SNL mostly avoids politics for Adam Sandler's first time hosting

The New York Times

Saturday Night Live set the mood for its first Sandler-hosted episode by avoiding politics in the cold open, opting instead for a Family Feud sketch pitting Game of Thrones vs. Avengers. Joined by Chris Rock, Sandler commemorated his 1995 firing from SNL after five seasons with the "I Was Fired" song. "I guess NBC had enough Crazy Spoon Head and the songs I sang on the news," he sang. "...NBC said I was done. Then I made over $4 billion at the box office, so I guess you could say I won." This wasn't Sandler's first time back at SNL. He opened a 2002 episode with "The Hanukkah Song III." He also was part of SNL's 40th anniversary celebration in 2015. Sandler's episode contained several Sandler-centric sketches including "Sandler Family Reunion" with Kristen Wiig and Sandler impersonator Jimmy Fallon. Sandler also reprised his Opera Man character for "Weekend Update," using the appearance to roast President Trump, Joe Biden and his former Funny People co-star Seth Rogen. "Operaman making a joke about me is maybe the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me. Holy sh*t what an insane honor," tweeted Rogen. Referring to Robert Smigel, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog tweeted back at Rogen: "The hand up my ass helped write it, now that’s an honor." Sandler closed out the show with a touching performance in tribute to the late Chris Farley.  "Life ain't the same without you," he sang. "If we make enough noise, maybe he'll hear us."