As a seasoned gamer who’s seen his fair share of late-night comedies, I can confidently say that Saturday Night Live is currently riding a wave of hilarity and creativity that hasn’t been felt for quite some time. With the likes of Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, and John Mulaney gracing our screens, it’s safe to say that Season 50 is setting the bar high.
Saturday Night Live is back with a bang, arguably its strongest season in recent memory! The current Season 50 lineup on the 2024 TV schedule is sizzling hot, boasting some fantastic guest hosts like Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, and John Mulaney, to name just a few. However, even an excellent host can only take you so far; the sketches must be both amusing and relevant to current events and trends. The “Bridesmaids Speech” sketch is a recent example of this, and one writer has revealed the backstory of how the character Domingo was created.
If you’re wondering about the creative process behind some of Saturday Night Live’s famous sketches, comedian Ceara Jane O’Sullivan can provide some insights. Currently in her third season as a writer for the late-night comedy series, Domingo is one of the many outrageous ideas she’s developed. However, it wasn’t all done by herself; on her podcast Petty Crimes, she shared that a co-writer initially sparked the idea with a real video of bridesmaids singing Hamilton at a wedding.
To O’Sullivan, what makes writing for SNL so great is its collaborative nature, and this same concept she applied while detailing Domingo’s beginnings.
Sudi Green posed a question similar to, “Could it be that they’re like bridesmaids, and they’re singing about their bachelorette trip?” Then I suggested, “Maybe it should be directed at Espresso, and the story is about a man named Domingo… We were considering Marcello for the role because it was all just fun, as we kept agreeing to each other’s ideas. There was a bit of chaos around the table since the music cues weren’t quite right, but Ari remained optimistic. It was a blast. It’s always exciting when everyone is having a good time.
Ari, who starred in Wicked, recognized the potential of the project during the table read. Thankfully she did! The performance didn’t seem promising initially, but it took off online following the show, largely due to TikTok. Ari was perfect for the hosting role because her intentionally out-of-key singing brought laughter. Overall, her episode resulted in several viral characters being born, such as Antonio, and I thought the writers did an excellent job blending her singing and acting talents.
Frankly speaking, I find it unsurprising that this sketch went viral, considering its key elements: undoubtedly, the most infectious tune of the year, “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, and Marcello Hernandez. This rising Dominican comedian has garnered immense popularity in recent times due to his stint on SNL and his endearing boyish appeal, which writers frequently employ in the “Protective Mom” skits. Pair that with a humorous twist on a catchy tune, and you’ve got yourself a smash hit.
It appears as though the writers specifically had Marcello in mind while creating this skit, which turned out to be fortunate for him since it’s not always simple to catch a writer’s attention, according to other cast members. However, I doubt either O’Sullivan nor Hernandez foresaw how far the skit would develop. Another skit featuring Domingo, perhaps based on “Hot To Go” by Chappell Roan? Certainly, that could be an option. Marcello playing Domingo at a Sabrina Carpenter concert singing SNL’s humorous version of “Espresso” directly to the popstar? That’s something they likely wouldn’t have imagined in their wildest dreams.
It’s great news that the SNL regular is joining in the fun, possibly leading to more appearances by Domingo and intentionally off-key pop star performances. The writers appear to be amassing this year’s top hits, similar to gathering infinity stones. If I had to speculate, they might modify the “Brat” sketch next, considering Charli XCX recently appeared on the show. How far will they take this bit? I’m curious to see where it goes. Maybe in the next episode, they’ll be singing at a children’s baptism since we last saw Kelsey pregnant with twins.
Regardless of more Domingo sketches, the character clearly isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, this might be a career defining character for Hernandez, whether he likes it or not. The writers owe themselves a pat on the back for creating what will most likely go down as one of the most popular SNL sketches of this season. I don’t really know how they could top it, but I will be tuning in this week with my Peacock subscription to find out.
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2024-11-22 00:07