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Jack Black, Elton John, and Brandi Carlile Shine on SNL

In a lively return to Saturday Night Live, Jack Black, Elton John, and Brandi Carlile graced the stage last night. This monumental appearance featured Black hosting for the fourth time, while both John and Carlile showcased their musical talents for the third time throughout their careers. Black delivered an animated performance, tackling various topics from Indiana Jones to the crowd dynamics of jam sessions, and even playfully impersonated Gerard Way in a sketch titled “Goth Kid on Vacation,” which humorously referenced My Chemical Romance’s iconic album, The Black Parade.

For their musical segment, John and Carlile chose to perform tracks from their newly released collaborative album, Who Believes in Angels?. They captivated the audience with vibrant renditions of the title track and “Little Richard’s Bible,” all while being illuminated by an array of flashing neon signs. Clips of their performance along with highlights from Black’s skits are now available for viewing.

Elton John, recently celebrated as an EGOT winner, made his SNL debut back in 1982 during an episode hosted by Johnny Cash. His return to the show came nearly three decades later in 2011, when he took on the dual role of host and musical guest. Brandi Carlile, on the other hand, first graced the SNL stage in 2021, appearing alongside Jason Sudeikis, and then returned in December 2022 for a musical performance during an episode hosted by the comedic duo Steve Martin and Martin Short.

Remarkably, it had been two decades since Black last hosted SNL, with his initial appearances spanning from 2002 to 2006, including a stint as a musical guest with his band Tenacious D. As highlighted by Stereogum, Black’s previous hosting experience was particularly memorable, featuring iconic sketches like “Lazy Sunday” and “Christmastime for the Jews.”

The current 50th season of Saturday Night Live launched in September, celebrating this significant milestone with grand specials: SNL50: The Homecoming Concert and SNL50: The Anniversary Special. The show resumed its regular episode format earlier this year, following a brief hiatus, with Timothée Chalamet hosting and appearing as the musical guest in January, and subsequent episodes featuring Shane Gillis with Tate McRae and Lady Gaga in a dual capacity.

Source
pitchfork.com