If you’re still in need of copy for your family’s Christmas card, consider Dana Carvey’s Church Lady’s suggestion of “Satan Had a Good Year.”
It’s been nearly a decade since we’ve been treated to a “Church Chat,” but Saturday Night Live is getting all they can out of Carvey this season. His Church Lady might not have the same bitchy zing she once had, and Carver’s voice occasionally wandered from her grating scold. But it was still a treat to see his Church Lady wag her finger at “eleven-year-olds dressing up like that vixen Sabrina Carpenter,” and urge us to emulate a far superior carpenter: “He’s working late because he’s a savior,” Carvey sang.
Meanwhile, Sarah Sherman trotted out her dandy impression of Matt Gaetz and his evil boomerang eyebrows. Marcello Hernandez turned up as baseball free agent Juan Soto. And best of all, David Spade slapped a sad glower on his face to take a Hunter Biden impression for a ride. In the best joke of the open, Carver chided Biden for calling her Church Woman instead of Church Lady. “Oh well, pardon me,” said Spade.
Paul Mescal then bounded onto the stage for his monologue wearing the most mesmerizing sweater. How to describe this objet d’art? It was black with red piping. A little slinky, intoxicatingly sheer—a look at once mindful and demure and bridge and tunnel. He should wear it to every holiday party.
Our favorite Irish boyfriend was going to prove that comedy could yet flow through him, despite his oeuvre of emotionally wrecked characters. After treating us to a montage of his weepiest scenes, Mescal joked that “it’s pretty clear that I’m not afraid to do emotional scenes, or nude scenes, or nude emotional scenes.” He also saluted his penchant for little football shorts. Not to have his quads outdone, Hernandez joined Mescal on stage in leggy solidarity. Our two short kings in their short shorts. This year has had its bright spots.