We can’t see Yasiin’s face (CREDIT: NBC/Screenshot)

It’s November 2022, and it’s time to talk about an SNL episode hosted by Dave Chappelle with musical guest Black Star. The latter is a hip-hop duo made up of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli, while the former is an oft-funny comedian who’s unfortunately now more often nowadays making headlines for making transphobic jokes on his comedy specials. So it feels a little tone-deaf to book him now, even though he’s been a perfectly hilarious SNL host in the past. We’re not going to be able to figure all that out right here right now, obviously (although it would be nice if Dave came out and said something along the lines of “Maybe I missed the mark”!), but it feels weird not to at least acknowledge it.

Anyway, for this review, I’m going to provide a simple description of my emotional response to each sketch.

Fox & Friends: I got into an anticipatory mood.

Dave Chappelle’s Monologue: I was on a knife’s edge.

P.M. in the Afternoon: I went through A JOURNEY.

House of the Dragon: I ambled along.

Barbershop: I chose an observant mood.

Black Star, “So be it”: I grooved.

Weekend Update: Michael and Colin: I appreciated my buddies.
Weekend Update: Jose Suarez: I listened.
Weekend Update: Sarah Sherman: I reveled in the bonhomie.

Black Heaven: I grimaced.

Black Star, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing”: I felt generally content.

please don’t destroy: Election Night: I HOWLED. It was frenetic.

Well, it looks like the next new episode is in a few weeks, so we’ll fill up over Thanksgiving and then re-convene December 3 for Ladies Night with Keke Palmer and SZA.