SNL Recap: Chris Redd’s Eric Adams Brings Swagger To SNL With Host Ariana DeBose

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After a bizarre Christmas episode that got derailed by COVID, the first Saturday Night Live episode of 2022 went off without a hitch this weekend, with West Side Story star Ariana DeBose making her hosting debut alongside musical guest Bleachers. DeBose was the consummate theater professional—completely comfortable with live performance, utterly poised, and seemingly on the verge of breaking into song at any moment—but she unfortunately didn’t get a lot to do in an episode that was filled with overly long sketches — it just never quite found its swagger, with one swaggy exception.

Chris Redd killed it as the swagger-obsessed Mayor Eric Adams, who has definitely been a cop for over 222 years, in Eric Adams Press Conference. It was the best sketch of the night, the kind of SNL political content that has something for everyone: Adams probably thought it was quite flattering (“I’m muscular, I’m vegan and I get that thang-thang every day before breakfast”), but Adams haters probably enjoyed it even more (what with the constant cop jokes). It was a howl into the the abyss that is a swag-less existence, and now we can only hope the impression doesn’t get too overplayed.

Saturday Night Live Recap: Ariana DeBose Gives the Season a Jolt

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Saturday Night Live Ariana DeBose Season 47 Episode 10 Editor’s Rating 4 stars * * * * « Previous Next Photo: Will Heath/NBC

Saturday Night Live returns from the holiday break with host Ariana DeBose and musical guest Bleachers. Original musical guest Roddy Ricch had to drop out due to COVID exposure on his team, and there must be jitters on staff as New York City still faces a high rate of positive cases. DeBose, who is generating Oscar buzz with her star turn in West Side Story, is yet another SNL host this season at the beginning of their career. And who knows, it might be Pete Davidson handing her an Oscar. SNL has had trouble with younger hosts without the cultural cachet of the likes of Kim Kardashian and Rami Malek. Without that history to dip into, they have to create funny, original sketches. And tonight, they did.

Best Biden Deflection

Joe Biden has one message for Americans gripped by the Omicron surge, inflation, and the Ukraine crisis: “Stop seeing Spider-Man.” James’s Biden is a little low-energy here. While it’s probably because he is focused on accurately emulating the president, it can hurt a sketch like this. This is still a solid cold open, as the “stop seeing Spider-Man” refrain is soon revealed to be just another Biden administration deflection. Eventually, the “real” Biden, played by Pete Davidson, enters from a portal to tell us our universe is a collapsing joke created when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016. A weird ending for sure, but a solid start.

Best Host Entrance

Ariana BURSTS onto the stage. I’ve actually never seen her before, but I am in awe of her stage presence. In what I believe is the first time this season, the host’s monologue is interrupted by a cast member — Kate asks if she can sing some Broadway tunes with Ariana. This is a welcome change, as the taut two-minute host monologues got a little stale. Also, it’s more fun! The crowd loves it when SNL cast members interrupt the monologue. Give them what they want!

Best Shaq Replacement

Bowen Yang is a giant monotone Yao Ming on NBA on TNT. Keenan, as Charles Barkley, has even seen Yao eat an entire pumpkin, stem and all. (“It’s just a snack for Yao.”) The TNT crew goes over NBA games stricken by COVID, as the Sacramento Kings had to suit up their equipment manager, a fan, and a small child. Ariana is great as the casual fan out on a girls’ night who is thrown into the game. (“I don’t know what that means, but go Sacs!”)

Best Insult of a Virgin Teenager

“He’s a lazy wiper; you can smell it.” In “Winter Formal,” Sarah Sherman and Pete Davidson run a one-stop shop for all your daughter’s school-dance needs. And if you’re worried about your daughter having sex after the dance, they suggest you rent their nerdy son Donovan, played by SNL’s resident teen, Andrew Dismukes. This is an excellent trio, as Pete, Sarah, and Andrew really bring out each other’s weirdness. Pete and Sarah nearly lose it as they zoom in on stone-faced Andrew’s weird white lips. (“Is that cream cheese?” “Nah, I just think my mouth is like this.”)

Best Mayoral Introduction

Chris Redd is the new New York City Mayor, Eric Adams. “I was a police officer for 70 years,” the new mayor says. Ariana DeBose nearly steals the sketch from under him, randomly popping in as his confrontational spokesperson. (“This ain’t the C train, okay? We have rules here.”) The only thing holding this sketch back are these awkward split-stage reporters. Can somebody please figure out a way to put an entire press conference sketch on the same stage? However, I hope swaggy Eric Adams becomes a recurring character because it is a real treat.

Best Ancient Greek Lesbian Poem

“Golden raisins. River banks. Nancy, we just met. You’re scary and a bitch. Move in with me.” A PowerPoint sketch is Kate’s bread and butter, and Ariana expertly plays along in “Sappho.” This sketch has a lot of great lines. (“Thank you for the grant from our corporate sponsor, Fage yogurt. Fage, be careful when you say it.”) And combined with the very silly “ler” “Kitchen Staff” sketch, it gives this episode a strong finish.

Keeping Score

Chris Redd gets my MVP tonight. His Eric Adams impression brought the house down, and he and Ariana DeBose showed tremendous chemistry. Chris is a versatile performer who can occasionally find it tough to get screen time, but there’s a star waiting to burst out there. If SNL ever mercifully pares down to a smaller cast (no Cecily or Aidy tonight), Chris and a few others are ready to carry to show.

Ariana was excellent as the host, and they used her smartly. She crushed as the NBA fan and Eric Adams’s spokesperson, and she was equally comfortable standing next to Kate in the “Sappho” sketch. There were only a couple of minor disappointments, none to do with her. The Sound of Music sketch was right in Ariana’s wheelhouse, but the writers didn’t really find an angle, and please, can we give up on the Simpsons references? It’s cringe for a comedy to reference another comedy. Also, I cannot believe they couldn’t figure out how to pair their first Latina host of the season with their seldom-used Latina cast member, Melissa.

Otherwise, this was the Saturday Night Live episode I’d been waiting for all season. They dumped the character carousel sketches, which all felt more like a showcase than an actual sketch, and instead gave performers time to shine. I really love that they did an NYC-centric sketch with the Eric Adams press conference. At the end of the day, this is still a New York show. SNL has rebounded after a Christmas special wrecked by COVID. I think this episode has given them the playbook for success going into next week when former cast member Will Forte stops by to host. I expect that will be great.

Peacemaker Reveals How Batman’s Image Has Changed Since Justice League

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Batman is going to have a big year in 2022, and we have DC Films to thank for it. After all, Robert Pattinson will step out with his take on the hero in The Batman, but that is not all. It seems HBO Max is leaning into the Gotham legend with help from Peacemaker, and it has educated us all on how the universe sees Batman these days.

The whole thing went live in the first episode of Peacemaker, “A Whole New Whirled”. It was there fans caught up with Chris Smith in the wake of The Suicide Squad. After his wounds from the movie are healed, Chris pays a visit to his dad after being drafted into an A.R.G.U.S. mission, and it is there we meet a new face.

As it turns out, Chris’ dad has a neighbor who keeps up with heroes and villains. The neighbor is quick to label Peacemaker a villain following his role in The Suicide Squad, but Chris fights back by calling himself a hero. It doesn’t take long for the neighbor to spit back that Batman is an actual superhero, leaving Chris to nurse his guilt yet again.

Clearly, this neighbor has a thing against Peacemaker, but he is fond enough of Batman. He viewed the caped crusader as a hero rather than a vigilante even, and that marks a big shift for Bruce Wayne. After all, the hero was seen as a ruthless pillar of justice in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. He was so violent that Superman had to fight Batman to stop him, and the public saw the legend as a threat. Following the events of Justice League, that has all changed, and Chris will have to do a lot to redeem himself in the public’s eyes. He may not be able to stop Earth from invading aliens like Batman, but Peacemaker can make amends in his own ways. And if he wants the respect he craves, that is what he’ll have to do.

What do you think about this Batman update? Are you keeping up with Peacemaker over on HBO Max? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB.

HT – CBR

Saturday Night Live Parodies Bel-Air With Dark and Gritty Urkel

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Saturday Night Live is back in the new year, and the series decided to take on one of Hollywood’s hottest topics the other night. If you tuned in, you will have seen the legendary series tackle Bel-Air after the reboot dropped its first trailer. The gritty reel left fans of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air stunned, and now, SNL has given Urkel from Family Matters the same treatment.

As you can see below, SNL began the clip by showing pieces of Bel-Air, and it inspired the late-night series to test out its own gritty remake. “The goofy characters you loved in the ’90s with absolutely none of the fun or the charm,” SNL introduces before showing fans its own pitch for Urkel.

Finally, a gritty reboot of Family Matters pic.twitter.com/g3DoArPeCj — Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) January 16, 2022

The skit goes on to star Chris Redd who steps in for Urkel from Family Matters. The reboot sees the lovable nerd dressed up in stripes, but his sunny personality is nowhere to be found. It seems Urkel has turned the boy into a pessimist, and the rest of Family Matters’ stars are given similar makeovers.

And yes, Urkel did carry over his iconic catchphrase into this SNL sketch. The boy does ask, “Did I do that?” as he lands punches on Mikey Day’s character. It seems Urkel was feeling violent after seeing the strange man hanging out with Laura Winslow (Ego Nwodim), so he blackouts in rage.

Now, if you think Urkel sounds good, we hate to tell you no such series is in the making that we know of. However, Bel-Air will go live before much longer. The show will debut on February 13 and introduce a new version of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that favors dark melodrama over colorful humor.

What do you think about Saturday Night Live’s take on Urkel? Are there any other classic sitcoms needing a reboot these days? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB.

11 Great Movies Like Encanto: What To Watch If You Like The Disney Movie

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Encanto is one of the latest Disney movies to quickly become a fan favorite among families and animated Disney movie fans. Encanto tells the story of 15-year-old Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) and her family. Mirabel is the only member of her family that doesn’t have a special power, and that may make her just what they need to save the day. The film has become a major hit, especially since it premiered on Disney+ .

If you’re like many Encanto fans, you’ve already watched this Disney movie 400 times, and now you may want some suggestions of other Disney movies, animated flicks, and live action films that share characteristics with Encanto. It is a unique family saga with excellent music , so let’s explore some other family friendly films like Encanto.

(Image credit: Disney)

Raya And The Last Dragon (2021)

Raya and the Last Dragon is a Disney movie that follows Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) as she seeks a dragon named Sisu (Awkwafina) and pieces of a magic pendant, to restore order and save everyone from turning into stone. Encanto and Raya and the Last Dragon share many similarities. Both stories explore what happens when a young girl may be the key to her family’s survival. Raya and the Last Dragon and Encanto both have magical elements and showcase cultures not typically shown in animation here.

Raya and the Last Dragon may not be everyone’s favorite Disney movie but its heroine has just as much heart as Mirabel, and that’s what makes them both compelling to watch.

Stream Raya and the Last Dragon on Disney+.

Rent/buy Raya and the Last Dragon on Amazon.

(Image credit: Disney)

Moana (2016)

The ocean picks Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) to find Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to restore the heart of Te Fiti. Maui and Moana set off on an adventure that brings them into contact with many obstacles and sea creatures. Moana and Encanto have similar tones, animation styles, and both feature music by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Moana and Encanto are also non-Princess origin stories about young girls who prove to their family that they can become the heroes through will, determination, and belief in themselves and their abilities. To me, Moana and Mirabel would be the best of friends if they existed in the same universe.

Stream Moana on Disney+.

Rent/buy Moana on Amazon.

(Image credit: Disney)

Mulan (1998)

Mulan is an animated film from one of the peak times of animated Disney movies. It’s based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, and sees Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) join the Imperial Chinese Army to protect her father and family. This is one of the best movies on Disney+ because it’s a classic that kind of created the foundation for other Disney movies about unconventional, brave, and smart Disney heroines.

Characters like Mirabel are kindred successors to characters like Mulan. These young women love and respect their family so much that they’re willing to make major sacrifices in order to keep them safe. They also show Disney heroines can be feminine without necessarily having to be extremely girly, but these characters also don’t criticize or degrade other very girly characters. They just know that they’re not that type of girl.

Stream Mulan on Disney+.

Rent/buy Mulan on Amazon.

(Image credit: Disney)

Coco (2017)

Coco follows 12-year old Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez). After he seeks out the mausoleum of someone he believes is his great great grandfather, he ends up in the Land of the Dead. He then searches for his relative while exploring his musical passion. Coco’s cast also includes Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, and Alanna Ubach.

Coco is one of Disney and Pixar’s best films because it’s generally a good story and highlights Mexican culture, which often isn’t shown in Disney animated flicks. Coco and Encanto share a similar spirit and focus on two different hispanic cultures. They also both have an emphasis on culture, traditions, family, and heritage.

Stream Coco on Disney+.

Rent/buy Coco on Amazon.

(Image credit: AppleTV+)

Wolfwalkers (2020)

Wolfwalkers is an animated film about a legend of people who can transform into wolves. It mainly focuses on Robyn (Honor Kneafsey), a young girl who hopes to become a wolf hunter like her father, then she meets a young wolfwalker (Eva Whittaker) and her perspective starts to change. The Wolfwalkers cast also includes Sean Bean, Simon McBurney, and Maria Doyle Kennedy.

Wolfwalkers and Encanto are both stories about legends and people with extraordinary abilities. These magical people are also a pack or family of some sort. I believe that people who enjoy Encanto for the magical elements and idea of legends and curses will also enjoy Wolfwalkers.

Stream Wolfwalkers on AppleTV+.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Vivo (2021)

Vivo follows a magical kinkajou named Vivo (Lin-Manuel Miranda) from Havana, Cuba as he travels to Florida to help deliver a song to the true love of an old friend. He teams up with Gabi (Ynairaly Simo), the niece of his friend. Vivo’s voice cast also includes Zoe Saldana, Brian Tyree Henry, Juan de Marcos, Nicole Byer, and Gloria Estefan.

Vivo is another heartwarming animated film with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music. Gabi and Mirabel are almost opposite characters. Mirabel is a little ashamed of being different from her family, while Gabi loves that she’s odd and weird. However, both girls would agree that they try their best to help their families.

Stream Vivo on Netflix.

(Image credit: Studio Ghibli)

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Kiki’s Delivery Service is a Studio Ghibli film that follows a young witch in training as she moves out on her own and runs a delivery service out of a bakery. The film is considered one of the best Studio Ghibli movies for many reasons, one of them being how easy it is to relate to Kiki’s (dubbed in English by Kirsten Dunst) story of the trials and tribulations of growing up.

Encanto and Kiki’s Delivery Service deal with what happens when you have to take charge of your own destiny. They both show the difficulties and growth that come from becoming the most active force in determining whether you fail or succeed. It also explores the anxiety one feels if they don’t meet expectations.

Stream Kiki’s Delivery Service on HBO Max.

Rent/buy Kiki’s Delivery Service on Amazon.

(Image credit: Disney)

Onward (2020)

Onward is a Pixar and Disney movie about two brothers who go on a quest in order to see their deceased father one more time. The brothers exist in a world where mythical creatures live in semi-harmony, including elves, unicorns, and pixies. Onward ’s voice cast features Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Octavia Spencer.

Onward and Encanto showcase the importance of familial bonds and how it pushes people to new heights in order to protect them, reunite them, or make them happy. It’s more about the bonds between siblings, whereas Encanto’s main siblings are at odds, but them starting to understand each other kind of helps Encanto reach its resolution.

Stream Onward on Disney+.

Rent/buy Onward on Amazon.

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Willoughbys (2020)

The Willoughbys follows a group of siblings who try to find new parents. Their current ones are neglectful, selfish and self-centered. They really love each other, but not their children. The Willoughbys cast stars Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, Sean Cullen, and Ricky Gervais.

None of the Madrigal family are as terrible as the Willoughbys’ parents, but both films show that sometimes families can be harmful, especially in how they treat each other. The Madrigals learn from their mistakes and begin to grow and build a stronger foundation because of it. The Willoughbys’ children rely on each other for comfort and love.

Stream The Willoughbys on Netflix.

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

In The Heights (2021)

In The Heights is based on the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical of the same name. It follows residents of the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City. Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) is the narrator and main character, who dreams of leaving the Heights and returning to the Dominican Republic to revive his late father’s business.

The Madrigals are the main focus of Encanto but the community’s love and respect for the family also plays a major role. At one point, the community comes together to help the Madrigals. Both In the Heights and Encanto put a major emphasis on the importance of community and that no one can do anything completely alone. Usnavi and Mirabel are also both major dreamers. Usnavi with his fantasies about returning to the Dominican Republic, and Mirabel about her hopes of saving her family and finally finding her place within that group and feeling special.

Stream In The Heights on HBO Max.

Buy In The Heights on Amazon.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Instant Family (2018)

Instant Family is the story of a couple who decide to foster a teen girl, and then find out that she has two younger siblings, so they foster all three. The main focus of the film is how these parents and children learn to be a family, and is based on a real life adoption story . Instant Family stars Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Merced, Gustavo Quiroz, and Julianna Gamiz.

Instant Family is extremely heartwarming, which makes it a good movie to pair with Encanto. Both explore topics of what makes a family work, and what happens when a family is kind of broken and needs repairing. These films explore how families can work together to overcome any obstacle.

Stream Instant Family on Paramount+.

Rent/buy Instant Family on Amazon.