Who is Hosting Saturday Night Live Tonight: July 7, 2018

It’s a repeat episode of Saturday Night Live tonight, hosted by one television’s hottest stars, Sterling K. Brown!

In a season filled with first-time hosts, Sterling K. Brown was a perfect choice to make an SNL debut. He’s appeared on two of the biggest shows on television in the past two seasons, “This Is Us” and “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.” He’s picked up every award possible for his roles as Randall Pearson (This Is Us) and former L.A. District Attorney Christopher Darden (People v. O. J.) including two Primetime Emmys, a Golden Globe and a SAG Award. And of course, it’s always fun to see someone known for heavy drama, show their funny side by taking on some sketch comedy.

Not only did Sterling K. Brown take on the rigors of live sketch comedy on Saturday Night Live, but he also succeeded at it. When Sterling hosted SNL back on March 10, 2018, the reviews, both professional and casual, across social media were hugely positive. We’re sure that’s one of the reasons why during a summer of reruns, his SNL debut episode was chosen to be tonight’s repeat Saturday Night Live tonight at 11:30pm on NBC.

Tonight’s repeat SNL tried to go in a different direction for the cold opening. While it still revolved around President Trump like most SNL cold opens during SNL – Season 43 did, this one didn’t take place in the Oval Office or at a White House press briefing. Tonight’s cold open focused on the investigation being conducted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, but it was done as a parody of ABC’s “The Bachelor.” Cecily Strong played one of the show’s contestants (Becca K.) hoping to hear what she wanted to hear from “The Bachelor”, who in this case, was Robert Mueller played by Kate McKinnon. Unfortunately, Mueller isn’t able to give Becca K. what she really wants, obstruction. While it may have gone on too long and didn’t have many punchlines, the open does get credit for trying to at least doing something different with the non-stop Trump stories in the news.

Sterling K. Brown’s monologue focused on what he does so well, dramatic acting. The first-time host gets pretty emotional talking about finally getting to make his Saturday Night Live debut. Plus, watch for Sterling’s spot-on Kenan Thompson impression and for a monologue bail out where an SNL cast member comes out during the monologue to help a non-comedy performer get through his opening remarks. We also learn what the “K” stands for in Sterling K. Brown.

There’s a couple of SNL – Digital Shorts in tonight’s show. One features some campers who encounter Big Foot which leads to some painful humiliation for cast member Mikey Day’s character. This was a little too reminiscent of the Jack Links Beef Jerky “Messin’ With Sasquatch” commercials. In fact, so much so that there really could be some trademark infringement going on here. In the other short, Kyle Mooney brings back his perfect Digital Short character, the less than professional video journalist, skater dude Chris Fitzpatrick for a man-on-the-street segment of “What’s Better? Rock or Rap?“.

Sketches in tonight’s encore Saturday Night Live include a “Black Panther” sketch which was a gimme considering that Sterling K. Brown was also part of the cast of the summer blockbuster Marvel hit film (this guy can do no wrong) which features Kenan Thompson as the uncle you don’t want to run into in the realm of ancestors, Djalia. Sterling K. Brown also shines in other sketches including “Celebrity Family Feud” where he does a great Common impersonation. This sketch is a parade of SNL impressions from the amazing like Kate McKinnon as Frances McDormand and Heidi Gardner as Allison Janney to the less than stellar, like Alex Moffat as Willem Dafoe and Pete Davidson as Timothee Chalamet which was just Pete Davidson in a what looks like a Timothee Chalamet wig. Plus, there’s an awkward dinner party sketch featuring Sterling K as a man meeting his girlfriend’s parents who don’t share his love of the movie “Shrek“, an odd sketch with Sterling K as a doctor who gives more than just medical advice and one featuring the host as a man who rushes to a dying woman’s (Melissa Villaseñor) bedside who must tell him her dying words. Nickelback fans will love this one.

Weekend Update didn’t quite have its usual bite in tonight’s repeat, but anchormen Colin Jost and Michael Che were able to land some solid lines on topics including the then-approaching summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, the ongoing Michael Cohen – Stormy Daniels porn star pay-off saga, violent video games, McDonald’s celebrating International Women’s Day, the new Amelia Earhart – Barbie doll, and daycare workers dosing their kids with drugged Gummi Bears. Weekend Update also got another great visit from the President’s children, the explicitly honest Eric Trump (Alex Moffat) and his keeper / older brother Donald Trump Jr. (Mikey Day). The 21st century’s Raymond and Charlie Babbitt tried to quiet rumors about chaos involving the White House staff while Donald Jr. also struggled to quiet Eric. Weekend Update wrapped with a visit from a former cast member who brought back one of our favorite WU characters. We won’t spoil it for you. Tune in tonight to enjoy it all over again.

In the promos for this evening’s re-airing of Saturday Night Live episode #844 overall, host Sterling K. Brown uses some model sets and a variety of action figures to create his own Saturday Night Live introduction. Then in the next set, Sterling K is joined by musical guest James Bay and Beck Bennett where they sort through the confusion over the name of the show and then Bay points out who the real Emmy Award winners are in the group.

Pre-recorded from New York! It’s a repeat episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Sterling K. Brown with musical guest James Bay, tonight at 11:30pm on NBC. Plus, here’s some good news that probably goes without saying, but Saturday Night Live has been picked up for a 44th season by NBC. Lorne Michaels must have been waiting by the phone for that call. Stay tuned to the Interrobang for a fall SNL premiere date.

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