SNL’s Leading Ladies Warm Up The Cold Open

Just a quick note about last night’s SNL cold open — I noted earlier that it was a shame that the Debbie Downer sketch didn’t make it to air because it included all the returning ladies plus Betty White — but I would be remiss in failing to note that SNL looked after that nicely in the cold open. SNL has run the “Lawrence Welk Show” a number of times, and it’s a pretty, colorful little ensemble number that allows everyone to ham it up, sing a bit, and look repulsed by Kristen Wiig‘s malformed sister.* It proved a lovely vehicle both for raising the Mother’s Day theme and re-introducing the returning ladies — Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer — as well as host White, and setting up the group “Live From New York!” Must have felt good to do that again. See below.

*Let’s not forget another malformed sister: Dratch as Jennifer Garner’s conjoined twin, complete with a baby arm sticking out of her head. A standout.

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