Apr 05, 2026
3 min read
The comedian/musician joins a rare club in an episode full of surprise cameos and genuinely funny skits
Jack Black has been associated with Saturday Night Live for nearly 27 years, first appearing in May 1998 as one half of the musical duo Tenacious D. Since then, she's headlined a string of fan-favorite episodes and last year made a triumphant return after a mysterious two-decade hiatus. Tonight, she takes the reins of SNL for the fifth time: but will she be a Saturday night star again?
"That game was a miracle. It was truly spectacular. You could call it a miracle," Kenan Thompson said in his verified impressions of Charles Barkley.In Thompson's Barkley sketch, you can't help but dip into politics, from Iran to Pam Bondi."We should all be glad the freckled dragon lady is gone," he barked, before the star of the season, Ashley Padilla, appeared as Bondi and gave his opponent "equal time".
Are you satisfied, CCFG Chairman, Brendan Carr?"I'm glad I was around for the last four years... of this country," says Bondi Padilla.Call it a true "miracle miracle", because the whole sketch was a breath of fresh air, considering you know who didn't show up as usual.
Any true SNL geek knows that one of the television institution's most iconic pastimes is the Five-Timer's Club segments, which focus on the fact that Studio 8H has an exclusive exclusive club for hosts who reach the rare milestone.Debuting when Tom Hanks hit the mark in 1990 (from the minds of then-co-writers Conan O'Brien and Bob Odenkirk, fun fact), they're usually full of cameos.Tonight was no different, as the black ladies were welcomed into the club with the help of regular co-hosts Jonah Hill and Tina Fey, the latter of whom quipped, "You're officially the first black five-timer in the club!"Throw in a beer-drinking Melissa McCarthy, an appearance from '70s SNL icon Candice Bergen, and Black doing an Army Takeoff the Seven Nations (along with musical guest Jack White) and you've got one of the most memorable monologues in recent memory.Call it an all-time five timer.
Padilla, who continues to make her presence known, is central to this character sketch, playing the chatty Kathy (that's her name) who awkwardly intrudes on other people's conversations, much to their chagrin (and Black's anger).Bonus points for the long silences to emphasize the wit of everyone trying valiantly to ignore Padilla.It was all a quick hit that further enhanced Padilla's star power and ability to create quirky characters in the spirit of Kristen Wiig — albeit with a cliffhanger ending.
Jack Black is of course known for his comedic and musical acumen.So here we have Black with James Austin Johnson singing a heartfelt song about the most important tips to forget the advice they've been given.It's an inspired premise, and as SNL usually does, it sounds like something you'd hear on the radio (this one blasted from a pickup truck).Once again, White brings up the sketch when he materializes while shredding the guitar, except he also forgets the notes.
It was a no-brainer to pair Black's soulful energy with Marcelo Hernandez's similar style, where the two are masterful artistic guides drawn in cartoonish sketches.Hernandez's character, who has a questionable accent, is only a half-baked hit from his other characters (like Domingo in Monopoly).Trying to be Pacino again.Hernandez is the best in the cartoon."Big carrot, don't you believe it?" said the wild teacher, taking his line, looking at his red-headed fellow Ben Marshall.
Yes, here we have another premise that relies on Kalu's musical talent.This is put to good use by the cast: a group of wives huddled together, while the husband in the other room seems too lazy to string the words together.However, when Black takes the lead, they break into song: Carry On My Wayward Son, of course.From the band Kansas in 1976 (are you feeling the theme of Heartland tonight?).A less obvious track may be chosen, and you have to admit that the dishonest person is good.
"Attorney General Pam Bondi was asked to be removed from her job this week," said Colin Jost.If you didn't think it was gloves at first, let Michael Che focus on the sign as he points to Trump, who is attending a performance in Chicago at the Kennedy Center: "I think it's great that the president is going to the theater. What's the worst that could happen?"the save machine in 3, 2...
This time, Sarah Sherman appeared as Kristy Noam's husband, equally dressed and well-dressed."I dare you all to find something funny in this scene," said Sherman, wearing fake breasts.
Finally, new cast member Kam Patterson guest stars as Professor Snape from the Harry Potter-verse with some very funny lines that make Jost squirm in a rare appearance when he premieres on the show in the fall.
"May I ask why I was not chosen?"Here, Black relies on his schlubby appearance in this painting where the heroes are chosen as if it were a basketball game.Naturally, Black and his unheroic ways were sadly abandoned.But hallelujah: it took a big fight, but we got a strong ending to the painting.As if he was the last man standing, Black turned left and right, cracking: "Well, it looks like it's just me and all the girls in Sparta," as he wears cool shades while the Ferris Bueller-style Oh Yeah sting from Yello comes in. Yes, of course.
Who hasn't been on Airbnb with a host that's so hands-on?As the final sketch of the night, it felt like one script: Black was a terrible Airbnb host because a group of teenagers wanted to chill.The word: McCarthy's equally crazy wife, and the most wonderful and thoughtful 10-to-1 is injected with a storm of energy.to bend over Jeremy Culhane who could apply and blow a raspberry on his back while the cast and audience screamed.Now, that's how you end a skit after one of the best episodes of the season.
