> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.theomnicosm.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Lena Dunham and Taran Killam's killer McConaughey impression win the night - URL: https://www.theomnicosm.com/lena-dunham-and-taran-killams-killer-mcconaughey-impression-win-the-night/ - Published: 2014-03-08T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2025-10-21T19:59:06.000Z - Description: A republished recap of the March 8, 2014, episode of ‘SNL’ hosted by Lena Dunham. - Author: Bill Kuchman - Tags: The Cold Open • From the Archive, SNL Season 39, The Cold Open, SNL, The Cold Open • Episode Reviews, Lena Dunham *I wrote* SNL *recaps for the original version of Popculturology from 2012 to 2015\. The opinions voiced in these recaps may be outdated based on the events that have occurred since their writing. This article was originally published on March 9, 2014.* Welcome to Edition No. 36 of **Popculturology**'s *Saturday Night Live*recaps. All of your questions about the **Lena Dunham**\-hosted episode will soon be answered. ### How'd Lena Dunham do? After **Jim Parsons** hosted quite possibly the worst *SNL* of the season last weekend, the show needed to bounce back. I mean, NBC isn't going to cancel *SNL* after a sucky week (or ever), but the show needed to make people forget about Parsons' bomb. Luckily for *SNL*, Dunham delivered. The first-time *SNL* host carried a diversely funny episode, and best of all, Dunham was game to poke fun at her own persona. The episode opened with Dunham dealing with members of *SNL*'s cast trying to ask her super-personal questions, all due to the fact that *Girls* had no problem holding back. The episode's only few miscues actually came in sketches that Dunham wasn't the focus of, so it's hard to blame her for the low points of this weekend. ## Sign up Join the hundreds of ****Deep SNL Thoughts** subscribers who already get free editions including the episode recaps, news and more. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. ➕ Already a ****Deep SNL Thoughts** subscriber? ****Please consider becoming a supporter** by [****upgrading your account**](https://www.popculturology.news/?ref=theomnicosm.com#/portal/). 🍿🍪 Wanna add ****Popculturology** and ****Snackology** to your subscription? ****Update your email preferences** [****on your account page**](https://www.popculturology.news/?ref=theomnicosm.com#/portal/). ### What were the best sketches of the night? **\[SKETCH NOT AVAILABLE\]** As soon as this sketch started, I had the sense that it was hiding something sinister. While Dunham's character struggled to sing her share of "Ooh Child" over the car's GPS, the kicker came with the sketch's ending. I had my money on Dunham, **Cecily Strong**, **Taran Killam** and **Kenan Thompson**'s characters donning ski masks and heading off to rob a bank or something, but **Brooks Wheelan** with duct tape over his mouth was better. "If a court won't convict you, we will," sounds like a line out of a **Liam Neeson** movie. **\[SKETCH NOT AVAILABLE\]** Speaking of Neeson, the man with a very particular set of skills cameoed during the night's cold open. If you're President **Barack Obama** and you're challenged by **Vladimir Putin**, the most logical move is to bring in Neeson, right? He hates it when things are taken. As someone who doesn't watch *Scandal*, I can't speak to the accuracy of this sketch, but it did give *SNL* a bit of closure. When **Kerry Washington** hosted the show in November, *SNL* didn't have a black woman in its cast. Four months later, the show has **Sasheer Zamata** and she's starring in a sketch playing Olivia Pope, Washington's character from *Scandal*. **\[SKETCH NOT AVAILABLE\]** Like *Scandal*, I'm unable to fully gauge *SNL*'s take on *Girls*, but from what I've been told, this short nailed the show's vibe pretty perfectly. Once again, a huge part of this episode's success came from Dunham's gameness to send up *Girls* and her persona. After Dunham, Killam was this weekend's star. Not only did he portray **Adam Driver** (allegedly the next *Star Wars* villain) in the "Girl" digital short, but he also unveiled a killer **Matthew McConaughey** impression during "Weekend Update." While a touch of his Brad Pitt impression popped up during the beginning of this segment, Killam's version of McConaughey just might be one of the best impressions on *SNL* right now. ### How about any shorts or commercials? While the "Ooh Child" and "Girl" shorts ranked among the top sketches this week, *SNL* once again closed with something from the minds of **Brooks Bennett**, **Kyle Mooney** and **Mike O'Brien**. It was funny, but you'll just have to take my word for it since NBC didn't post it online. Jerks. ### How was *Weekend Update*? **\[SKETCH NOT AVAILABLE\]** Nooooo, I thought *SNL* was done with **Fred Armisen**. Guys, I don't care if he's on *Late Night with Seth Meyers*, you don't have to invite him to *SNL*. The "friends of dictators" sketch stopped being funny a long time ago — bringing back Armisen to do it AGAIN wasn't going to make it funny. ### Anything else worth mentioning? **\[SKETCH NOT AVAILABLE\]** Oh look, it's **Nasim Pedrad**. I think *SNL* forgot she was on the show again. I debated ranking this sketch among the episode's bests, but it was really only worth it for the **Jon Hamm** appearance. Well, that and the line, "You're almost completely inside your sweater." **Jay Pharoah** becomes the second person to do a **Katt Williams** impression this season. **Drake** did his own version when he hosted in January. The SNL audience was not a fan of Pharoah's Williams mocking **Harrison Ford**'s Oscar appearance by saying, "This bitch is looking less like Harrison Ford and more like **Robert Ford**." Cue the boos. I really wanted to put this sketch among the episode's bests, but I had to draw the line somewhere. O'Brien's men's rights activist was very funny, but I'm surprised *SNL* isn't getting flack for having Strong play a hispanic woman. "You guys owe us a month's worth of Sprite." ****Deep SNL Thoughts** is written and produced by ****Bill Kuchman**. Copyediting by ****Tim Kuchman**. 💰 Like what you’re reading on ****Deep SNL Thoughts**? 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