Saturday Night Live Report Card: Season 43, Episode 6: Chance the Rapper

Chance the Rapper hosts SNL tonight, in one of my most anticipated shows of the season. Chance was great during the Casey Affleck episode from Season 43, so great that I stated he "should have hosted the show this week" during that review. So it's great to see than SNL also realized that and that he's finally hosting this week. Let's hope that, unlike the Larry David episode from a few weeks ago, this one isn't a huge disappointment.

Cold Open: Wikileaks
This was probably one of the best cold opens this season, and it was great to see them again deviate from the traditional "Trump says dumb stuff" monologues with Alec Baldwin that we've grown accustomed to. The younger Trumps have been more interesting lately, because we haven't seen them nearly as much as we've seen their father. So this was nice. I love any sketch making fun of Eric, because those are always hilarious. This was no exception.
My Score: 8/10

Chance-giving Monologue:
Wow, this was damn catchy! And funny, too. It's definitely a good sign when a first-time host has a monologue that's this good. It was fun, thanksgiving-y, and just a delight to watch. Also, I love that Chance is just here for a good time, and not to promote anything. Those types of hosting gigs are always welcome.
My Score: 9/10

Wayne Thanksgiving:
I found this one to be really entertaining, especially since Batman was obviously the one talking to these people, and he was just trying to not reveal himself. It's a sketch that I haven't really seen done before by SNL, so props for creativity, as well.
My Score: 9.5/10

Come Back, Barack:
I loved this, mostly because like these guys, I's also like for Barack to come back. This was a nice follow-up to 2016's "Jingle Barack" (which also starred Chance), and one that I actually may like a little better. This was just really, really great from start to finish, and I think I might have to make it my new ringtone.
My Score: 10/10

Family Feud: Harvey Family Thanksgiving:
I love the recurring Family Feud/Celebrity Family Feud sketches on SNL, and this one is no different.  Having Chance as Steve Harvey's secret love child is just hilarious, and I think Chance the Rapper actually has a better Steve Harvey impression than Kenan does! And Kenan does a great Steve Harvey impression!
My Score: 8/5/10

Weekend Update:
I loved this week's bit from Pete Davidson, and I think it might be my favorite of all of his Weekend Update pieces. Kate McKinnon's Jeff Session was also at the top of its game, though I do not recall any other appearances from it. Unfortunately Bruce Whatshisface was also there, so that brought the sketch down a bit. It was awful as usual, and I didn't laugh once. Maybe next time?
My Score: 8.5/10

Sports Announcer:
I couldn't help but feel bad for Chance's character here, who so obviously hates reporting on hockey and just wants to get out of there. It was very, very funny and I could honestly watch ten more sketches with this character. He's great.
My Score: 9/10

Rap History:
This was hysterical, and everyone involved here was great. Pete Davidson's character was great, especially when he said that he thought Hillary should have won when he was asked about Run-DMC. The super irrelevant Soul Crush Crew was the true winner of this sketch, though. I want more!
My Score: 10/10

Career Day:
This was pretty good, but was still a weak point in a great show. It was pretty funny, and I did love Aidy Bryant's few lines in this, but the rest was only average. It's nothing terrible, but nothing spectacular either. Still, Chance was great in this, as he was all night.
My Score: 8/10

Porn Pizza Delivery:
At this point, I'm pretty much guaranteed to love anything with Heidi Gardner in it. She's pretty quickly grown to be one of my favorite cast members. So her being in this helped make it great. But Aidy Bryant was the undeniable MVP of this sketch, because she's so great as that oblivious little girl who has no idea that she's on the set of a porno. It's such a weird recurring sketch that always just works for me.
My Score: 9.5/10

Wrap-Up:
This was a great SNL, and I'm very thankful for Chance the Rapper being this week's host. He was down for pretty much anything, as evidenced by all of the different, crazy characters her played in the course of an hour and a half. This was easily a season-best show, and Chance really has what it takes to be an SNL Five-Timer. This SNL was honestly pretty reminiscent of the Ariana Grande episode from a few seasons back, where a musician hosts and shocks you with how good they really are. It wasn't quite as good as that episode, but it was very close.
Grade: A
Score: 9.5/10
Pass or Fail: Pass
MVP of the Week: Chance the Rapper
Sketch of the Night: Come Back, Barack

Worst of the Night: Cold Open: Wikileaks

Top 5 Hosts of the Season:
1)
 Chance the Rapper
2) Tiffany Haddish
3) Kumail Nanjiani
4) Gal Gadot
5) Ryan Gosling

What did you think of this episode? Vote in the poll below on what your favorite sketch was, and sound off on the episode in the comments!

*Photos courtesy of NBC.com*

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