With the most ludicrous and media driven election in recent history finally racing to the finish line, we all knew that SNL - who has received a boost in ratings for its coverage - would mine the material for all that it was worth. While we can debate if they were successful or not, SNL sought to bring it all home, including bringing Church Lady back. Dana Carvey returned to reprise his classic SNL character during Weekend Update, and she had a few things to say about this election.
Appearing on Weekend Update to weigh in on a Catholic church claming that people who vote Democrat will go to hell, Church Lady slid onto stage and was ready to take Colin Jost to task for being a Hollywood heathen. While Church Lady isn't the most politically charged character SNL has ever created, she is the most opinionated one, and she shared her thoughts on the presidential candidates. Unless Jesus comes in for a last minute Hail Mary bid for president, then Church Lady isn't happy with either candidate. In her words, we have the choice between a "bitter female android from the 90's" or a "riverboat gambler with a big tummy and an orange head."
But Church Lady doesn't have time to criticize politicians when she has a living breathing target right in front of her in Colin Jost. Assuming that Jost doesn't have Jesus in his life because he's a homosexual (the only men in Hollywood who aren't gay are Jim Parsons, Neil Patrick Harris, and Nathan Lane), she takes him to task for his jokes about Anthony's wiener.
"I think Jesus appreciates a good joke," replied Jost. "Yes, Jesus loves a GOOD joke," snapped back Church Lady, "so that would leave you out of the equation, wouldn't it?" Church Lady is a savage.
Wrapping up the bit, Church Lady revealed that the only TV she really likes is Westworld. You wouldn't think she'd like a show with so much debauchery and inhumanity, right? This led to a flat joke regarding how a show about fornicating robots should actually be called West Hollywood, which didn't quite land with the audience.
Bringing back Church Lady is all well and good, but it wasn't quite what SNL needed that night to elevate it. With Benedict Cumberbatch hosting and sketches that were mostly so-so, SNL didn't really manage to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the electoral race. We'll have to see how things go on November 12 with the election over and the unpredictable Dave Chappelle hosting.
