The Saturday Night Live Weekend Update sketch featured a humorous depiction of a heated argument between an earthquake and a solar eclipse following recent natural phenomena, including a quake near New York City and an upcoming eclipse. Cast members Marcello Hernández and Kenan Thompson portrayed the earthquake and solar eclipse, respectively. The sketch poked fun at Mayor Eric Adams’ response to the earthquake and imagined the chaos that would ensue if both events happened simultaneously.
Hernández, dressed as the earthquake, joked about the impact of the tremors on the metro area, with people stopping work to text friends about the experience and flights being delayed. The earthquake, described as the strongest to hit the area in 140 years, overshadowed other news stories, including a man punching women in the face. When questioned about identifying as the New York City earthquake even though it originated in New Jersey, Hernández humorously explained that he had moved to the city, despite growing up in New Jersey.
Thompson’s portrayal of the solar eclipse interrupted Hernández’s interview, igniting a rivalry between the two natural events. The sketch included playful banter between the earthquake and solar eclipse as they discussed causing disruptions, including confusing dogs for a couple of hours. Ultimately, the earthquake and solar eclipse decided to team up, with the earthquake making a second strike on Monday while the eclipse cast darkness across America, leading to comedic scenarios.
During the sketch, host Colin Jost tried to discourage the combined chaos of the earthquake and solar eclipse, referencing the city’s slow response to the earthquake alert. The initial notification, sent 13 minutes after the quake, advised residents to remain indoors and call 911 if injured. Despite the lack of reported infrastructure issues from the quake, which was inspected by officials, the sketch continued to mock the city’s handling of the situation. The SNL episode, hosted by Kristen Wiig with musical guest Raye, showcased dark humor relating to recent natural events.
The humorous Weekend Update sketch on Saturday Night Live featured cast members Marcello Hernández and Kenan Thompson portraying an earthquake and solar eclipse in a comedic rivalry. The sketch explored the aftermath of a recent earthquake near New York City and the anticipation of an upcoming solar eclipse, adding a humorous twist to both events. Hernández and Thompson engaged in banter about which natural event would cause more chaos, ultimately deciding to team up for a hypothetical scenario involving a second earthquake and extended darkness caused by the eclipse. Host Colin Jost also weighed in on the chaotic potential of the combined events, poking fun at Mayor Eric Adams’ response to the earthquake alert.
Throughout the sketch, humorous references were made to the impact of the earthquake, the city’s slow response to the alert, and the overshadowing of other news stories. The earthquake, described as the strongest in the area in 140 years, was portrayed in a light-hearted manner by Hernández, while Thompson’s solar eclipse character added to the comedic rivalry. The sketch included playful exchanges between the two natural events, with jokes about confusing dogs and causing disruptions. Overall, the Weekend Update segment provided a humorous take on recent natural phenomena through a satirical lens, entertaining viewers with dark humor and playful banter between the earthquake and solar eclipse characters.
