Saturday Night Live finished the year with a strong, star-studded episode hosted by Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake.
SNL’s cold open featured Timberlake (the musical guest) and Fallon (the host) dancing and singing to promote their Wrappinville business against a lowly merchant who lacked entertainment skills. In terms of SNL’s history, this skit was one of the very few times that the cold open starred the evening’s musical guest. It also set off a pattern: for the first half hour of the show, Timberlake appeared in all live skits (save for the monologue).
Fallon’s monologue had a surprise appearance from Paul McCartney, who was one of the singers Fallon planned to imitate (others were Bob Dylan and David Bowie, who did not appear live).
A Family Feud skit featured Justin Timberlake impersonating Jimmy Fallon, and neither of the two stars could stay in character. Kenan Thompson pulled off a particularly funny impersonation of Steve Harvey.
Fallon and Timberlake teamed up again for the Barry Gibb Talk Show, which included music icon Madonna and Gibb himself making appearances. The skit was great – thanks largely to Fallon’s complete consumption of his character – but Madonna’s jokes didn’t go over well with the audience.
Outgoing New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Fallon appeared during Weekend Update to talk about what’s ahead for each of them in 2014. Fallon, who’s moving to The Tonight Show in the new year, was “emotional” over Seth Myers moving into his Late Night slot.
“Do It On My Twin Bed” was a timely Digital Short to remind those who are visiting their parents during the holiday about the problems of at-home hook ups.
Finally, Timberlake performed “Only When I Walk Away” and “Pair of Wings.”
Saturday Night Live announced last night that their first episode of 2014 will be hosted by Drake, who will also be the musical guest. It airs January 18!