Maya Rudolph helps SNL return from hiatus rested and rejuvenated

Vanity Fair

"Maya Rudolph, radiant queen mother, returned to her roots Saturday night, and all was right in the world. Spring, and the sense that the writers returned rested and rejuvenated after a few weeks off, was in the air," says Karen Valby. "Refreshingly, the cold open took a break from Washington and hit Miami Beach for a game show called Snatched, Vaxed or Waxed. Rudolph presided over a group of horny dumb-dumbs unconcerned with their “antibody-ody-ody-ody-ody-odies.” Heidi Gardner’s contestant said she didn’t like to wear masks because they irritated her cold sores, which she guessed made her anti-vax and anti-mask. But Chris Redd’s romantic thought she might not mean it: “I think she’s just flirting, so I’m going to say Vaxed.” Nope! Remind yourself that your parents are vaccinated. Maya Rudolph’s parents are vaccinated. Let’s trust that Martin Short is vaccinated. The idiots will not win. Rudolph’s monologue was charming and silly and perfect. She shouted out her four children in the audience and willed herself not to cry. The sentimentality of their presence had her feeling soft towards the new cast members, so she invited those babies—Andrew Dismukes, Punkie Johnson, and Lauren Holt, who looked like she was going to split open with glee over the fact that this was actually happening in real life—to gather ‘round. She regaled them with memories of back in the day, how Rachel Dratch was a bit of a princess, strutting around on her Sixteen Candles buzz, and Jimmy Fallon was the bad boy in his jean jacket and fingerless gloves. Fists in the air, we’ll never forget greats like her. Especially when they return to remind us how it’s done."

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