This week's Saturday Night Live had all the right ingredients to move on from last week's Morgan Wallen controversy. Host Jack Black and musical guests Brandi Carlile and Elton John were exactly what SNL needed to forget all about the Wallen fiasco.
Morgan Wallen made last week's Saturday Night Live about him, overshadowing the debut of Oscar winner Mikey Madison. The country star's decision to walk off stage during the goodnights, and making a point to go directly at the camera, made headlines.
Wallen followed that up with a social media post about getting back to "God's country" and out of New York City. Rumors followed that Wallen was difficult to work with during the week and turned down an offer to appear in a sketch.
So SNL needed to wipe the slate clean this week, and that's exactly what it did. The timing couldn't have been better as Jack Black returned to Studio 8H for the first time in 20 years. His monologue set the stage for a high-energy performance that kept the vibes moving in the right direction.
Black also played a major role in the viral sketch of the night, a musical number designed to delight the millennial audience with a parody of "Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance. Perhaps it was intentional to do something for that generation after Wallen's younger demographic tuned in (and defended him) last week.
Elton John and Brandi Carlile deliver as musical guests
Jack Black's presence was more than enough to change the atmosphere at Saturday Night Live this week. But Elton John and Brani Carlile made sure things went to a different level.
Elton John brought a cross-generational appeal to the stage. The legendary singer paired well with Carlile, whose brand of folk and Americana has earned her a dedicated following. On the SNL stage, she showcased just how effortlessly she connects with audiences.
Saturday Night Live didn't let the night go by without a direct reference to Morgan Wallen. The cold open featured James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump using the "God's country" line while speaking about "McDonald's Island."
The jab at Wallen drew a loud ovation from the crowd. Clearly, the audience was waiting to see what, if anything, SNL would say about the controversy. The line from Johnson gave fans what they wanted and let the show move on from there.
At the end of the night, the episode was about the comedy and the music. A big thanks goes to Jack Black, Brandi Carlilie, and Elton John for making sure that was the case.