TV

Saturday Night Live recap: Dakota Johnson and Justin Timberlake return to 8H for an underwhelming episode

The "Social Network" costars reunited during Johnson's monologue, and Jimmy Fallon made a surprise cameo as (who else?) Barry Gibb.

By

Andy Hoglund

Updated on January 28, 2024 02:22AM EST

Hello and welcome Conehead Nation, EW’s late-night demo, to SNL in Review. Tonight’s episode is peculiar and interesting. The host, Dakota Johnson, is returning after a well-established iffy-to-bad debut hosting appearance back in season 40. (She’s also the daughter of Hollywood royalty Melanie Griffith, who hosted way back in season 14, and Don Johnson.) More recently, promotion around her upcoming superhero film Madame Web (another comic book adaptation) was upended when the trailer’s awkward camp and absurdity went viral.

Dakota Johnson and Justin Timberlake Have a Social Network Reunion During Actress' Saturday Night Live Monologue — Dakota Johnson on 'Saturday Night Live'.
SNL/YouTube

This week, Johnson went viral again — this time for the show’s promo with (Social Network costar and tonight’s musical guest) Justin Timberlake. Oh, did I bury the lede? Justin Timberlake is back! He first appeared on the show in 2000 when he was still a member of *NSYNC. Here’s how long ago that was: Tim Meadows was still a cast member. But Timberlake, after a wild run of iconic moments as a new millennium host — the kind with his own recurring characters ("The Barry Gibb Talk Show," "D*ck in the Box" guys, "Ville" sketches) — has not been on in over a decade. And following some bad PR (courtesy of his ex, Britney Spears), the public mood has shifted against JT, just as he tiptoes back into music.

I am joined tonight by former Saturday Night Live cast member Patrick Weathers. He once did a table read with Timberlake in New Orleans; around the time the burgeoning movie star was filming Palmer, Timberlake and Jessica Biel lived in the same building as Weathers.

Cold Open

Football season! It’s the Ravens-Chiefs AFC championship game, brought to you by Boeing.

We get a great Andrew Dismukes-James Austin Johnson match-up here. The Mukes as Tony Romo laments that it’s the last football game of the year “for just us guys.” The Super Bowl doesn't count — that’s for people who don’t really follow the sport. They kick it to James Brown (Kenan Thompson), who wishes the ocean was full of sugar instead of salt. He has never watched the Pro Bowl, he confides. He (mostly correctly) notes that football is the only thing remotely watchable that’s live on TV anymore (wink wink).

These football commentators get emotional over the decline of their culture, and the end of the season. Barbie’s Oscar snub is discussed. It’s a bittersweet end.

Molly Kearney and Devon Walker stumble a few times here, but Walker cues up what could've been the sketch’s best moment: The Mukes and JAJ busting out a spoof version of the Fast & Furious anthem “See You Again.” Unfortunately, a few cues are missed, and the song stumbles. Still, it was a decent idea.

Monologue

Johnson discusses her SNL 40th Anniversary Special appearance, and jokes about her proximity to one of the most important people in the world: Donald Trump, I mean Taylor Swift. She is not good at talking to journalists. A clip of her mugging with her dad as a little kid is shown, which is cute.

She name-checks Timberlake, who instantly appears on the stage. He seems subdued, teasing he’s happy to appear in sketches. In a groan-worthy moment, Jimmy Fallon pops up as Barry Gibb. Sad and typical. I guess they had to do this, but it mostly reminds me (as Johnson points out) how much time has passed since SNL 40.

Patrick Weathers socialized with Dakota’s family a bit previously: “My friend and collaborator Peter Aykroyd was good friends with [her grandmother] Tippi [Hedren] and visited her often when we lived in Hollywood. He shared her passion for tigers.”

"Waiters"

The Mason family is out to dinner — Emma (Sarah Sherman) is their server. She mishears their last name, then totally bombs on their order. “My apologies, Charles Manson.” That’s pretty much the set-up here.

Audrey (Johnson) takes over. She also has trouble hearing. It's her first day as manager. This does not have much of a payoff, though Sherman is good. Kenan is funny, blathering about Scooby-Doo instead of (the correct order) shrimp scampi.

"Home Videos"

A family pops in a couple of old VHS tapes. The Mukes relives his third birthday. A soccer game from the '90s. Finally, he finds a tape labeled “Big Announcement.” His father (Mikey Day) muses it’s the moment he discovered he was going to be a father. But, my friends, a sentimental payoff, this is not…

Corey (JAJ) hosts his own Jenny Jones or Jerry Springer-style show. It’s a sideshow. These decent, kind old people were savages, embarrassing themselves on a nationally syndicated talk show, feuding over paternity rights. This isn’t bad, it’s a fun commentary on what those participants might be like today, decades later castigating themselves for entertainment.

"The Barry Gibb Talk Show: 2024 Election"

Wow, this is pretty forced. Eventually, it seems like they win over the audience. As always, Barry Gibb takes no crap. Fallon mugs and yells. “Call me sir,” he snaps at Andrew Yang (Bowen Yang). “I am legend! You cannot break me!” (Something meta there hearing Fallon spew that.)

There is a lot of effort on display and, in my humble opinion, forced nostalgia for this one. The crowd "seems" to like it? Or do they merely want to like it? Or are they being told to?

Weathers shares that former SNL director "Davey Wilson used to say if a musical gag ran longer than 45 seconds it would die. Example: Ravi Sings." Exactly!

Please Don't Destroy — "Roast"

As always, the host enters the boys’ office. Dakota Johnson’s dry sense of humor is at the center here — she’s watched all their videos… and not liked them at all. They quickly insult each other. I like the jokes about their Peacock movie flopping, and Sydney Sweeney being a bigger star than her. Johnson comparing the guys to Workaholics and "Lonelier" Island is great too. Then she delivers the savage blow: She calls out their dads’ roles in kickstarting their careers.

“Nepo truce” is hilarious. I liked this one, even though it was sort of like having it both ways. Recognizing the privilege playfully is not exactly the same as speaking truth to power. But still, like Weekend Update's Joke Swap, the blows are fun. Watch it

"Big Dumb Cups"

Is there a void in your life? Just get a big dumb cup. White women riff on why they are so into Stanleys: “You can really taste the lead.” The banality and painful averageness of these privileged women is on display. “Mama, be real with me,” Heidi Gardner coos to Johnson.

I loved this one. Watch it.

Justin Timberlake performs "Sanctified"

Weathers comments, “Justin is enormously talented and very smart in his career choices. I think his most important and lasting work is yet to come.”

“Sanctified” is the song Timberlake started teasing earlier this month via an ad on ESPN. Not exactly “Lovestoned,” but there's a cool cameo and choreography in this live performance of his collaboration with Tobe Nwigwe. I can’t stop the feeling time has moved on from JT though.

You know what new song is great? Weathers’ single “Long Tall Wall”! Take a listen.

Weekend Update

The anchors discuss this week’s jury ordering Trump to pay E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million after years of insults. “I like this crowd,” laughs Michael Che. He has a funny moment about (former SNL host!) O.J. Simpson.

A guy named Ethan (Bowen Yang) comes out to discuss this week’s Oscar snubs. Well, he has his own awards show and is getting mad over the lack of diversity. “It’s a real thing.” This is pretty good, and a little bit different character work from Yang.

The great British psychic and tarot card reader (Heidi Gardner) comes out to predict the 2024 election. It's nice to see Gardner back at the Update desk. She draws the Newsman card — something about Che's career going down… what appears to be the toilet! “Kiss the top card, lick it!” Great joke about Only Fans here! The Catfish card! This was fun. They definitely are extending the Joke Swap barbed dynamic between our two favorite anchors.

"Book Club"

A room of women are talking about a book when Johnson chimes in with some news: She’s going on Shark Tank with an idea that will disrupt their friend group forever. They are intrigued. It’s a T-shirt about being asked whether you’re okay. It's poorly worded and clunky... yet effective, sending a skeptical Heidi Gardner to tears.

Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran pop up here — they want to invest!

“Does the cast not like Dakota?” wonders Weathers. “She’s kind of not hosting. And her characters are mean-spirited."

Justin Timberlake performs "Selfish"

Jimmy Fallon introduces “Selfish,” which was released this week to mixed reviews. It’s a serviceable performance, I guess, but the moment has clearly passed.

"Lost Bag"

Vanessa (Johnson) has misplaced her bag at the airport, and turns to the lisping Samson (Devon Walker) for help. He is a character! His father Rango (Kenan Thompson) steps in to help. Silly, a little half-baked. This is a mirror to the Mason family sketch, sort of?

Weathers comments that Johnson is “really good.” (He also likes the Cupid promo insert they shot of her.)

Final Thoughts

—Well, what did we learn? What did you THINK? Vote here!

—Dave Chappelle is on stage at the goodnights?!

—Speaking of polls, a clear majority of you recognized last week’s episode was a turd — a staggering 38% voted C and nearly 20% gave it a failing grade. Unheard of numbers for this dedicated and forgiving stan community.

—Once again, thank you to Patrick Weathers! Check out his new single “Long Tall Wall,” which was released on his birthday. Weathers provided all vocals and played all the instruments. He called tonight's show “Timberlake Live,” which is spot on.

—The cast for SNL 1975 is shaping up to be interesting.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content: