Who is Hosting Saturday Night Live Tonight: July 18, 2020

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If you think reruns are a drag, wait till you see tonight’s Saturday Night Live repeat hosted by the World’s Most Famous Drag Queen, RuPaul Charles!

Saturday Night Live is off all summer long and so we’ve got SNL reruns to look forward to for the next couple of months. The SNL cast is off doing their other projects during the show’s summer hiatus. Of course, that’s all based on how much work can get done during the pandemic shutdown. However, Saturday Night Live‘s current head writers have both been very busy with their individual efforts.

Colin Jost is out promoting his new book which was just released. While talking about his autobiography, “Colin Jost: A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir,” with Entertainment Weekly, the SNL co-head writer was asked if he expects SNL to return to famed Studio 8-H for the new fall season in September. Jost vaguely replied, “I have no idea. I would love to go back to the studio. It’s hard to do it remotely. You also miss the production value. We’d much rather be in a studio if it’s at all possible. So we might be in the studio [next season], but in a modified way. You know, or we might have to do it from home. It’s hard to say.”

Jost’s partner in crime, Michael Che, who’s also a co-head writer on Saturday Night Live as well as a co-anchor with Jost on Weekend Update also had big summer news about a new project. Che is now part of the HBO Max bandwagon. He’s got a deal for a 6 episode sketch comedy series coming to the new streaming service. The current working name for the sketch show is “Untitled Michael Che Project” and the show’s premise is that each episode will have one theme that runs through all the sketches. According to Che, the themes can be just about anything from police brutality to unemployment to falling in love, etc.

According to a Warner Media release, HBO Max Executive Vice-President of Original Comedy and Animation Suzanna Makko says the theme throughout the sketches will also be focused through a Black vantage point, saying, “Michael brings a distinct comedic perspective as he illustrates the uncomfortable truths across multiple topics. We look forward to sharing his unique vision and necessary point of view with our audiences.”

As for Michael Che, he’s actually looking to the public for help with his new untitled project. After saying how excited he is about the new sketch series, he added, “It’s a project I’ve been thinking about for a while and we have a lot of sketches we want to shoot so please wear your masks so that we can go into production.”

Enough about the future. Let’s get back to the past and tonight’s SNL rerun which originally aired back on February 8, 2020 and was the most fabulous, gender-bending episode of SNL – Season 45. RuPaul Charles hosted SNL to promote his award winning reality competition show “RuPaul’s Drag Race“. The series, currently airing on VH1, has won 13 Primetime Emmy awards in its 12 seasons. Six of those Emmy Awards have gone to RuPaul personally including 4 Emmys for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program.

RuPaul was also plugging his then-new Netflix dramedy, “AJ and the Queen.” The series which is still available on the streamer starred RuPaul as Ruby Red, a drag queen dealing with being swindled out of her life savings by her fiancé along with caring for a 10 year old problem child (AJ) left in his care. “AJ and the Queen” only lasted one 10-episode season on Netflix before it was cancelled.

Before tonight’s SNL repeat turned into a RuPaul Eleganza Extravaganza, it started out as a perfectly normal episode of Saturday Night Live, with a political SNL – Cold Open. The sketch was a charismatic Democratic Debate sketch. When this cold opener originally aired, it was right before the New Hampshire primary on the political calendar.

All of the Democratic candidates for President were still in the race, so we got all the SNL political impressions including Colin Jost playing Mayor Pete Buttigieg (#WhiteObama), Kate McKinnon as Senator Elizabeth Warren, Pete Davidson as Billionaire Tom Steyer, Bowen Yang as Philanthropist Andrew Yang, and Mikey Day as ABC News moderator George Stephanopoulos. Plus, the regular cast of cameo appearances were on hand as well, with Jason Sudeikis back in the VP Joe Biden role, Fred Armisen as Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Rachel Dratch as Senator Amy Klobuchar and Larry David as Senator Bernie Sanders.

RuPaul Charles then takes the stage for his SNL monologue in his street clothes which looked anything, but street. In this evening’s monologue, Ru gives a quick autobiographical “herstory” lesson on himself and explains what drag is all about. You’ll also learn that each one of us is in drag every time we leave the house. If you’re trying to figure that one out, just watch tonight when America’s drag mother explains all.

The most ambitious moment in tonight’s repeat hosted by RuPaul is an SNL Short called “Chad & RuPaul“. Of course, you know who RuPaul is, and if you don’t remember, “Chad” is a recurring character played by cast member Pete Davidson. The “Chad” character is used in shorts and not sketches. He’s the kid who’s completely unfazed no matter what’s happening and always answers with the simple response “Uh-kay.” In the short, Chad gets a full drag makeover “for the Gods!” So, another reason to watch tonight’s SNL repeat is watch Pete Davidson transform from looking like a kid from Staten Island into looking like a woman from Staten Island. There’s only so much a wig and makeup can do.

Let’s serve some tea (drag-speak for gossip) on this SNL Short. When you see Pete Davidson is full drag makeup, see if his eyes remind you of a certain singer / songwriter / ex-girlfriend of his?

Fans of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” on VH1 will love a sketch tonight called “The Library.” There’s two things to know about this sketch where RuPaul Charles as himself, goes to a public library to read for children. One, many cool communities have something called “Drag Queen Story Hour” where drag queens read stories to children at the local library. It’s all about fun and make-believe despite what some Bible thumping mommies may try to tell you. Next, “reading” is a drag term meaning to throw shade about someone’s appearance. Think of a roast, but done by a drag queen. Now you’re all set for “The Library” sketch on tonight’s repeat SNL.

There’s a sketch on this evening’s Saturday Night Live encore that almost defies description. It’s hard to imagine how it was even pitched at an SNL table read. It’s called “Check-Splitting” and it features host RuPaul and cast member Cecily Strong as two women at a restaurant for an office birthday lunch who become indignant to say the least when their supervisor (cast member Aidy Bryant) suggest that split the check evenly. The two launch into a tirade worthy of any stereotypical southern defense attorney making a courtroom plea to the jury.

In tonight’s SNL rerun, we also get introduced to two new characters from cast members Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant which we expected to become recurring ones. The characters are Dickie Saint Painters (McKinnon) and Madge Caddington Boot (Bryant) and the sketch is “The Old New York Show” which is combination of the old SNL “Coffee Talk” sketches with Mike Myers and the brilliant “Oh, Hello” characters Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland created by Nick Kroll and John Mulaney respectively. Dickie and Madge are a pair of elderly New Yorkers living in an old, rent controlled hotel room. They talk about old New York City, the way it used to be and they’re joined by their friend and ex-husband Mr. Tarry Teats (RuPaul), an unemployed shoe critic / Broadway usher who “yells at ladies to pee faster.”

Tonight is also the return of the “Thirsty Cops” sketch from last season. RuPaul joins featured cast member Ego Nwodim in this sketch as her new partner on the police force, replacing former cast member Leslie Jones. The cops pull over an unsuspecting driver (Pete Davidson) and things get really thirsty. Plus, there’s a family game night sketch tonight where when it comes to a game of charades, one family plays by its own rules.

There’s one other SNL Short on this evening’s rerun called “Boop-It“, a parody spot for a toy very reminiscent of the old “Bop-It” toy. In the spot, kids are a having a great time playing with the toy. That is until dad wants a turn and becomes obsessed with mastering it. “Boop-It“: Not recommended for alcoholic single fathers.

In this evening’s edition of Weekend Update, the main story is Donald Trump’s acquittal in his impeachment trial. The anchor team of Colin Jost and Michael Che focus on the victory lap Trump took after his GOP packed jury in the Senate acquitted him. Michael Che sums up the entire impeachment and victory speech when he says, “the audience for Trump’s speech consisted of his legal team and Republican lawmakers because…I guess that circle ain’t gonna jerk itself.”

Weekend Update also reports on the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win tonight and gets to make fun of Trump at the same time. Colin Jost lampooned President Trump for congratulating “Kansas” instead of “Missouri” (the actual home state of the KC Chiefs) in his post Super Bowl tweet and added, “Incidentally, Kansas also has the only Manhattan where Trump is still welcomed.”

Other stories providing comedic inspiration for Weekend Update on this episode include Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address, Rush Limbaugh receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom and trying to pretend he was surprised, plus the Iowa Caucus results being delayed, impeachment witness Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman being fired by the White House, McDonald’s new Oreo Shamrock Shake, Rudy Giuliani hanging out with bullfighters in Spain, a porn film shot at a gas station, Flyers mascot Gritty being cleared of assault charges, and schools stopping physical fitness tests because it could lead to bullying. “So, good job getting gym cancelled you fat losers.”

There’s two guests stopping by the Weekend Update desk in this evening’s SNL rerun. First, featured cast member Chloe Fineman appears as herself to talk about the Oscars ceremony that weekend. It’s her first trip the Update desk and it’s SNL fans’ first look at her Timothée Chalamet impression. Plus, watch Chloe make Colin Jost squirm when she talks about one of the Best Actress nominees. Also, Cecily Strong is back at the desk as “Cathy Anne the woman who screams outside Michael Che’s window” who talks about the impeachment verdict.

The SNL promos are available below from tonight’s Saturday Night Live repeat. In the first one, cast member Cecily Strong meets RuPaul at the elevator at 30 Rock and Cecily is ready for her maxi-challenge. She’s going to sissy that walk all the way to Studio 8-H as Mama Ru demonstrates that “Supermodel of the World” style and puts it on full display. Ru also learns a valuable lesson. He learns what a “J.J. Watt” is, baby.

In the next promo, RuPaul is in full Glamazon mode with cast member Kate McKinnon. Ru gives out her beauty secrets which entails more glue than you would expect. Plus, she has her picks for the Oscar pool and it sure ain’t Oscar. “She done already done had herses!”

Finally, host RuPaul is joined by this week’s musical guest Justin Bieber who isn’t aware that Queen Ru “contains multitudes.” The Biebs is very complimentary towards the host, but be sure to notice that RuPaul doesn’t have anything to say about Bieber’s mustache. “Thank you henny!”

Grab your chicken cutlets and shashay away to Saturday Night Live tonight for an SNL repeat hosted by “Drag Race” star RuPaul with musical guest Justin Bieber. The comedy realness starts at 11:30pm et on NBC, squirrel friends. Halleloo!

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Ernie Tripper

Ernie Tripper