John Mulaney Hosts SNL: Watch Video Of The Best & Worst Sketches

For the fourth time in four seasons, Saturday Night Live host John Mulaney paid tribute to Broadway with an elaborate ode to the currently dimmed Great White Way. But before that, the comedian (and former SNL scribe) turned heads with an opening monologue about the presidential election between 74-year-old incumbent Donald Trump and 77-year-old challenger Joe Biden.

During a stretch that remained politically neutral, the two-time Emmy winner implied that "nothing much will change" regardless of who reigns victorious on Election Day (or days thereafter, once all votes are tallied).

"On Nov. 3, there's an elderly man contest," he said. "There's two elderly men, and you're supposed to choose your favorite of the two elderly men... We might have the same elderly man, or we might have a new elderly man. But rest assured, no matter what happens, nothing much will change in the United States. The rich will continue to prosper, while the poor languish. Families will be upended by mental illness and drug addiction, [and] Jane Lynch will continue to book lots of projects and when she does, she'll deliver. She's so good at being on TV."

The season's final pre-election episode opened with a cautionary tale read aloud by Jim Carrey's Biden. He was joined by Trump's 2016 challenger Hillary Clinton (again played by Kate McKinnon), who warned of a potentially rigged result (watch here). That was followed by an even stronger digital short that harped on voter suppression (watch below).

What sketches stood out this week? And what missed the mark? Grade the episode, then scroll down for all the highlights (including musical guest The Strokes) and lowlights. (Next week, Dave Chappelle!)

BEST SKETCH: New York Musical

Mulaney's latest Broadway tribute was hands down the best sketch of the night, even if didn't quite measure up to predecessors "Diner Lobster," "Bodega Bathroom," and my personal favorite, "Airport Sushi." The eight-and-a-half minute musical compensated for Cecily Strong's absence with the addition of Maya Rudolph, who reworked Stephen Sondheim's "I'm Still Here" while dressed as the Statue of Liberty. (Also great? Chloe Fineman as "that woman from Westchester with visible COVID.")

RUNNER-UP: Strollin'

The best music video of the still-young season called attention to voter intimidation and suppression. Under the guise of a catchy R&B tune, Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd, Ego Nwodim and Punkie Johnson offered pointed commentary on some of the ways that Black voters continue to be disenfranchised.

BEST OF WEEKEND UPDATE: Baby Yoda Returns

Kyle Mooney's most tolerable character returned to the Update desk to promote Season 2 of Disney+'s The Mandalorianand to warn a certain Guardian of the Galaxy to back. the hell. off.

"Baby Groot, we ain't friends!" the Child said. "It's all love, I'm not a hater... but if you say my name one more time, I'll kill you."

WORST SKETCH: Headless Horseman

In this pedestrian sketch, the eponymous mythical figure was faced with a barrage of questions about whether he could use his severed head for self pleasure. Its saving grace was a very meta punchline that attributed the sketch to series boss Lorne Michaels.

MUSICAL GUEST: The Strokes

The rock band returned to Studio 8H for the first time in nine years with "Adults Are Talking," the opening track off of their sixth studio album, "The New Abnormal." That was followed by their latest single, the Modern English homage "Bad Decisions" (which you can watch here).

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