Taylor Swift on SNL: Twilight, Glenn Beck, and No Kanye (VIDEO)

Strong return by SNL last night after two weeks off, with a surprisingly strong host in the unselfconscious and rather adorable Taylor Swift. Swift had a heavier load to carry in this ep than most hosts, since she was the musical guest as well, but you could barely tell (I only noticed the cue-card eye-wander in one sketch) and the writers used her well. Great ensemble show, too — tonight was one of those nights when SNL felt like a team and not like a showcase for a few stars. Some great hair & makeup work (Twilight, Kate Gosselin) but some weak stuff too (Barbara Walters, Joe Trippi). You're not supposed to notice the discrepancy — just as you're not supposed to notice that Shep Smith is being lampooned for something he doesn't do. Glenn Beck on the other hand? So is. Extra points for getting a health care vote joke in "Weekend Update," too — the bill passed at 11:15 pm and they went to air at 11:30 pm. Missed the show? No clue what we're talking about? No worries — get caught up below, we've got all the sketches for you. >>>NEXT: Fox News Election Coverage, Taylor Swift's Monologue, and Kate Gosselin Fox News - Election Coverage (feat. Sudeikis as Glenn Beck) Of course I like this sketch spoofing Fox News' election coverage — it agrees with me. Nice Juan Williams from Kenan Thompson (mustache!), great Greta Van Susteren from Kristen Wiig, funny Karl Rove from Bobby Moynihan, and a shout-out to Joe Trippi, even if it's clear that the SNL makeup people had no clue what he looked like. Best line in the whole thing: "Let's not forget that it was under HIS watch that we lost the King of Pop." A nit: Bill Hader as Shep Smith was way too smugly partisan, with shades of Keith Morrison. But on the flip side, I think Jason Sudeikis may need to get an Emmy for his impression of Glenn Beck. Outstanding. Taylor Swift: The Monologue Song Taylor Swift very sweetly sings about all the people she's not going to sing about during her monologue — presumably like Joe Jonas and Taylor Lautner. She will, however, mention one bad boy: "We have a great show - Kanye West is not here!" Taylor Swift FTW. The View - Taylor Swift as Kate Gosselin This recurring sketch never seems to gel for me, but Swift's Gosselin was great, as was Andy Samberg's Nicholas Cage. Barbara Walters looks great for her age, but again, SNL's normally crack makeup team needs to do a lil' something here for verisimilitude. >>>NEXT: Twilight starring Taylor Swift and a Hottie Frankenstein Swine Fever! Carter n' Sons Commercial "Swine Fever is a metaphor, meant to symbolize a craving for Carter n' Sons barbecue." Haa. Best part? "Sausage And Ribs Sampler." Digital Short: Firelight (Twilight Spoof) This is the one that's gonna go viral, thanks to about a zillion Twilight/Robert Pattinson fans. (Oh noes, how will they like their hero rendered as a hot undead green zombie thing?) Swift's goth Kristen Stewart is spot-on; ditto the zombie cast. This must have been one of the more fun digital shorts to shoot. But can I say how excited I am for the eventual V version? V meets "Laser Cats," maybe? Hm. "Hollywood Dish" Entertainment Tonight-type spoof. I feel like this is where Wiig put her Kathie Lee impression now that it is sadly dormant. >>>NEXT: "Weekend Update" Zings Goldman Sachs (and Sarah McLachlan) Weekend Update: Nicolas Fehn Watching this made me realize with a start that Fred Armisen played neither Barack Obama or David Paterson this week. Hm. Weekend Update: Sarah McLachlan Mocking Sarah McLachlan's second act as the gentle, heartstring-tugging voice of the ASPCA. If you haven't donated at least once, you haven't got a soul. LOOK AT THOSE PUPPIES. Really?!? With Seth & Amy: Goldman Sachs' H1N1 Vaccines Goldman Sachs' early Swine Flu vaccines are worth a drop-in from Amy Poehler . >>>NEXT: Driving PSA, Taylor Swift as Shakira and a very different version of "Do-Re-Mi" Taylor Swift: Driving PSA I love this. So so so true. Scared Straight Kenan Thompson has some help from Swift here as prison inmates trying to throw a scare into young hooligans....in song. Roomies: Here is my question: Why is Andy Samberg on the couch with two adorable girls curled up together under a blanket and looking so pissed about it? This reminded me of the Ellen Page-returning-from-a-Melissa-Etheridge-concert sketch, except without the obvious joke. Bunny Business feat. Taylor Swift's Excellent Shakira Alas, this one's not on Hulu, probably due to song-rights issues. But Taylor Swift's Shakira was great. See below. Marginally Better Shakira:

Taylor Swift on SNL: Twilight, Glenn Beck, and No Kanye (VIDEO)

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Taylor Swift on SNL: Twilight, Glenn Beck, and No Kanye (VIDEO)

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