SNL pokes fun at peeping Tom’s in cold open celebrating the arrival of warm weather to the Big Apple
Saturday Night Live poked fun at “perverts in Central Park” and obnoxious charity fundraisers as it marked the first week of spring in its final cold opening.
After New York was hit by a blistering heat wave, the SNL cast spoofed the eclectic features of the iconic park in a clear shift from the usual political commentary.
At the sketch show’s opener, regular Bowen Yang stepped in as a red-carpet-style satirical host to introduce the return of the “freaks, crazies, and madmen” littering the Manhattan landmark.
“The atmosphere here is exciting, the smell of halal food and horse manure is in the air,” he said, sifting through stereotypes including “a man alone with a drone” and “high park employees who don’t care about their jobs ‘.
Saturday night’s contest also saw the hosting debut of actress Ana de Armas, who announced she would become a US citizen to mark her “magic year.”
The skit, which aired to mixed reviews, opened with cast regular Michael Day as an “older man doing an aggressive power walk”
Michael Longfellow, left, and James Austin Johnson, center, portrayed ‘perverts in the park’
Temperatures in the Big Apple skyrocketed this week, prompting SNL to castigate the return of revelers to the sun-soaked park.
“Here in New York City, temperatures hit 90 degrees this week, two full months ahead of schedule,” said co-host Heidi Gardener.
And while that might be terrifying on a climate level, the warm weather can only mean one thing: All the freaks, crazies, and lunatics are heading to Central Park. And we expect some iconic park people today.’
“It’s an absolute icon of the park,” Chang opened, reeling in Michael Day as an “older guy doing an aggressive power walk.”
“I’m wearing the tightest spandex shirt of all time, shorts and a weird heart rate monitor on my arm,” the parody character joked.
The Central Park clichĂ© performed a rendition of the ridiculous walk, before Gardener then introduced the sketch’s most daring role.
“I’m starstruck now,” she said sarcastically. “I’m joined by not one, but two perverts who came to the park to have fun.”
“Nice to be off the subway,” commented cast member Michael Longfellow through binoculars, who appeared in the skit alongside James Austin Johnson.
“Where should the police be looking for you?” asks Gardener, while Longfellow replies, “You know where to find your boys – in the bushes honey.”
Entering its 48th season in October 2022, the show drew 4.2 million people on last week’s show, marking a marked downturn for the sketch classic that once peaked at 17 million viewers.
Among the numerous clichĂ©d characters was Molly Kearney as “a woman learning to skate”
The Central Park stereotype also featured “high park employees who don’t care about their jobs.”
Andrew Dismukes, left, joined Heidi Gardener as he portrayed “a grown man with a drone who is alone”
“We were hoping she would show up,” Chang continued, reeling in Molly Kearney as “a woman learning to rollerblade.”
“I’ve always wanted to learn, and I thought what better place than a busy pathway filled with thousands of people?”
Next on the comedic roll call were “park employees who don’t care about their jobs,” who were quick to admit, “We’re really high right now, thanks for asking.”
After a brief cameo by Ego Nwodim as a woman lost in the park, the skit fell to Andrew Dismukes portraying “a grown man with a drone who is alone.”
He was followed by “one of the baddest park people of them all” – a man with a clipboard “who wants to know if you have a second for a good cause.”
“People absolutely hate you, can you tell us why?” Chang asked.
“I think it’s because I’m targeting people trying to entertain themselves and asking them for money,” the character, played by Marcello Hernandez, replied as he confronted Michael Day’s over-the-top walker.
The skit, which seemed to get mixed reviews upon airing, ended with “crazy man with a microphone” played by Kenan Thompson, and “rich wife and kid” starring Chloe Fineman.
Guest presenter Ana de Armas revealed on her debut show that she will become a US citizen on the occasion of her ‘magical year’
The show also featured a heartwarming moment with guest host Ana de Armas during her first-ever opening monologue.
“This has been a magical year,” said the actress. âNot only am I nominated for an Oscar, but in three weeks I will officially become a US citizen.
“I’m proud to become a citizen because when I came to live here, everyone was so hospitable.”