chemistry together as of late.
• I loved the reveal that Andrew and Ashley hooked up in Colin's dressing room.

Lowlights:

• Jost and Che's jokes were pretty hit or miss tonight, as they've been for the past year or so.
• A 67 joke? On my SNL? No comment.
• Not so pleased about seeing Bowen's George Santos. Just the usual Bowen mugfest.

Additional Notes:

• Wow, they ended Weekend Update on a joke, rather than a commentary?

(SKETCH) Murder Press Briefing

Highlights:

• I'm loving the utilization of Andrew in tonight's episode. You can tell he was behind this sketch.
• The newspaper names are pretty funny.

Lowlights:

• None.

Additional Notes:

• I could immediately recognize Ben in that get-up from his height.

(SKETCH) Italian Restaurant

Highlights:

• None.

Lowlights:

• This didn't really do it for me, even if I'm more apologetic toward Marcello than most other hardcore SNL fans.
• The sketch got cut off early, so I really don't know what they were going for.

Additional Notes:

• This was Marcello's first appearance all night. Genuinely surprising considering how much of a star he's become.

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(CONCLUSION)

Like the Amy Poehler episode, this wasn't a particularly great episode, but it was a step in the right direction. Some of my favorite cast members (specifically Andrew and Ashley) really shined through tonight, and there was one of the most biting pieces of satire SNL has featured in forever tonight. Still, there were some flaws, like the cold open and 10-to-1 sketch, as well as most of Weekend Update. Miles Teller was a great host just like in his previous episode and I'm glad they were able to give him better material tonight.

Overall Highlights:

• Property Brothers.
• Newspoint.
• Two People Who Just Hooked Up.

Overall Lowlights:

• 2025 NYC Mayoral Debate.
• George Santos on Weekend Update.
• Italian Restaurant.

Funniest Moment:

• Putin being featured on Trump's "inspo-board" in the property brothers sketch.

Best Lines:

• Miles as one of the property brothers: "Were you sad to lose the historic presidential movie theater? You know, Bill Clinton called it the best perk of being president.
  James as Trump: "Bill Clinton said that? He said that the best perk for him was the movie theater?"
• Chloe as Melania Trump: "We want this to be our forever home."
  James as Trump: "Yes because not leaving. We're gonna be doing something called 'coup'."
• Mikey as police officer: "What is your wife's full name?"
  Miles: "Megan."
  Mikey: "When is her birthday."
  Miles: "Summer."
• Michael Che: "Paul Biya, a 92-year-old leader of Cameroon and oldest president, has won re-election by soundly defeating... Kamala Harris."

CAST MEMBER COUNTDOWN

CHE: 1 sketch (Weekend Update)

DAY: 3 sketches (Gone Without A Trace, Newspoint, Italian Restaurant)

DISMUKES: 3 sketches (Hockey PSA, Weekend Update, Murder Press Briefing)

FINEMAN: 3 sketches (Property Brothers, Newspoint, Italian Restaurant)

HERNANDEZ: 1 sketch (Italian Restaurant)

JOHNSON: 3 sketches (2025 NYC Mayoral Debate, Property Brothers, Murder Press Briefing)

JOST: 1 sketch (Weekend Update)

SHERMAN: 2 sketches (Gone Without A Trace, Murder Press Briefing)

THOMPSON: 5 sketches (2025 NYC Mayoral Debate, What Did I Do Last Night, Gone Without A Trace, Newspoint, Italian Restaurant)

YANG: 3 sketches (Newspoint, Weekend Update, Murder Press Briefing)

BRENNAN: 4 sketches (What Did I Do Last Night, Hockey PSA, Gone Without A Trace, Murder Press Briefing)

CULHANE: 2 sketches (Hockey PSA, Murder Press Briefing)

MARSHALL: 4 sketches (What Did I Do Last Night, Hockey PSA, Gone Without A Trace, Murder Press Briefing)

PADILLA: 4 sketches (Hockey PSA, Gone Without A Trace, Weekend Update, Murder Press Briefing)

PATTERSON: 3 sketches (2025 NYC Mayoral Debate, What Did I Do Last Night, Hockey PSA, Newspoint)

SLOWIKOWSKA: 4 sketches (What Did I Do Last Night, Gone Without A Trace, Hockey PSA, Murder Press Briefing)

WICKLINE: 2 sketches (What Did I Do Last Night, Newspoint)

Ashley, Kenan, and Andrew were the stars of tonight, while Sarah and Marcello were barely featured. Well, neither were Jeremy and Jane, but that's to be expected. Kind of disappointed with Jeremy's lack of airtime so far, as he was the newbie I was most excited for before the season started.

Christ, this review came late. Sorry about that. Hopefully next week's comes sooner. Until next time, good night and have a pleasant tomorrow.