In his second stint as the host of “Saturday Night Live,” Jason Momoa once again brought his infectious enthusiasm and charisma to the stage, showcasing that sometimes, sheer enjoyment can outshine precise delivery. Despite occasional flubs in delivering lines, Momoa’s charm, comfort in the spotlight, and willingness to embrace the silliness of sketches made for an entertaining and engaging episode.
Momoa’s sex-symbol status and physicality were cleverly utilized in this week’s sketches, highlighting his versatility. Whether portraying a club bouncer with a thick Cuban accent, a tipsy pilot navigating a Thanksgiving parade, or a presumed-dead fiancé returning from the sea, Momoa’s natural ease and unflappability carried the sketches even through less polished moments.
Even in sketches that may have felt a bit behind the zeitgeist, such as the filmed song about seemingly depressed men thinking about the Roman Empire, Momoa’s enthusiasm shone through, injecting energy into the material. The final sketch of the night, featuring Momoa as a taxi driver receiving bad news while a passenger (Kenan Thompson) tries to avoid the conversation, showcased Momoa’s ability to navigate sillier jokes with grace, maintaining composure even when a sketch overstayed its welcome.
The Please Don’t Destroy boys, known for their new movie on Peacock, added comedic value as they attempted to order ramen while dealing with John Higgins’ breakup. The segment was well-paced and marked an improvement from previous episodes. Musical guest Tate McRae not only contributed to sketches, including the Roman Empire bit, but also delivered captivating performances of “Greedy” and “Grave.”
The cold open once again featured Mikey Day as President Joe Biden, and while it’s early in the season, the jokes about Biden’s age and Day’s portrayal are starting to feel repetitive. In this sketch, Biden’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is upstaged by Tian Tian the panda (Bowen Yang), formerly of the National Zoo, who takes questions from the press. Tian Tian humorously discusses his visit to America and his unique qualifications to unify the world.
In his monologue, Momoa promoted his upcoming sequel, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” sharing anecdotes about his childhood dream of becoming a marine biologist and his journey from Iowa to Hawaii. He humorously referred to “Baywatch” as “The B-word” and discussed his water company, Mananalu, aimed at combating single-use plastic bottle usage. The short monologue emphasized Momoa’s love for life, a sentiment reinforced by his exuberant interactions with cast members and celebratory moments at the show’s closing curtain.
Overall, Jason Momoa’s return as “SNL” host showcased his magnetic stage presence and ability to infuse sketches with energy and humor, proving that genuine enthusiasm can elevate the viewing experience.