Duane Reade music comedy sketch by John Mulaney
During his sixth round as host Saturday evening live, John Mulaney really established himself as a (port) authority with sketches about questionable decisions like ordering lobster at a restaurant, using a bodega bathroom, or just the concept of Times Square in general. Mulaney’s latest contribution to his musical saga finds him behind the counter of a Duane Reade at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, where Pete Davidson wants to buy a gallon of milk. “You mean the gallon of milk surrounded by cans of Twisted iced tea in the refrigerator that’s hotter than the rest of the store?” This nasty choice, it turns out, is just as the prophecy foretold, spawning a “Circle of Life” parody about possum milk, sung by Ego Nwodim and Kenan Thompson in costumes reminiscent of Broadway’s The Lion King.
They then have a series of topical mini-issues, including Chloe Fineman leading a group of twinks into the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest, a Aladdin riff on Eric Adams’ Turkish Airlines scandal, and Andy Samberg singing RFK Jr.’s “Baby Bear Carcass.” plays in a bear suit, reinforcing his status as history’s greatest treasure. Samberg rapping “How does a bastard orphaned son of a bear and another bear…” almost makes up for the sketch’s biggest sin: Marcello Hernandez plays a captured shampoo bottle, referencing how pharmacies are now locking up the essentials , set to the tune of “Do Re Mi.” This is a crime. “Cellblock tango” was right! There! It should have been a shampoo, a deodorant, a bottle of Advil, etc. that called the “Cell Block Tango!” A shameful missed opportunity. Out of shame.