‘S.N.L.’ Hands Out Christmas Awards as Kate McKinnon Returns
In the final new episode of 'Saturday Night Live' in 2023, the show avoided topical comedy and instead presented the Christmas Awards, honoring awkward and uncomfortable events during the holiday season. Kate McKinnon, the host of the episode, did not reprise her famous impersonations of politicians and celebrities. The opening monologue featured McKinnon reflecting on her time on 'S.N.L.' and her alien-like presence in the entertainment industry. The episode also included sketches parodying Abba and a holiday music video.
Christmas Awards
The final new episode of 'Saturday Night Live' in 2023 took a departure from topical comedy and instead presented the Christmas Awards. Hosted by Heidi Gardner and Bowen Yang, the awards program honored the awkward and uncomfortable events that occur when families reunite for the holidays. Categories included Most Disappointing Gift Given to a 10-Year-Old Boy and Most Unwelcome Uninvited Guest. The show also featured a performance by Billie Eilish.
In the category of Most Disappointing Gift Given to a 10-Year-Old Boy, the award went to Gam-Gam (Chloe Fineman). She humorously explained how she bought her grandson Dockers pleated khakis with a sewn-in belt instead of the Nintendo Switch he wanted. Other awards included Most Unevenly Lit Tree and Best Performance, the latter of which Chloe Troast won for her confidently incorrect rendition of 'Do You Hear What I Hear?'.
Kate McKinnon's Return
Kate McKinnon, a former cast member of 'Saturday Night Live', returned to host the show for the first time since leaving. In her opening monologue, McKinnon humorously reflected on her time on the show and her ability to portray eccentric characters. She shared photos of herself alongside past hosts and jokingly referred to her date at junior prom who wore a Ren Faire dress and turned out to be gay (herself). McKinnon also welcomed Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig, two of her former 'S.N.L.' colleagues.
McKinnon expressed her preference for wearing costumes and not speaking in her own voice. She described her journey to assemble a human personality since leaving the show and joked about her hat as her only accomplishment so far. The monologue showcased McKinnon's comedic talent and ability to connect with the audience.
Abba Sketch and Holiday Music Video
In a sketch presented as an infomercial, Kate McKinnon, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, and Bowen Yang parodied the Swedish quartet Abba. The sketch showcased the comedians' ability to imitate the band's Scandinavian accents and recreated their iconic songs. It humorously referenced Abba's songs about underage protagonists and their popularity.
The episode also featured a holiday music video with Kate McKinnon singing about a surprising topic: a pasture that grows a hygiene product one would not expect. The music video provided a random and lighthearted break from the holiday-themed sketches.
