After the inimitable success of Saturday Night Live UK’s debut series, the show has finally returned with its second season, kicking things off with its biggest guest star yet, Jeff Goldblum.
For fans of the Hollywood legend, the Jurassic Park (1993) actor feels like a natural choice. Having hosted the American version of the show twice before, he certainly has the experience for the gig, and his lovable eccentricities make him a goldmine for comedy. Unfortunately, such assumptions would be wrong.
The career of Jeff Goldblum has, in recent years, resembled that of a snake eating its own tail. Simply put, the star has become all too aware of the meme that has been made of his career. The breathy voice, the wacky speech inflection, the hand gestures – the internet loves it. And, as the saying goes, you’ve got to give the people what they want. Unfortunately, what this means is that the leading man doesn’t so much play characters as he simply steps in front of a camera, giving us the same old schtick time and time again. So, what does that mean when the man is hosting SNL UK? It means that every character he plays feels the same, leaving almost every joke and gag incapable of rising above a chuckle.
That said, the fault for this episode’s quality does not fall squarely on the host. Frankly, it appears as though the writers were so enamoured with the Cats & Dogs (2001) star that they were incapable of writing any material that didn’t feed into his persona. Nevertheless, some sketches managed to stand out among the Goldblumisms, and there were still some laughs to be had.
‘An Invisible Friend’ was perhaps the best use of Goldblum throughout the whole show, taking his quirky nature and using it to fuel the Drop Dead Fred (1991) inspired imaginary friend, D’artagnan Gumboot. With class performances all around and one hell of a twist, this sketch was easily one of the highlights of the episode.
Receiving the biggest reaction of the night, however, were Ania Magliano & Paddy Young. Proving themselves yet again as the most reliable duo that SNL UK has to offer, the pair rattled off another excellent Weekend Update segment filled with brilliantly edgy jokes. The best of which came during a conversation on anti-migrant protests where Magliano reminded us: “Now, it’s worth remembering, some of these anti-migrant protesters do have legitimate concerns. Concerns like “what’s the best brand of frozen peas to put on your wife’s eye?”
Ultimately though, the sketch of the night came in the form of ‘Professional Baby,’ a skit featuring George Fouracres as Gregor J. Dupont, a thespian-cum-baby for hire, for those who aren’t yet sure if they can commit to the real thing. It’s as ridiculous as it sounds, but in the best possible way. Of course, it comes as no surprise that the show’s standout is a sketch featuring George Fouracres. Awarded ‘Performer of the Week’ three times last season, as well as winning the inaugural Phil Hartman Season MVP award, Fouracres has immediately proven himself as the breakout star of the experiment that is Saturday Night Live UK.
This season two opener may not be the perfect start, but the very nature of the sketch show means that this is no cause for concern. The hosts, the writing and the sketches may change week to week, but the talent remains, and that means that things can only get better from here.
Sketch of the Week: Professional Baby
Performer of the Week: George Fouracres
SNL UK airs weekly on Sky/NOW.
