Saturday Night Live Connor Storrie Season 51 Episode 13 Editor’s Rating 4 stars * * * * « Previous Next « Previous Episode Next Episode » Connor Storrie showcased his enchanting presence and a passionate Heated Rivalry following during his debut as host. Photo: Will Heath/NBC
If you’re reading this, you likely already know who Connor Storrie is. It feels as though Storrie is doing Saturday Night Live a service by hosting, rather than the other way around. As one of the stars of the gay hockey drama — excuse me, show — Heated Rivalry, Storrie’s rapid rise to fame has granted him a devoted following of enthusiastic women. If he’s appearing as a first-time host, you can bet they’ll be tuning in. Yet, the excitement caught me off guard: I received a suggested Instagram post for a UES bar hosting an SNL viewing party; even the quirky shop I worked at in Chicago back in 2018 shared a grid carousel about Connor Storrie hosting SNL.
There’s a valid reason for that. His experience in clowning and training at The Groundlings seem to be perfect preparation for the role of host. Additionally, he is quite the scholar. The rough, Russian accent he adopted for the character Ilya Rozanov is so convincing that many (or perhaps just I) were taken aback to hear his American accent during interviews. As the episode approached, it became less about whether he would be an effective host and more about how the show would leverage his diverse talents.
Then, naturally, there’s the relevant context. Following the announcement of U.S. military actions against Iran that broke on Saturday morning, the atmosphere was grim, if that’s not too mild a description. The show addresses this as best as it can during the cold open, featuring a dual monologue from James Austin Johnson’s portrayal of Trump and Colin Jost’s Pete Hegseth. For a segment produced in such a short timeframe, it effectively conveys the confusion surrounding the news, highlighting the casual, thoughtless brutality of the administration.
It’s somewhat disheartening, as that sentiment is somewhat diminished by the appearance of two players from the U.S. men’s hockey team who joined Storrie onstage at the conclusion of the monologue, having just celebrated their Olympic victory with FBI director Kash Patel. Their presence was somewhat softened by the addition of members from the U.S. women’s team, but prior to the hockey players’ arrival, Storrie’s monologue was both delightful and humorous. He presents the sole family-friendly moment from Heated Rivalry (a brief two-second clip of Ilya saying “Okay”), and then reflects on his astonishment at his newfound fame, before turning to a close-up camera and proclaiming that it was indeed his destiny. He seamlessly alternates between these two styles with poise and confidence. Throughout the episode, Storrie maintains the comfort of a seasoned cast member. He portrays a variety of relatable characters — the jock, the class clown, the office worker — and he does so effectively, showcasing strong delivery and expressiveness.
The episode had its moments of sluggishness, particularly with the “Mr. Fronzi” sketch, and the leg-lengthening segment lost its momentum rather quickly. Nevertheless, Storrie’s energetic presence and positive demeanor contributed to a fun-filled episode.
Here are the key points to note:
Figure Skating
Experiencing rejection during a public proposal is tough, but for Casper (Tommy Brennan) and Candace (Veronika Slowikowska), the situation becomes even more awkward with a group of guys (Storrie, Mikey Day, Ben Marshall) joyfully skating around on an ice rink. The concept itself is amusing, and it’s entertaining to see Brennan’s character get so sidetracked that he decides to join in. However, the highlight is Storrie’s exuberant delivery of lines such as, “God, I love being in my forties.” The twist revealing that Storrie’s character is Kendrick Lamar’s producer is presented with such enthusiasm by Storrie that it genuinely caught me off guard and made me laugh. Hudson Williams also appears as one of the enthusiastic skaters, a charming reference to his real-life friendship with Storrie (and, naturally, a seemingly essential gesture to the lively studio audience).
Coaching the Trendy Child
After mentoring the trendiest student in school, BJ (Storrie), socially awkward Dirkus (Marshall) receives an apology and — even more exciting — an invitation to join the popular kids’ lunch table. Storrie’s popular character realizes his error after Dirkus performs a gratitude song for him. Marshall delivers it with such fervor that it makes you want to secure your windows, while Storrie’s character displays a level of remorse that’s difficult to overcome. Ashley Padilla and James Austin Johnson also make appearances as Dirkus’ parents, charming BJ despite their own eccentricities. There’s much to appreciate here, with amusing quotes like, “You were simply trying to showcase your individuality and chase excellence. And as Timothee Chalamet recently demonstrated, that’s in vogue now.” Additionally, “You can still be a baddie, even if you’re a bit quirky” is delivered flawlessly.
Saturday Night Live Update
The jokes from the Weekend Updates desk range from decent to quite good, particularly given that some were crafted under pressure. However, the more captivating elements are the character profiles, such as Veronika Slowikowska’s charming maid of honor who discusses current events.
In terms of the Update desk, Sarah Sherman takes center stage as Punch the Monkey’s inattentive (and possibly Long Island-native?) mother, truly stealing the spotlight. The monkey suit adorned with a bikini, combined with Sherman oscillating between teasing the audience (“you shuh up!”) and trying to charm Colin Jost with a high-pitched croak, kept me laughing throughout. Marcello Hernandez makes an appearance as Punch, clinging to a massive stuffed toy and all.
Workplace Groove
You can elevate the spirit at the workplace with a little office dance, where the outside world fades away, reminiscent of “Severance.” Storrie passionately advocates for the office dance, yet the true highlight of this sketch is the ensemble cast. My favorite moments feature Andrew Dismukes holding his crossed leg even after his chair gives way, and Sarah Sherman’s character coming to the realization that she no longer needs to be defecating out the window. James Austin Johnson, portraying an asthmatic geek who overheats once his glasses are removed, along with Kenan Thompson’s subtle alcoholic character, also contribute delightful nuances.
Exotic dancer
Finally, Storrie unleashes his Russian accent in this skit about a stripper at a bachelorette party who gets struck by a vehicle en route. It may very well be the highlight of the evening, likely because it taps into one of Storrie’s established clown personas. He enters, writhing in agony, his limbs bending like rubber. The women are not impressed; Padilla’s character attempts to feel attracted, but the blood complicates things (and the fact that he has crawled over to her like a toilet plumber doesn’t help either). Storrie contorts his body in ways that defy explanation, making the physical comedy both hilarious and hard to ignore. By the sketch’s conclusion, my notes simply read, “butt is up.”
• The sketch inspired by Bridgerton felt somewhat repetitive, which is odd since it appears to have potential on paper. Nevertheless, I found joy in Storrie and Day gracefully removing their gloves one finger at a time, along with that adorable little dog paw.
• Observers online pointed out that Storrie’s zipper was undone during the “Office Dance” sketch. Likely a mishap, but perhaps it was intended as a nod to the online audience?
• In the “Ice Skating” sketch, Storrie portrays two forms of transport (airplane and train) — reflecting the dual nature of humanity.
• Williams made a brief appearance for “Ice Skating” and introduced Mumford and Sons alongside Storrie, which felt like a perfect moment for a cameo. While I enjoyed seeing him (and, naturally, always back Wasians in the arts), I also valued the opportunity for Storrie to shine on his own. However, I would have loved to attend the afterparty.
• I really wish the “Car Song” hadn’t been cut due to time constraints! In this segment, Veronika Slowikowska and Jane Wickline humorously tackle the common issue of exiting an Uber now that car doors lack traditional handles. Their line, “Stop making cars difficult,” is both amusing and undeniably true. I appreciated how it took a bizarre turn with the two of them confronting the character responsible for the flawed car door design, portrayed by a sinister Storrie.
• Regarding the segments that were cut for time, it’s likely for the best that the “Tourette’s” pre-tape didn’t air. While I understand it aimed to satirize celebrities who justify their poor actions by claiming it’s due to Tourette’s, the unclear premise gave off the impression that it was somewhat belittling those with Tourette’s (even if that wasn’t the goal).
• Amidst the Weekend Update R-word joke, the “Mr. Fronzi” sketch essentially revolving around “this guy’s accent is amusing,” and Mumford and Sons performing as the musical guest … 2012 feels like a mindset I’d rather not revisit. That year, I donned a blazer with jeans for my cousin’s wedding and could only discuss South Park.
