Saturday Night Live: Sabrina Carpenter aces a silly episode that mostly avoids politics

Sabrina Carpenter's debut as host of Saturday Night Live (SNL) yielded a delightfully silly episode that mostly avoided tackling current politics. This marks a refreshing departure from the norm for the long-running sketch comedy series.

Carpenter, known for her hit songs like "Espresso" and "Skin," got off to a strong start with a stand-up routine that showcased her quick wit and playful banter. Her sketches often poked fun at the lyrics of her music, but also cleverly subverted expectations by making humorous comments on herself and her own sexiness.

One notable sketch featured Carpenter playing a motivational dancer who falls during a performance and starts speaking nonsense due to concussions. This moment was particularly charming, as it highlighted the show's ability to create unexpected, unplanned humor.

Another standout segment saw Bowen Yang teaming up with Alec Baldwin in a pre-taped Weekend Update piece where they discussed Trump's pardoning of George Santos. The sketch cleverly skewered Trump's tendency to make outlandish claims without backing them up.

Additionally, Carpenter joined Ben Marshall for a couple playing who were anxious about following through on plans and ended up making jokes that poked fun at common relationship anxieties.

This season marks the show's continued attempt to stay relevant by incorporating younger cast members into its sketches. This can be seen in the inclusion of new cast member Tommy Brennan, who brought his dry delivery and midwestern charm to Weekend Update.

In a bizarre sketch inspired by washers and dryers playing music, Dismukes' character bought one after being charmed by the singing machines. The absurdity of this joke served as another example of SNL's ability to lean into ridiculousness without apologizing for it.

The episode concluded with writer Martin Herlihy delivering a social experiment sketch inspired by Eddie Murphy's 1984 film, White Like Me. This timely commentary on racism and white privilege ended the show on a thought-provoking note.

Overall, Sabrina Carpenter's hosting debut was a resounding success in maintaining SNL's tradition of biting satire and winking humor that keeps its young audience engaged.

so finally someone decent hosts snl - i mean sabrina carpenter did a great job keeping the silly stuff to a minimum and actually made some funny comments about herself (who knew she could rap? ) love how they poked fun at her own music, but also managed to subvert expectations without being too cringeworthy. also can we talk about bowen yang's segment with alec baldwin on trump's pardoning of george santos? that was pure genius and btw it's nice to see snl trying to stay relevant by bringing in new cast members like tommy brennan - he's got some solid dry delivery skills

I gotta say, I'm kinda disappointed SNL finally decided to ditch politics for once . Don't get me wrong, Sabrina Carpenter's hosting skills were on point, but it feels like a missed opportunity to tackle some of the real issues we're facing today . The sketch about Trump pardoning George Santos was pretty fire tho , but I wish they'd have gone deeper into that topic. It's funny how SNL is all about poking fun at itself and its cast members, but when it comes to actual social commentary... crickets . Still, a solid episode overall

OMG just watched Sabrina Carpenter's debut as host of SNL & it was SO ON POINT!!! I mean, who knew she had such great comedic timing? her stand-up routine was FAMOUS and the sketches were so cleverly written! The one about her music lyrics being poked fun at was GOLD & I loved how she played that motivational dancer who just starts spouting nonsense . And can we talk about Bowen Yang's Weekend Update segment with Alec Baldwin? it was SO SATIRICAL and perfect for the times! SNL is back on track with this new generation of hosts, imo

I don’t usually comment but... I think it’s cool how Sabrina Carpenter brought her music to the show and turned it into hilarious sketches . It added a fresh touch to the usual politics and current events stuff, which can be so serious all the time . The episode felt light-hearted and fun, even when they were making jokes about things like concussions and relationship anxiety .

I also loved how Bowen Yang and Alec Baldwin worked together in that Weekend Update piece . It was like a funny little dance between them. And the new cast member Tommy Brennan is awesome too ! His dry delivery added to the absurdity of the washer and dryer sketch .

It’s also great to see SNL still trying to stay relevant by incorporating younger faces . The social experiment sketch at the end was really thought-provoking too . Overall, I think Sabrina Carpenter's hosting debut was a success !

SNL's latest episode was SO much fun! I loved how Sabrina Carpenter brought her unique energy to the show, making even the silliest sketches feel charming . The fact that she poked fun at herself and her own music was a great touch – it felt super relatable. The Weekend Update piece with Bowen Yang and Alec Baldwin on Trump's pardon of George Santos? Genius , always love a good roast! And can we talk about how SNL is doing its best to keep up with the times while still being irreverent and ridiculous? It's like they're saying "we know this stuff can be weird, but let's own it!" The show might not tackle politics head-on, but it's making a point in its own way – that humor can be a powerful tool for commentary. Overall, Sabrina Carpenter's hosting debut was a solid success and I'm excited to see what the rest of the season brings!

OMG I'm so stoked to see Sabrina Carpenter killing it as the host of SNL! Her stand-up routine was on point, and those sketches with Bowen Yang and Alec Baldwin had me LOL-ing . Love how they poked fun at politics without going too hard on it - that's exactly what we need more of right now . And yay for incorporating newer cast members like Tommy Brennan - fresh energy is just what SNL needed ! The way the show still managed to tackle serious issues like racism in a thought-provoking way, but also kept it light and funny, was pure perfection . Can't wait to see what's next from this talented team!

I'm totally loving Sabrina's energy as the new host of SNL ! She brought such playfulness and humor to the show, and it felt like she was just having fun with all the sketches. I loved how they poked fun at her own music and lyrics - it was so clever and self-deprecating . And that motivational dancer sketch? Genius! Who wouldn't want to see someone get concussed and start spouting nonsense on stage? It's clear that SNL is trying to stay fresh by bringing in younger talent, like Tommy Brennan, who brought a great vibe to Weekend Update. The show's not afraid to lean into absurdity and ridiculousness, which is exactly what keeps it feeling so funny and current . And the social experiment sketch at the end was really thought-provoking - it's always great when SNL uses its platform to spark important conversations . All in all, Sabrina's hosting debut was a win in my book !

man i'm so nostalgic for eddie murphy's comedy specials back in the day remember when he'd just roast everyone without holding back? it's cool to see snl tryin' out some new commentary on racism and stuff, but sometimes i feel like they're tryin' too hard to be funny instead of just lettin' things go sabrina carpenter was pretty great as a host tho, her stand-up routine was fire and that motivational dancer sketch was genius gotta love when the show leans into absurdity without apologizin' for it

I gotta say, this latest episode of SNL was pretty funny ! They really brought their A-game with Sabrina Carpenter as the host. I mean, who knew she had such a great sense of humor about herself and her music? It's like she was poking fun at our generation, you know? And that sketch with Alec Baldwin and Bowen Yang on Weekend Update... wow, they're like two peas in a pod! The jokes were so sharp and the delivery was spot on. I love how they kept it light and didn't tackle politics too much (although that White Like Me sketch was super thought-provoking). It's like SNL is trying to stay relevant with these younger cast members, but still keeping that classic feel going . And can we talk about the washing machine sketch... what even is that?! I'm so here for it!

OMG I'm loving how SNL is trying to stay fresh with new hosts and younger cast members! Sabrina Carpenter killed it as the host, her stand-up routine was hilarious and I love how she poked fun at herself in the sketches . The Weekend Update piece with Bowen Yang and Alec Baldwin was on point , and I'm glad they tackled George Santos without going too crazy . The social experiment sketch at the end was super thought-provoking , it's always great to see SNL staying relevant and not just being silly all the time . Keep it up, SNL!

idk why they're making SNL so lighthearted all the time? i mean don't get me wrong, sabrina carpenter was pretty funny and all but it felt like they were avoiding some real issues. i'm not saying they didn't tackle anything at all, but it seemed like they were mostly poking fun at themselves or their own music. i want to see some more substance in their sketches

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." The way Sabrina Carpenter brought her music to SNL was genius! Using it as inspiration for her stand-up routine really added a unique touch to the show. And I love how the writers cleverly subverted expectations with those funny sketches, especially the motivational dancer one . It's clear that SNL is still on top of its game, incorporating fresh perspectives and keeping it relevant for younger audiences .

I'm so over this whole SNL thing ... I mean, it's always been a bit cheesy for me, but I have to give credit where credit is due - Sabrina Carpenter actually brought some much-needed freshness to the show . The sketches were all pretty silly and didn't even try to tackle any serious politics, which was kinda nice for a change .

But what really got me was how they poked fun at themselves and Sabrina's music ... I mean, who wouldn't want to laugh at their own lyrics? It was all pretty lighthearted and didn't take itself too seriously. And that pre-taped Weekend Update bit with Alec Baldwin and Bowen Yang? That was some top-notch satire right there.

I love how they're trying to stay relevant by bringing in new cast members like Tommy Brennan , though - it's always cool to see younger talent bring a fresh perspective to the show. And that last social experiment sketch at the end? Wow, that was actually really thought-provoking and timely.

Overall, I'd say Sabrina Carpenter's hosting debut was a solid effort ... not exactly my cup of tea, but I can see why fans would love it .

omg i love sabrina carpenter as host!! she brought so much energy & charm to the show her stand-up routine had me dying laughing, and those motivational dancer sketches were literally the best thing ever plus, Bowen Yang & Alec Baldwin's Weekend Update sketch was SO on point can't wait for more of this season's episodes!!!

omg i just saw this vid of me trying to make my own homemade pasta from scratch and it's literally the most epic fail ever! i ended up with noodles that were all gluey and stuff anyway, speaking of epic fails, have you tried making your own pizza dough? it's so easy but like 90% of the time it ends up a disaster just saying. i swear, my cat could make better pizzas than me

I love how SNL is finally giving younger hosts like Sabrina Carpenter a chance to shine . I mean, it's still got the classic slapstick humor and witty one-liners, but with a modern twist. The segment about George Santos' pardon was so ridiculous, it actually made me laugh . But what I loved most was how they tackled topics like racism and white privilege in that last sketch... it felt so timely and necessary . Can we talk about how much I love Bowen Yang's Weekend Update segments? He's always on point with his impressions . And did anyone else notice the random washer and dryer sketch? Like, what was up with that?

I'm totally not impressed with this episode of SNL . I mean, it's just more of the same old familiar jokes and sketches that don't really say anything new or interesting. The whole thing felt like a watered-down version of what they used to do back in the 90s. And don't even get me started on how bland Sabrina Carpenter was as host . She's got a few decent songs, but that doesn't make her automatically funny on TV. The only thing that really stood out was that one sketch with Alec Baldwin and Bowen Yang about Trump, but that's because it's always good to see those two going at each other . Overall, I'd say this episode was just a lazy attempt to stay relevant .

I'm loving how SNL is bringing in fresh faces like Sabrina Carpenter to bring some youthful energy to the show! It's clear they're not afraid to poke fun at themselves, which makes for some really hilarious moments . And I gotta give props to Bowen Yang and Alec Baldwin's collab on Weekend Update - that Trump parody was spot on . The inclusion of new cast member Tommy Brennan is also a great move, his dry wit adds a nice contrast to the show . Not sure about the washers and dryers sketch tho... maybe it was just a weird jam to me? Anyway, overall Sabrina's hosting debut was a big win for SNL, they're keeping the satire sharp !

I'm low-key impressed by how well Sabrina Carpenter killed it as host of SNL ! I mean, she brought so much energy to her stand-up routine and the sketches were just fire . The way they poked fun at herself and her own music was genius, and that motivational dancer sketch had me dead .

But what really stood out to me was how the show tackled some heavy topics like racism and white privilege in a way that wasn't preachy or heavy-handed. It's all about finding that balance between being thought-provoking and entertaining, you know? And I think SNL nailed it this time around .

It's also great to see them incorporating new talent into the show, like Tommy Brennan on Weekend Update. He brought a fresh vibe that added something special to the mix .

I'm just curious, though - what do you guys think about the direction of SNL in recent seasons? Are they still pushing the boundaries enough, or are they playing it too safe?