“Saturday Night Live” reinvented high-value Super Bowl commercials in the Covid-19 and QAnon era.
The show began with a parody of the “Super Bowl LV Pregame Show”, featuring expert NFL commentators looking at the game’s multi-million dollar ads.
“To reflect the importance of this moment in history, you will see passionate commercials,” said former defender Phil Simms, played by Mikey Day. “This almost brought me to tears.”
Images of marches and protests appeared and a voice said: “We have learned once again that freedom is not free. But we must always strive for equality. And we must always seek … Cheez-Its.”
The voice concluded, “Cheez-Its – historically delicious.”
Another ad proclaimed the virtues of Papa John’s Pizza, including “real ingredients, no additives, no preservatives and no sex trafficking of children in the basement”.
“Spend here with your Q-pon today,” concluded the ad’s narrator.
Host James Brown, played by Kenan Thompson, praised Budweiser for adopting a classic Super Bowl ad until modern times.
The ad featured the brewer’s trademark Clydesdale horses, one of which kicks a syringe into the arm of an elderly woman. “It is better to take the second dose of cold and refreshing Bud Light,” said the ad’s narrator.
A subsequent draft examined how people behave as requests to stay at home continue to impact millions of Americans. At a small party at the Super Bowl, friends complain about the restrictions.
“I’m in quarantine,” says a character played by host Dan Levy.
A friend played by Beck Bennett said he limits his contacts outside the home and work.
“I am a massage therapist,” he said of his work contacts. “I massage mouths.”
A friend played by Heidi Gardner said: “I don’t understand how people are still getting sick.”
Enter Dr. Anthony Fauci, played by Kate McKinnon, who said the scene was a warning for “the wrong way to the Super Bowl”.
The game should be enjoyed, he said, “At home, with a mask on, the lights off, no friends.”
The satirical news segment “Weekend Update” praised President Joe Biden for coming up with an economic stimulus plan.
Co-host Colin Jost said Biden is moving forward “without the support of Republicans because this economy needs a massage and Joe Biden is not waiting for permission.”
Michael Che was amazed at the rise and political survival of US MP Marjorie Taylor Greene, who in the past expressed her faith in QAnon and that 9/11 may not have been real.
“Greene apologized for his previous comments, saying that 9/11 really happened,” said Che. “And to honor that day, Greene plans to hijack and destroy the Republican Party.”
Jost introduced former President Donald Trump as “Former social media influencer Donald Trump”.
He said he wants Trump to testify at his Senate impeachment trial.
“I think I speak for all of us when I say, come on, please,” said Jost. “Give us one last show.”
