Jack Black returns to save the ‘SNL’ Five-Timers Club

The prophecy has finally come true: Jack Black is a member of SNL’s Five-Timers Club. (I mean, I assume there was a prophecy. This is Jack Black, one half of Tenacious D, who we’re talking about.) It took almost a quarter century for Black to finally reach this moment, first hosting in 2002.

You know what I love about Black as an SNL host? Between his triumphant return last season and my dive into his work on SNL the past week, it’s easy to see that Black enjoys hosting the show in a way where he doesn’t have to be the star of every sketch.

Sure, he could easy dial up every performance to his full power, but he also knows how to play a supporting role taking the chance to bottle up his energy and punctuate key moments with a burst of Black-ian chaos. Many of my favorite sketches from Black’s previous episodes feature him playing the (almost) straight man.

With Black hosting SNL in back to back seasons after a twenty-year absence, we’ve hopefully gotten to a point where he’ll swing by to host the show every few years now. He’s too natural of a host — fitting in with casts anchored by everyone from Will Ferrell to Ashley Padilla — to stop at five times.

Welcome to The Cold Open!

This publication is a free newsletter, but it’s fueled by readers like you. Support independent news, reviews and more for just $5 a month.

Upgrade to Paid

Includes full access to Snackology and Popculturology.

COLD OPEN

NCAA Post Game Show Cold Open

When a cold open kicks off with James Austin Johnson as anyone but Donald Trump, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Yes, Johnson is SNL’s best Trump impersonator ever. A masterclass. But he’s too good. And there’s too much Trump in the world.

On a Saturday night, we need a break.

SNL went with March Madness for this weekend’s cold open, honing in on Kenan Thompson’s long-running take on Charles Barkley. The show used Barkley’s thoughts on immigrants as a hook for Thompson to offer additional mini monologues, including the Iran war, the Artemis II launch and Pam Bondi.

• “So great to be here at the final four ... years of this country”: Earlier this season, a cold open gave us Amy Poehler as Bondi and Tina Fey as Kristi Noem. The show thankfully didn’t stick with celebs for the roles, having Padilla play Noem on several occasions since then. The show’s breakout star added Bondi to her portfolio this weekend.

THE MONOLOGUE

Jack Black Five-Timers Monologue

This was the monologue we were all waiting for this weekend. With the exception of Will Ferrell, SNL doesn’t let a major new member of the Five-Timers Club go quietly by.

Black was immediately joined by Jonah Hill, who informed Black that the Five-Timers Club Lounge desperately needed his help. Once in the lounge, it was clear that the hallowed room had seen better days. It was in disarray. There were cobwebs everywhere. Melissa McCarthy couldn’t get a real beer, forced to drink John Mulaney’s nonalcoholic beer instead.