SNL season 51 chat

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/3/26 at 8:42pm

Now that we're at the halfway point, how are we feeling about this year?

I think it got off to a rough start, and losing Bowen Yang is going to leave a pretty major vacancy over time. But if I were playing SNL fantasy football, I'd be placing wager sand investing in Ashley Padilla stock. She's got major Phil Hartman vibes, and it's rare for a featured player to become so frequent a leading presence in their second year.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 5:22pm

I pretty much like their cast this season, for the most part. Was never a big fan of Yang and really won't miss him. The only sketch he did that made me laugh out loud was the Titanic Iceberg during Weekend Update. That was a riot.

Glad to see Ben Marshall join the cast. LOVED him in the Please Don't Destroy sketches/clips. I hope we see more of him in the future. I also love Jane Wickline.  JMO

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 7:58pm

Jane is VERY divisive because of her deadpan. I think I really like her in her own features, whether it's her Weekend Update songs or her hyperpop music videos, but she's almost never a highlight in scripted sketches unless they find a way to lean into her stiltedness. 

That isn't necessarily a dead end, though: it took Squirm a few years to learn to play collaboratively as an ensemblist and not default to her performance-art voice and delivery style too. Now, she plays straight man as much as she plays clown.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 8:09pm

Her deadpan is what I love about her.

Who is Squirm?

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/4/26 at 9:13pm

Sarah Sherman used to be a performance artist and stand-up under the name Sarah Squirm. She still goes by Squirm on her socials and in some of her life solo performances, if she’s leaning into her nightmare clown persona. 

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 6:26pm

Ben Marshall is cute, talented, and has the best smile.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/5/26 at 6:42pm

SteveSanders said: "Ben Marshall is cute, talented, and has the best smile."

 

And he's a redhead, which I love!