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# Woody Harrelson takes ‘Saturday Night Live’ to a season high
- URL: https://www.theomnicosm.com/woody-harrelson-takes-saturday-night-live-to-a-season-high/
- Published: 2014-11-16T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-24T19:33:36.000Z
- Description: A republished recap of the Nov. 15, 2014 episode of ‘SNL’ hosted by Woody Harrelson.
- Author: Bill Kuchman
- Tags: The Cold Open • From the Archive, SNL Season 40, The Cold Open, SNL, The Cold Open • Episode Reviews, Woody Harrelson

*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 The opinions voiced in these recaps may be outdated based on the events that have occurred since their writing.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 Nov. 16, 2014.*

Welcome to Edition No. 48 of **Popculturology**'s *Saturday Night Live*recaps. All of your questions about the **Woody Harrelson**\-hosted episode will soon be answered.

### How'd Woody Harrelson do?

After **Chris Rock** brought us the worst episode of *SNL* this season (and in a long time?), the show luckily had a week off to think about things. That time paid off, as Harrelson hosted one of the best episodes of Season 40.  
  
Harrelson kicked off the episode with a singing monologue. Yes, my first thoughts were, oh no, a singing monologue too. Luckily Harrelson's sining monologue was completely for fun. The actor wasn't trying to show off his musical chops — he was looking to poke fun at himself through song. A parody song based on **Taylor Swift**'s "Blank Space" allowed Harrelson to sing about 1989 and just how little he remembered about it.  
  
Harrelson was joined by his *Hunger Games* costars **Liam Hemsworth**, **Josh Hutcherson** and **Jennifer Lawrence**, who shared a few insights into Harrelson's recollections of 1989, the year he last hosted *SNL*. Did you know that the Berlin Wall was knocked down by the Kool-Aid Man?  
  
I was slightly worried that Harrelson's stoned demeanor during his monologue would be a sign of things to come for the episode, but it was just for show. He was locked in for everything that followed, serving as an excellent host.

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### What were the best sketches of the night?

If you watched a lot of awful MTV dating shows during college (or earlier — I don't know what your parents allowed you to watch), you remember shows almost exactly like *Match'd*. Some douchey guys make thinly veiled sexual comments toward a not-too-bright girl. Match'd was just like that, but with a twist — the host of the show is the girl's dad.Comments like "I'll make you scream from head to butt" quickly turned into praise for the host's military service and the importance of respecting your elders once the three guys, played by **Beck Bennett**, **Kyle Mooney** and **Taran Killam**, realized Harrelson's host was the father of the "horny as hell" girl played by **Cecily Strong** they were competing for.

**\[SKETCH NOT AVAILABLE\]**

*SNL* accomplished something this weekend that it had barely been able to do all season — pull off a political sketch during the cold open. With the idea of President **Barack Obama** an incoming Senate Majority Leader **Mitch McConnell** sharing a bourbon together as its framework, *SNL* delivered a genuinely funny cold open. I'd love to hitting that Obama and McConnell are sitting around making prank phone calls to **Hillary Clinton**.

Has *SNL* ever had a resident weed expert? If not, **Pete Davidson** is now that guy.

I loved **Jim Carrey**'s **Matthew McConaughey** a few weeks ago, but seeing Killam do his version next to the real Woody Harrelson during "Weekend Update" was even better. Killam has found a way to distill everything that make McConaughey McConaughey — the hand flourishes, the "Future, present, ghosts of girlfriends past" language — and spin it up a notch.

**Uzo Aduba** had a cameo as Crazy Eyes from *Orange Is the New Black*. That's all you need to know about this sketch.

### Any shorts or commercials?

Besides the "New Marijuana Policy" sketch, no other shorts or commercials during this episode.

### How was 'Weekend Update'?

**Leslie Jones** continued to dominate *SNL* with another "Weekend Update" appearance. What part of this segment was better: "Look at my breasts, Colin. LOOK AT MY BREASTS! or "You better believe it's gangster, ya tall glass of almond milk."

### How about the rest of the show?

Yes, watching **Kate McKinnon** make out with guys like Harrelson, **Louis CK** and **John Goodman** is funny, but is there really anything new being added each time *SNL* trots this sketch out?

Just a couple of guys talking about the good old days of crack. Well, at least Harrelson was.

Was *SNL* making fun of the idea of safety in football when it comes to concussions? I was really hoping that **Will Forte** would show up and perform an inspirational song for this team. 

Did anyone else have the apples song stuck in their head after this sketch?

****Deep SNL Thoughts** is written and produced by ****Bill Kuchman**.   
Copyediting by ****Tim Kuchman**.  
  
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