SNL is weirdly cyclical. You have these stretches where the writing feels like it’s stuck in a 2010 time warp, and then suddenly, the stars align. Last night was one of those alignments. If you missed the January 17 broadcast, you missed a rare moment where the "Weekend Update" desk didn’t just lean on cheap political gags, and the host actually had some comedic timing that didn't feel rehearsed in a hallway five minutes before doors.
Honestly, the energy was just different. Usually, the mid-January episodes feel like a hangover from the holiday break, but the highlights of SNL last night showed a cast that’s finally finding its footing in the 2026 landscape. We’re seeing less reliance on celebrity cameos—which, let’s be real, were getting exhausting—and more trust in the actual ensemble.
The Cold Open That Didn't Bore Us to Tears
Usually, the Cold Open is where I go to the kitchen to make a sandwich. It’s often ten minutes of "look who we got to play this politician." But last night? They pivoted. Instead of a direct parody of the latest C-SPAN fodder, they went for a hyper-specific takedown of the current tech-bro obsession with "lifestyle optimization" and those AI-driven health wearables that everyone seems to be wearing lately.
The sketch centered on a fictional "Smart Mirror" that became increasingly judgmental about the user's 3:00 AM refrigerator raids. It was biting. It felt human. Bowen Yang’s performance as the sentient, slightly passive-aggressive mirror interface was a masterclass in physical comedy without him even moving his legs. He just used his face. That’s it.
People always complain that the show is too political, but last night proved that the writers are at their best when they’re making fun of the way we actually live our lives. The audience in Studio 8H was actually laughing—not just that polite "I recognize this person from the news" applause, but genuine, belly-laughing noise.
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Weekend Update and the Art of the "Long Game" Joke
Colin Jost and Michael Che have been doing this forever. Seriously, it feels like they’ve been at that desk since the dawn of time. But the highlights of SNL last night were anchored by their chemistry. There’s this specific way they look at each other when a joke bombs that is often funnier than the joke itself.
Last night, Che took a massive risk with a joke about the recent urban planning shifts in New York, and it landed with a thud initially. But he sat in it. He waited. He made the silence uncomfortable until the audience had no choice but to break. That’s the kind of veteran move you only see from people who have done this for a decade.
Sarah Sherman also showed up as a "trend correspondent," and her segments are becoming the highlight of every episode she’s in. She’s loud. She’s messy. She’s exactly what the show needs to stay relevant with a younger demographic that grew up on chaotic TikTok edits. Her segment on "Biological Age Testing" was essentially five minutes of her screaming at Colin Jost, and it was perfect.
Why the Host Mattered This Time
We’ve seen a lot of "stiff" hosts lately. Athletes who can't read a cue card, or dramatic actors who take themselves a bit too seriously. Last night’s host (who brought a surprising amount of theater-kid energy) actually leaned into the absurdity.
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The best sketch of the night involved a high-stakes poker game where the stakes weren’t money, but rather "ownership of the group’s shared streaming passwords." It was relatable because we’ve all been there—clinging to a Netflix account owned by an ex-boyfriend’s sister. The host didn't try to be the "funny one"; they played the straight man, allowing Kenan Thompson to do what he does best: react.
The Musical Guest and the Return of Real Instruments
I’m going to be honest: I’m tired of backing tracks. The musical guest last night brought a full brass section. It felt like a concert, not a televised rehearsal. The sound mixing in 8H is notoriously difficult—it often makes even the best singers sound thin—but the acoustics last night were handled with a lot more care than usual.
The second performance, especially, had this raw, unpolished vibe that reminded me of the 90s era of the show. No flashy light show. No backup dancers. Just a microphone and a band that looked like they actually enjoyed being there.
What Most People Get Wrong About SNL "Highlights"
Social media usually clips the most "viral" moments, but those aren't always the best parts of the show. The real highlights of SNL last night were the "12:50 AM" sketches. Those are the ones that are too weird for the first hour.
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There was a sketch about a man who accidentally bought a commercial-grade soft-serve machine for his studio apartment. It made no sense. It was surreal. It involved a lot of prop failure. And yet, it was the most creative thing on television all week.
We tend to judge the show based on whether the "big" sketches land. But the soul of the show is in the failures and the weirdness. Last night had plenty of both, and that’s why it was a success.
A Note on the Writing Staff
There’s been a lot of talk about the recent turnover in the writers' room. You can see the shift. The sketches are shorter now. They’re punchier. They don’t drag on for seven minutes like they used to in the early 2000s. The pacing of the January 17 episode felt modern. It moved. If a joke didn't work, they were onto the next one before you had time to tweet about it.
Actionable Steps for the Dedicated SNL Viewer
If you’re someone who actually cares about the craft of sketch comedy, don’t just watch the YouTube clips. The clips strip away the context of the live broadcast.
- Watch the "Cut for Time" sketches: Check the official SNL YouTube channel or Peacock on Sunday morning. Often, the best writing gets cut because a scene change took too long or a prop didn't arrive.
- Pay attention to the background actors: The "extra" players in the sketches last night were doing some incredible character work that often goes unnoticed.
- Check the credits: If you liked a particular sketch, look at who wrote it. You’ll start to see patterns in the humor and can follow those writers' careers as they inevitably move on to their own sitcoms.
The January 17 episode proved that the show isn't dead. It’s just evolving. It’s a messy, live, beautiful disaster every week, and last night, the "beautiful" part actually won out. Stop looking for "perfection" from a show that is written, rehearsed, and performed in six days. Instead, look for those moments of genuine spontaneity. Last night had three of them, and in the world of late-night TV, that’s a massive win.
Watch the soft-serve sketch. Seriously. It’s the only thing you actually need to see to understand where comedy is headed in 2026.