Bad Bunny takes the SNL stage by storm, hosting an unforgettable episode enriched by star-studded cameos from Mick Jagger, Lady Gaga, and Pedro Pascal.
Saturday, October 21, 2023, Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny took on the roles of both host and musical guest on the iconic NBC show "Saturday Night Live" (SNL). The episode was the second of the show's 49th season and was marked by a series of high-profile guest appearances: Mick Jagger, Lady Gaga and Pedro Pascal all joined the show.
Bad Bunny's opening monologue was a bilingual affair. Pedro Pascal joined him on stage, serving as both translator and comedic advisor. The exchange between the two was filled with light-hearted banter. "When you are doing a monologue, I find it's always charming when you make a self-deprecating joke," advised Pascal. Bad Bunny quipped back, "What do you mean?". Pascal elaborated, "It's like you make a joke about a part of your body or your face that's unflattering." Bad Bunny's response: "I don't have any." The humor escalated when Pascal suggested, "Audience love it when you show an embarrassing photo of yourself." Bad Bunny obliged by displaying a very revealing image of himself, wearing nothing but heart-shaped singlasses. "I'm sorry, how is that embarrassing?" - "Because I forgot to put on clothes."
The episode opened with a political satire featuring Mikey Day as Ohio's Jim Jordan, a man grappling with his unmet ambitions to become the speaker of the House. The sketch was further animated by Bowen Yang's George Santos and Chloe Fineman's Lauren Boebart.
In a telenovela sketch, rock star Mick Jagger, 80, made a dramatic entrance, interrupting a heated confrontation between Tomas Padilla (Bad Bunny) and his brother, alongside the maid, Latina Jefferson. Dressed in a white suit and a fake mustache, Jagger's character added a layer of tension and humor, marking his first SNL appearance since 1986.
A rap battle sketch set in a St. Andrews Hall-like venue featured Mikey Day's Walter Whiteboy. Outing himself first a la B Rabbit, he embarrasses himself, severely, losing battle to Fuego, played by Bad Bunny, who wins through an unexpected act of compassion.
Lady Gaga, the pop icon, made her way onto the SNL stage to introduce Bad Bunny's first musical performance. The song, "UN PREVIEW," is a new release from Bad Bunny's latest album. Lady Gaga's appearance was her first on SNL since 2016, and her introduction set an electrifying tone for the rest of the episode.
Colin Jost and Michael Che covered a range of topics, from President Biden to Jim Jordan. Ego Nwodim appeared as Jada Pinkett Smith, offering her perspective on her recent memoir and marriage.
Bad Bunny played a disapproving aunt to Marcello Hernandez while Pedro Pascal returns as the overprotective mom. The sketch served as a continuation of the original which we saw back in February. Luis gets around! Brittany is gone, and his new girlfriend is played by Chloe Troast. While Pedro Pascal regretfully admits, "while there are great Latinas out there: Jenna Ortega, Anna de Armas, and Cardi B.. but no, you brought home Greta Thunberg". Though, the mood shifts after Chloe goes on the rant about Louis not eating enough.
Announced by Pedro Pascal, Bad Bunny performs "Monaco", third single on the recent album "Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana". "Monaco" music video has already made a lot of buzz featuring Al Paccino.
Mick Jagger made a second, memorable appearance in a sketch set within the confines of a convent. Molly Kearney reprised her role as a nun, this time leading an investigation to find a man who has been secretly intimate with the other nuns, disrupting their vow of chastity. Jagger, donning a nun's habit, added a layer of irreverence and humor to the religious setting. The audience's recognition of him seemed to peak in this sketch, amplifying the atmosphere. While the sketch had its crude moments, it ended on a high note with a well-timed joke about Peacock and Whoopi Goldberg. The presence of Jagger left the audience pondering why he wasn't hosting the episode or perhaps promoting the Rolling Stones' new album in another installment.
The episode concluded with a sketch about the acquisition of Burt's Bees. While the corporate team discussed strategy, Enrique (Bad Bunny) was preoccupied with his daughter's upcoming wedding.
As the curtain fell on this star-studded episode of SNL, it was clear that Bad Bunny's hosting gig, replete with celebrity cameos and comedic sketches, had left an indelible mark.
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