Should Hozier be called “Hoser” when he’s standing next to a Canadian? (CREDIT: NBC/Screenshot)

Jeff “jmunney” Malone watches every new episode of Saturday Night Live and then reviews all the sketches and segments according to a “wacky” theme.

If you’re a fan of Saturday Night Live, you might already know that Canada-born Martin Short joined the cast of SNL back in the fall of 1984 and remained for just that one season. He’s since made plenty of guest appearances, including four hosting gigs between 1986 and 2022. And now he’s back in front for the Christmas 2024 episode. That makes for #5, which is kind of a big deal.

Another thing you might know if you’re a devoted SNL fan: Irish-born Andrew John Hozier-Byrne – who goes mononymously by “Hozier” – made his Studio 8H debut a full ten years ago. So this episode pairing him with Marty is in fact his second.

Since this episode is the last before Christmas this year, I’ll be reviewing each sketch by answering the following question: How nice and/or naughty was it?

Five-Timers Club: That joke about Martin not knowing the names of any of the current cast members was awfully naughty, but I suspect that a lot of comedians would be honored to be the butt of that joke, so it was actually kind of nice.

Martin Short’s Monologue: I suspect that Marty’s song-and-dance number may have been appreciated by anyone with mental health struggles. Although maybe not! I’d like to hear someone from that community chime in and let us know if they thought it was more irreverent or nice.

Christmas Eve Parking Lot Altercation: Okay, anyone who watched this sketch knows that it was VERY naughty. There’s no hiding that truth!

An Act of Kindness: This filmed piece illustrates the difference between kind and nice.

Christmas Week Airport Parade: Well, everyone was in a mostly good mood (at least before boarding the plane), so I guess that’s nice.

Hozier, “Too Sweet”: There are some nice details about the relationship detailed in this song, but clearly there’s also conflict. Nevertheless, it was quite nice of Hozier to give “Too Sweet” to the world.

Weekend Update: The Jokes: Well, on Weekend Update, it’s the naughtiest time of the year, what with the annual Joke Swap and all. And the audience was acting kind of naughty as well, what with the cheering for an alleged murderer. (Remember, murder = bad. American health care system = also bad.)
Weekend Update: A Drone: Here’s someone acting real naughty but also being quite coy about it.

Sabado Gigante: It’s awfully naughty to treat an audience member the way that the Paul Rudd fellow is treated here. But it’s playful naughtiness, so does that make it okay in the name of television? Discuss.

Hozier, “Fairytale of New York”: Hozier covered a holiday-rific Pogues song for the Christmas episode, and that was certainly nice of him.

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Just as I thought this sketch was going to get to the Naughty Point of No Return, Snoopy put on his glasses.

Okay, well, we weren’t told what the lineup is going to be for the next new episode, or when it will be airing. I bet it will be sometime in January!