Saw that interview snippet Bowen posted where he said Ariana Grande called Lorne to convince Bowen to miss SNL to shoot Wicked. I don’t recall Bowen being MIA at all. Anyone know what episodes he missed?

He is genuinely so underrated its crazy. Him and Marcello are like a new generation of Beck Bennett and Mikey Day (that might seem like a stretch, but someone will understand my vision). Maybe its just my sense of humor, but I think he is an integral part of the cast these days!

I was just so happy to see Bowen in Wicked. I remember over the years of SNL thinking it was so cool when a cast member played a comedic role in a blockbuster big event film. I did barricades (stage door) for SNl after the bill burr show and he came out and just took photos with everyone. I know that’s what most of the cast do anyway but the fact he was part of this massive movie coming out but still had time for fans waiting outside instead of just running off to after party. Also maybe you’re heard but the movie is AMAZING!!

I get it. They need our support. But every few minutes, these horribly depressing commercials with the hospitalized children. And then with the abandoned, abused dogs. I can’t watch SNL on this channel.

Edit: yes, I’m very familiar with the actual commercials and have been seeing them for many, many years. Just an odd choice to place them so frequently during breaks of a comedy show.

I always thought Anne Beatts and Michael O'Donoghue looked cool here

Is it just me or does it feel like they aren’t posting a lot of cut for time sketches this season? I only noticed because they posted a lot for Charli’s episode but little to none for the rest of the season and I really want to see that Ariana Grande/Judy Garland one

I absolutely love Sarah and the energy she brings to the cast. She's one of the many bright spots this season. I hope I can catch her doing standup in NYC one day.

I remember a skit that was on the SNL Best of Will Ferrell DVD, where he played an elderly WWII veteran receiving a medal of honor from Bill Clinton. He said something like "* just finished shooting my baby batter into a Kraut whore" and went on one racist diatribe after another. There doesn't seem to be any existence of this skit on the Interwebs. Can somebody help me out? TIA

I'm personally really pleased with the current cast, featured players set aside for now, seeing they need some more time to prove themselves. Casts have had various archetypal roles over the years, I feel the late 2000s-early '10s was a solid example of a well-balanced lineup, every member was firing on all cylinders with distinct roles and complemented each other really well.

Right now, I'd say we have the chemistry filled Update team with Jost and Che, JAJ filling in as resident impressionist supported by Chloe, Bowen for those big Belushi-like moments (and to some extent Marcello) and Mikey is a great writer-performer whose grown to be more versatile, same with Dismukes. Kenan is the ever present glue, Heidi and Ego are both great players taking on Kate and Aidy's spaces. Sarah I'm a huge fan of, she's bringing in an original take and experimenting with the format like Forte and Kyle used to, has great stuff with Update, and is taking risks as a performer. PDD filling in for some good pretaped material à la Lonely Island (who themselves are making killer appearances).

The only piece I feel is missing is that solid, 'Dad-type' utility player, someone in the Hartman mold, with Sudeikis and Beck carrying on in his vein in recent years. Mikey seems to fill that to some extent, but he does better on the zanier side, Longfellow seems too young for that role, same for Devon. JAJ might have the most potential to grow into this space, though he’s still being fine-tuned for it. I feel Colin could actually play it well, but obviously he's occupied with Update.

I have a feeling the political sketches aren’t going anywhere, so what do you think about these two for next week’s show?

So, to start off, I also watched this sketch over and over again. I couldn't figure out what made it so intriguing...I didn't really laugh out loud, but there was something just interesting and fun about it. Now, weeks after initially watching it, I have noticed it has gone viral...What do y'all think are the reasons why it is so popular? Is it because "Espresso" is a current huge hit? Is it Ariana's off key singing or is it Marcello's Domingo character...Or possibly all three...It seems to be the biggest sketch to come out of SNL for as long as I can remember, in terms of it's follow up popularity and viral appeal.....

Does anyone remember which season / episode it was where during the Bill Brasky skit, one of the guys says (in the middle of the Brasky comments) 'I just crapped my pants'. i.e. one of the comments everyone ignores before moving on to talk more about Bill Brasky - anyone know? (This is not the oops I crapped my pants skit / unrelated).

In an effort to come up with a question that hasn't been asked a thousand times already, I ask: What's your favorite completely off-screen SNL character? (You know, assuming you can think of any.) Someone who characters only talk about, but we never see or hear.

Ground rules: They must have never been seen or heard at all. Not even once, not on a telescreen or photograph or holographic display, not from the back, not blurred or in silhouette, not even a shadow. Not someone we hear on the telephone or a recording. And characters must talk about them as if they are a real person (as in, real in the sketch, not real life).

Note: Bill Brasky does not quality. They showed him from the back once or twice.

Do we know who will be the host for the next show ?

There are a whole bunch of cast members that have hung on to be a part of season 50 but there are so many newer cast members really coming into their own like Sarah Sherman, Marcello, Dismukes and JAJ. Some of the veteran staples are going to have to go so that the show can grow and evolve.

Who do you think is going to leave?

I think Mikey, Heidi, and Ego all probably go.

Kenan is interesting. I actually see him taking over for Lorne eventually maybe as soon as next year.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Che and Jost go, with Longfellow taking over update.

Bowen and Chloe came on at the same time and I think they will stay, but it’s possible that Chloe leaves.