Saturday Night Live Connor Storrie Season 51 Episode 13 Editor’s Rating 4 stars * * * * « Previous Next « Previous Episode Next Episode » Connor Storrie showcased his unique charisma and a passionate Heated Rivalry fanbase during his debut as host. Photo: Will Heath/NBC
If you’re reading this, you likely already know who Connor Storrie is. It seems like Storrie is doing Saturday Night Live a favor by hosting, rather than the other way around. As one of the stars of the risqué hockey series — pardon, show — Heated Rivalry, Storrie’s rapid rise to fame has garnered him a dedicated following of enthusiastic women. If he’s appearing as a first-time host, you can bet they’ll be tuning in. Still, 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 solid reason for that. His experience in clowning and training at The Groundlings seems like perfect preparation for a hosting role. Additionally, he is quite diligent. The rough, Russian accent he adopted for his character Ilya Rozanov is so believable that many (or perhaps just I) were taken aback to hear his American accent during interviews. As the episode began, it was 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. With news breaking on Saturday morning about U.S. military actions against Iran, the atmosphere was grim, if you’ll allow for that understatement. The show addresses this as best it can in the cold open, featuring a dual monologue from James Austin Johnson’s Trump and Colin Jost’s Pete Hegseth. For a segment produced in just a day, it effectively conveys the confusion surrounding the news, highlighting the casual, thoughtless cruelty of the administration.
It’s a bit frustrating, as that sentiment is somewhat diminished by the appearance of two players from the U.S. men’s hockey team who join Storrie onstage at the conclusion of the monologue, having just celebrated their Olympic victory with FBI director Kash Patel. Their presence is somewhat softened by the addition of members from the U.S. women’s team, but prior to the hockey players’ arrival, Storrie’s monologue is both charming and humorous. He shares the one family-friendly moment from Heated Rivalry (a brief two-second clip of Ilya saying “Okay”), and then reflects on his surprise at achieving fame, before turning to a close-up camera and proclaiming that it was actually his destiny. He effortlessly shifts between these two modes with confidence. Throughout the episode, Storrie maintains the ease of a seasoned cast member. He portrays a variety of relatable characters — the jock, the class clown, the office guy — 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 bit lost momentum rather quickly. Nevertheless, Storrie’s energetic presence and positive demeanor contributed to an enjoyable episode.
Here are the key points:
Figure Skating
Experiencing rejection during a public proposal is tough enough, but for Casper (Tommy Brennan) and Candace (Veronika Slowikowska), it 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 ultimately decides to join in. However, the highlight is Storrie’s exuberant delivery of lines such as, “God, I love being in my forties.” The moment when it’s revealed 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 cheerful 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 tutoring the most popular kid in school, BJ (Storrie), socially awkward Dirkus (Marshall) receives an apology and — even better — an invitation to join the cool kids’ table during lunch. Storrie’s popular character realizes his error after Dirkus performs a thank-you song. Marshall delivers it with such intensity that it makes you want to secure your doors, while Storrie’s character displays a level of regret that’s difficult to shake off. Ashley Padilla and James Austin Johnson also make appearances as Dirkus’ parents, managing to win BJ over despite their own eccentricities. There’s much to appreciate here, with memorable lines like, “You were merely trying to express yourself and chase greatness. And as Timothee Chalamet recently showed us, that’s trendy now.” Additionally, “You can still be a baddie, even if you’re a bit quirky” is delivered perfectly.
Saturday Night Live Update
The jokes from the Weekend Updates desk range from decent to quite good, particularly when you consider that some were crafted under pressure. However, the more captivating elements are the character stories, such as Veronika Slowikowska’s charming maid of honor who discusses current events.
In terms of the Update desk, Sarah Sherman shines as the neglectful mother of Punch the Monkey, who hails from Long Island. Her performance in the bikini-patterned monkey suit, coupled with her antics of teasing the audience (“you shuh up!”) and trying to charm Colin Jost with a high-pitched croak, kept me laughing throughout. Marcello Hernandez makes a brief appearance as Punch, clinging to a large stuffed animal.
Workplace Groove
Boosting workplace morale can be as simple as an office dance, reminiscent of “Severance,” where external concerns fade away. Storrie passionately advocates for this concept, yet the true highlight of the sketch lies in the ensemble cast. Some of my favorite moments feature Andrew Dismukes maintaining his crossed leg even after his chair gives way, and Sarah Sherman’s character coming to the realization that she no longer needs to relieve herself out the window. Additionally, James Austin Johnson portrays an asthmatic nerd who overheats when his glasses are removed, while Kenan Thompson’s subtle portrayal of an alcoholic adds an extra layer of humor.
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’s arguably the highlight of the evening, likely because it draws inspiration from 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 dragging himself 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 look away from. By the sketch’s conclusion, my notes simply read, “butt is up.”
• The sketch inspired by Bridgerton felt somewhat monotonous, which is surprising since it seems like it should translate well in theory. Nevertheless, I found joy in Storrie and Day elegantly 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 duality of human nature.
• Williams made an appearance for “Ice Skating” and brought Mumford and Sons on stage with Storrie, which seemed perfect for a brief appearance. While I enjoyed seeing him (and, naturally, always support 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. The 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 individual responsible for the flawed car door design, portrayed by a sinister Storrie.
• Regarding the segments that were cut for time, it’s probably for the best that the “Tourette’s” pre-tape didn’t air. I understand it aimed to satirize celebrities who justify their poor actions by claiming it was due to Tourette’s, but the unclear premise made it seem like it was somewhat belittling to individuals with Tourette’s (even if that wasn’t the intention).
• Considering the Weekend Update R-word joke, the “Mr. Fronzi” sketch that essentially revolves around “this guy’s accent is amusing,” and Mumford and Sons performing as the musical guest … 2012 feels like a mindset. One that I prefer not to revisit. That year, I donned a blazer with jeans for my cousin’s wedding and could only discuss South Park.
