SNL Video: Sydney Sweeney Tries (And Fails) To Seduce A Golden Retriever

The first rule of comedy is: "If you can get a dog, put him in the sketch." It's a rule as true now as it was when I made it up just a moment ago, but also a rule that Saturday Night Live knows quite well.

Following SNL's new trend of weirdly specific '90s movie references (a Forrest Gump sketch in 2024?), "Air Bud" features guest host Sydney Sweeney as a cheerleader trying to boost her popularity by dating the star basketball player, who just happens to be... a golden retriever.

Following the Jacob Elordi episode where the only joke in multiple sketches was "famous actor is pretty," there were many online concerned that the same fate would befall Sweeney appearance. In sharp contrast to the Hooters sketch that airs later in the episode, "Air Bud" does indeed have fun subverting Sweeney's image as a dumb blonde as well as the sexy cheerleader trope in general.

She leans into the role of sultry Rochelle obliviously trying to hit on a dog in a jersey. From her attempting to titillate with stories of her sexy bikini vacation to her awkward flattery ("You're so hairy; I love that. Are you Italian?") to her belief that his "I am microchipped" dog tag is deep and meaningful poetry, the sketch avoids making "famous actor is pretty" the entirety of the gag.

Marcello Hernandez, Michael Longfellow and Andrew Dismukes all get to play Bud's teammates who get treated horribly by cheerleader Rochelle. Though none are treated as horribly as Bud's girlfriend, of whom Rochelle says, "I hear she eats grass and barfs and eats her own barf!" I was not aware that SNL allows that kind of animal cruelty to be aired on national TV, but you know kids today.

Watch the sketch above, then weigh in on the SNL hosted by Sydney Sweeney and featuring musical guest Kacey Musgraves.