Colman Domingo Shines in SNL Debut, Despite Limited Material

Making his first appearance on Saturday Night Live, Colman Domingo demonstrated an exceptional grasp of both the theatrical essence and the nuances of sketch comedy, surprising many given his lack of prior experience on the show.

It came as a shock to realize that the acclaimed Euphoria actor had not previously taken the stage at the iconic late-night show created by Lorne Michaels. By the conclusion of the evening, Domingo’s seamless performance, maintaining composure throughout, nearly compensated for the otherwise average sketches that have characterized Season 51.

His opening monologue was a perfect showcase of this, exuding a natural, smooth coolness. Domingo used his deep, soothing voice, along with R&B melodies, dim lighting, and a gentle camera zoom to set a fantastic tone, proclaiming, “When you come to my house, the vibes are spectacular.”

Absolutely.

While charming the audience with his performance, Domingo’s allure was so effective it even inspired a couple in the crowd to start kissing.

Domingo humorously noted, “Ooh, they’re straight. That’s not something you see every day.”

Despite Domingo’s magnetic charm and humor, the content of many sketches fell flat. Season 51 has been marked by overly long sketches, repetitive jokes, and simplistic ideas. Similar issues faced another first-time host earlier in the season, Teyana Taylor, whose dynamic presence was not matched by the material provided to her.

A memorable moment was the “Fashion District Robbery” sketch, featuring Domingo as the flamboyant Professor D’artagnan Meringue. Tasked with describing a suspect, he instead lamented the criminal’s terrible fashion sense, humorously cautioning to “Be on the lookout for a mess!” The sketch also featured brief but amusing contributions from Mikey Day and Chloe Fineman, the latter wearing an absurdly large hat.

However, the comedic momentum didn’t last. In one sketch, Domingo played an earnest astronaut constantly interrupted by his goofy colleagues; in another, he was a caricature of Neil deGrasse Tyson on a PBS show, where the humor relied solely on the quirky idea of people dressed as library items.

Later sketches had potential but lacked focus and sharp humor. One included Domingo as a flashy mourner at a funeral, attempting to recruit one of the deceased’s grandsons. Another featured a confusing crossover between Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting, with Domingo as an unconventional teacher dismissive of mathematical accuracy.

SNL also featured two pre-recorded sketches. The first depicted disheartened white men gaining confidence at a Black barbershop, and the second was an Animorphs parody with Sarah Sherman stuck halfway through a transformation, complete with grotesque visuals and slapstick humor.

The “Weekend Update” segment saw sharp barbs from both Colin Jost and Michael Che.

Jost started with a fabricated bombastic post from President Trump threatening Iran, highlighting the believability of such a post and remarking on Trump’s controversial associations. Meanwhile, Che tackled the confusing geopolitics involving Israel and Iran, pointing satirically at the real influencers of U.S. military decisions.

In other parts of the update, a skit by Jane Wickline as a “Gen Z sexpert” missed the mark, while a vibrant duo played by Patterson and Hernández cleverly mixed immature jokes with smart takes on current issues.

In the musical segment, Brazilian icon Anitta performed her new songs in a collaboration with Shakira, captivating the audience with “Choka Choka” and “Várias Quejas.”