Since 1975 Saturday Night Live – or SNL to its fans – has been entertaining weekend audiences making it one of the longest running US network programmes. The likes of Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis-Dreyfus got early breaks on SNL and if you haven’t seen Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump takedown, you’ve either been living in isolation or you’re Jared Kushner.
Now, Adele has played host for an evening, vowing to ditch the bloody swearing and bring some Tottenham charm to the SNL stage. And she took to it like she takes to a breakup album – she was completely at home. The show has had some dodgy hosts in its time – Donald Trump himself, Paris Hilton, Steven Seagal – but despite the odd cringe moment, Adele can go back to Tottenham with her head held high.
You’d be forgiven for not knowing that this American comedy classic is available in the UK. Saturday Night Live has its very own YouTube channel where you can stream clips for free. However, if you did want the full shebang, 90 minute episodes are available to stream on Sky and Now TV.
Clémence Michallon in The Independent called it a “dazzling, lively debut,” praising Adele’s “great comic timing and smooth acting.” Anita Singh in The Telegraph agreed, saying she “was a charming and very competent mistress of ceremonies,” however complained “the absence of songs or solid news of her new album left her fans hungry.” The Times’ Ben Hoyle says Adele was “visibly enjoying herself and frequently deployed fine comic timing and a killer eyeroll.”
First shown October 1975. You can watch a clip by pressing play on the show image, or by clicking here.