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Jack Black Returns to “Saturday Night Live” After Nearly Two Decades
Jack Black made his comeback to “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, marking his fourth appearance as host and his first in almost 20 years. The episode drew attention not only for Black’s performance but also for references to a recent controversy involving country singer Morgan Wallen.
In a nod to last week’s events, Wallen’s unexpected exit from the stage, coupled with his viral social media moment declaring “Get me to God’s country,” was cleverly alluded to on multiple occasions during the show.
The first mention emerged during the cold open, where James Austin Johnson, impersonating Donald Trump, took comedic jabs at the president’s economic policies. “I even put tariffs on an island uninhabited by humans. It’s called Heard and McDonald Island,” Johnson quipped in character. He continued, humorously envisioning a trip to the fictional locale: “McDonald Island. I would love to visit there. Can you imagine that? Big Mac and a hula skirt. Get me to God’s country, right? Remember that?”
The second reference was made during the “Weekend Update” segment, highlighting Wallen’s recent headlines in a more direct manner related to current economic events. Colin Jost remarked, “This was the worst week for the stock market since the summer of 2020. But you have to remember: back then, the president was also Trump. Just in the past two days, investors have lost over $6 trillion. Money is leaving the stock market faster than Morgan Wallen at goodnights.”
Wallen had gained significant attention last weekend when he abruptly left the “SNL” stage before host Mikey Madison and the cast could conclude the show. Shortly afterward, he posted an image of a private jet on his Instagram Story, proclaiming, “Get me to God’s country.”
In addition to Black’s hosting duties, the episode featured musical performances from Elton John and Brandi Carlile. The show also saw Mike Myers revive his impression of Elon Musk, adding a nostalgic touch, while a poignant tribute was paid to Val Kilmer, who had previously hosted in December 2000.
Looking ahead, Jon Hamm is slated to host the upcoming episode, with Lizzo confirmed as the musical guest.
“Saturday Night Live” airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.
Source
www.thewrap.com