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Aubrey Plaza's SNL Gifts Us Biden, Knope, and an (Even More) Unhinged M3GAN

In her first time hosting Saturday Night Live, Aubrey Plaza went above and beyond, even getting an actual presidential cameo with the return of Leslie Knope. Oh, and Joe Biden was there too.

  The Aubrey Plaza-hosted Saturday Night Live on January 21 was an absolute stunner. The Weekend Update segment alone would’ve rendered the episode the best of the season even if the rest of the show had stuck to pat Joe Biden impressions. How good was this episode? They got the real President Biden and fellow Delawarean made good to send in a taped welcome to Plaza during her monologue, in which he wished her well and celebrated the fact that her White Lotus character survived her vacation.

But then! On Update, Plaza reprised one of her most beloved roles: Here to comment on local government, Parks and Recreation's April Ludgate! Plaza, as April, took a seat at the news desk, grimacing at Colin Jost from under the hood of her signature grey sweatshirt. “I don’t know, you’re annoying me,” she said, fidgeting in the face of his questions. “Just ask my old boss, Leslie Knope.” As the 8H nation held its breath, Amy Poehler rolled up, complete with Knope’s signature crisp blazer and can-do attitude. The audience roared; April rolled her eyes. We’re not worthy!

Knope had lots of earnest questions for Jost. Like, could he comment on why Seth Meyers used to do Weekend Update alone and make it look so easy? Did it seem like her longtime crush Joe Biden was looking directly at her during his earlier address? Could she try her hand at telling a joke? The thrill of seeing former Update anchor Poehler back behind the desk was real. Put her in charge of everything, immediately. Knope passed on repeating a couple of jokes, declaring them too mean, settling instead for a ba-dum-dum about puppies. 

The whole episode was a gift that just kept giving. Bowen Yang made for a perfect George Santos, the Long Island politician whose biography is in fact a novel. He first appeared in the Fox Sports cold open, introducing himself as the former number one draft pick out of the University of College. He commented from the field in both congressman’s navy blazer and a red sequin dress with a full face. Weight snatched? Infinity. Shout out to Yang’s arm days at the gym.

On Weekend Update, Jost thought he was bringing out a scientist to comment on breaking news, but it was just Yang again in Santos’ politician cosplay navy blazer. “You lied about your mom dying in 9/11!” protested Jost. “I think I said 7/11?” said Yang. The lies spilled out of him like a hose on a summer day, as he held up a Covid test as proof that he’d passed a lie detector test. Defending the fact of his Jew-ish-ness, he claimed his ancestors were “the ones who told Anne Frank, ‘You should be writing this down.’” Two things can exist at once: We can want the real-life Santos immediately escorted out of all government buildings, forced back into the damp hush of oblivion and accountability, and we can root for his continued presence on the scene to guarantee future Yang impressions. 

The best sketch of the night was a spoof of the camp horror hit M3GAN. The only thing better than Chloe Fineman giving great big-eyed, big-bowed stare was Plaza taking a turn under the wig in a pitch for the sequel M3GAN 2.0: This One’s for the Gays. When M3GAN star Allison Williams herself turns up at the club to warn Yang and his other friends that they’re rooting for the wrong unhinged plastic woman, the gays greet her with unexpected reverence. “Are you from the show Girls?” one wonders. “Mama, if you’re getting your ass ate on TV you’re an ally, sis.” In an attempt to win back their affections, Plaza started singing Sia’s “Titanium,” her little robot voice a mix of pathos and menace. “I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose.” This little menace M3GAN is going to outlive us all.

Musical guest Sam Smith first performed their ubiquitous “Unholy,” wearing a silver devil-horned hat and a pink cake floof of a dress from under which Kim Petras appeared. 

They next appeared standing behind a choir for “Gloria.” A Botticelli of a blonde reclined on a sequin-draped chaise in front of them, her expression beatific and aglow, transfixed by some heavenly wonders above. Is that… no….could it be? But why? That is definitely Sharon Stone, and I want to see more of her in every medium.

Truly, a banger. As host, Plaza appeared in nearly every sketch, painted in Avatar blue, screeching as Miss France, and in a nun’s habit, threatening to leave the church. “Stealing is okay now,” she cried to her fellow nun, Molly Kearney. “And murder and 69’ing. And I want to try it and therapy and laser tag!” 

All this in an episode that gave us The Black Lotus, in which Black staff at an upscale audience are impervious to their guests’ drama. Fineman wrapped herself back up in Jennifer Coolidge’s pink head scarf and some genius in the costume department stuck Portia’s bucket hat on Sarah Sherman’s noggin.

All this water to drink, when our cups would’ve been filled just by the sight of Plaza and Poehler in a tight embrace during the cast goodbyes. What a way to kick off a new year.