Electric Jack Black Was Ready to Rock on ‘Saturday Night Live’
Remind me again why Jack Black went nearly 20 years between hosting appearances on Saturday Night Live?
The guy killed it three times in the early aughts but has been pictured on the side of SNL milk cartons ever since, missing in action so that the likes of Jacob Elordi and Halsey could get their turns. It probably has something to do with Black’s late-career turn into kiddie fare — Lorne Michaels likely didn’t see much wow factor in having Black promote Kung Fu Panda 3 or Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle — but last night’s return to SNL proved that Black can still bring it with the best of them. For example, compare any recent SNL monologue to Black’s turbo-fueled, School of Rock-style anthem to kick off last night’s show.
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Black is older and heavier than he was 20 years ago, but he’s still bringing the manic comedy force and heavy-metal singing chops that shake the ceiling. Hosts like Mikey Madison don’t stand a chance against a performer like Black, who had the Studio 8H bleachers rocking. The lyrics underline the fact that Black is in his Super Mario Bros. era, but that didn’t stop the comic actor from strutting through the audience like he was headlining the world’s funkiest AC/DC tribute band.
Sketch concepts that might have died on the vine with a pretty-boy host got juiced by Black’s infectious energy, like the bit in which he played a dating-show contestant who dresses like Indiana Jones. That’s pretty much the joke, but Black sells it like it’s Shakespeare, cracking Indy’s whip like a rim shot to punctuate the punchlines.
The same goes for “One-Uppers,” a sketch about a group of old friends who try to out-impress one another with their humble brags. Their accomplishments aren’t especially funny, but each one is driven home by a triumphant turn to camera, accompanied by a majestic eagle screech. In other words, it’s an excuse to mug to the audience. No one commits to the bit more than Black, and each look convinces us that he’s won the war.
The entire night was more of an exercise in silliness than wit, but hey, I’ll take silly over lifeless. In “Bass Lake,” Black is the leader of a dad band who invites enterprising musicians to join him in a group jam — unfortunately, everyone who takes him up on the offer plays the bass. It’s one of those “Kenan Thompson is about to crack up” sketches as each successive bass player tries to out-weird the one who came before.
Black’s performance is a good reminder that the show works best when it has a killer host, someone with serious comedy chops rather than a celebrity with a movie that opened on Friday. Up next is Jon Hamm, another soon-to-be four-time host and another great example of a guest who can carry a show. As SNL rounds out Season 50, let’s hope Michaels leans into the funny versus whatever random celeb his kids tell him is hot that week.