Chris Rock Skits Saturday Night Live
Expectations were high for Chris Rock’s turn as guest host on Saturday Night Live (11/1). He’s a major comedic voice, and his presence promised sharp energy and memorable sketches. The episode delivered several genuinely funny moments—most notably parts of Rock’s opening monologue and a standout short—but overall the show felt uneven. A handful of sketches landed well, while others struggled with pacing, missed cues, or material that didn’t quite find the right tone.
Chris Christie Cold Open
Bobby Moynihan returned as Chris Christie in the cold open, which spoofed The Kelly File and touched on Christie’s public controversies. Moynihan remains reliably amusing in the role, but the sketch steered into darker territory by referencing a forced quarantine and Ebola. The subject matter undercut the comedy, making it harder to laugh even when the impersonation work was solid.
Chris Rock Monologue
Rock’s monologue offered several sharp laughs and showcased his signature cadence and observational wit. However, some of the references—like the Boston Marathon and the Freedom Tower—felt recycled and less immediate than they might have been. When Rock hit the mark, his material landed with authority; when it missed, it felt like a safe retread of familiar topics rather than a fresh set tailored to SNL’s stage.
Swiftamine
One of the night’s most polished sketches was the “Swiftamine” bit, a spoof that imagines a medication to cure an obsessive crush on Taylor Swift. Leslie Jones in particular brought infectious energy, and the club sequence where she reacts wildly was a clear highlight. The joke and concept were simple but effective, and the cast committed fully to the absurd premise.
How’s He Doin’
Kenan Thompson hosted a panel of black pundits debating what, if anything, would make them abandon support for President Obama. The conceit—that nothing could push them over the edge—was clever, and Chris Rock turned up as a character from a fictional Sirius radio channel, adding a meta layer. The sketch worked when the performers played the setup straight and leaned into the satire, but it occasionally felt like it could have been tightened for sharper payoff.
Robbers
A trio of bank robbers played by Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, and Bobby Moynihan transformed a heist into an exercise in extreme politeness. The absurdity of courteous thieves was a perfect fit for the offbeat styles of Bennett and Mooney, and the sketch’s quiet surrealism made it one of the more memorable shorts of the night. Strong commitment to the strange premise carried this bit.
Shark Tank Meets Isis
The idea of ISIS characters pitching to the Sharks was risky territory, and the sketch balanced on that edge. Chris Rock and Kyle Mooney played members of the organization attempting a business-style pitch, while Kate McKinnon appeared as a skeptical investor. The comedy found moments in the clash between corporate-speak and extremist rhetoric, but the subject matter made the laughs uneasy at times. The sketch worked best when it focused on the absurdity of the pitch format rather than on glorifying or trivializing the real-world horrors behind the subject.
Vlog
In a smaller bit, Rock played a concerned father reacting to his daughter’s sexy dance vlog—performed by Sasheer Zamata—and stumbling through internet slang. The sketch mined the generational disconnect for laughs, and the awkward parental confusion was relatable and funny without overstaying its welcome.
The Couple
Chris Rock and Leslie Jones teamed up as a bickering older married duo, a premise that had genuine potential. When the timing clicked, the exchanges were amusing, but several line flubs and missed cues kept the sketch from reaching the peak it seemed to aim for. The characters had chemistry, and with crisper execution this could have been a stronger sketch.
Weekend Update: Katt Williams and Suge Knight
The Weekend Update segment included a standout impersonation by Jay Pharoah as Katt Williams, which drew big laughs. The show balanced a mix of topical jokes and character pieces here, and the stronger performers used the segment to deliver concise, memorable moments.
Overall, Chris Rock’s hosting appearance had bright spots—especially his monologue and a few sketches that matched the cast’s strengths—but it also suffered from uneven execution across several bits. When the performers were in sync with the concept and each other, the episode was genuinely funny. When timing or tone faltered, the material lost momentum. For fans of SNL and of Rock, the show offered enough to enjoy, but it didn’t consistently meet the high expectations set by his reputation.