Dave Chappelle's SNL Season 50 Return Broke A Record He'd Already Held For 5 Years
Saturday Night Live's January 18th episode saw the return of comedian Dave Chappelle, one of Saturday Night Live's many returning hosts. The episode began with a political cold open as several Saturday Night Live cast members acted out MSNBC coverage of the presidential inauguration in the way they know best: through comical parodies. The cold open was then followed by an amusing monologue by Chappelle with touching references to modern politics mixed in with criticisms of governing bodies.
Besides Chappelle's memorable opening, the episode also stood out through GloRilla's incredible performances, as she performed both "Yeah Glo!" and a medley from her Glorious Album. Colin Jost's and Micheal Che's Weekend Update segment was also fantastic, with guest appearances of the original Nosferatu and Saturday Night Live's Michael Longfellow, who made a last appeal towards keeping TikTok. With Saturday Night Live being one of the longest-running TV shows, it is rare to have an episode stand out so much, but January 18th's Chappelle episode will remain memorable for a long time.
Dave Chappelle's SNL 50 Monologue Is The Show's Longest
Chappelle's SNL 50 Monologue Was A Shocking 17 Minutes
While Saturday Night Live's latest episode was filled with unforgettable skits, appearances, and performances, perhaps the most memorable aspect of it was Chappelle's 17-minute-long monologue. His opening was so long that it took over a good section of the show and there were fewer skits than usual. The long monologue is not only the show's longest monologue in Saturday Night Live history, according to NBC, but it also transformed the show into a miniature stand-up special, arguably making it one of Dave Chappelle's greatest comedy specials.
Chappelle's brilliant monologue touched on several major political points, including the recent Los Angeles wildfires and Donald Trump's policy plans, before turning his set into an opportunity to encourage people to turn to empathy in times of uncertainty. The monologue showcased Chappelle's skill at discussing serious topics with comedic undertones. His 17-minute monologue may have been long, but it was certainly welcomed by the audience.
Chappelle's 17-Minute Monologue Breaks His Own SNL Record From 2020
Chappelle Usually Performs Long Monologues When He Hosts
Chappelle has a history of delivering long monologues on Saturday Night Live. In 2020, when he hosted for the second time, Chappelle broke a record for having his monologue reach 16 minutes and 9 seconds. In comparison, his monologue in 2022 only reached 14 minutes and 50 seconds. While lower, it is still more than most monologues on Saturday Night Live. The second half of Saturday Night Live season 50 is already off to a great start, and it is unlikely that anyone will beat Chappelle's monologue record this season.
Source:NBC
Saturday Night Live
- Release Date
- October 11, 1975
- Network
- NBC
- Showrunner
- Lorne Michaels
- Directors
- Dave Wilson, Don Roy King, Liz Patrick, Andy Warhol, Linda Lee Cadwell, Matthew Meshekoff, Paul Miller, Robert Altman, Robert Smigel
- Writers
- Will Forte, Bill Hader, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Chris Parnell, Asa Taccone, John Lutz, Tom Schiller, Simon Rich, Michael Patrick O'Brien, Nicki Minaj, Herbert Sargent, Matt Piedmont, John Solomon, Chris Kelly, Alan Zweibel, Kent Sublette, Ari Katcher, Marika Sawyer, Sarah Schnedier, Scott Jung, Justin Franks, Jerrod Bettis, Rhiannon Bryan
Cast
Saturday Night Live is a live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels, premiering in 1975. It features comedy sketches parodying contemporary culture and politics, performed by a rotating cast. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest and includes musical performances.
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