“Saturday Night Live” recap: Jack Black joins the Five-Timers Club in a star-studded episode

Andy HoglundSun, April 5, 2026 at 3:38 AM UTC

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Jack Black is ready to rock in an 'SNL' promoCredit: NBC

Hi one and all — it’s SNL in Review! Life is funny — last season, we rejoiced when Jack Black triumphantly returned to 8H after 20 years. It was his fourth time hosting. Tonight, almost to the day, Black is back again, this time for his fifth gig. Yes, Five Timers Club material. Brace yourselves.

I am joined again tonight by former cast member, and the new host of the Catholic and Cappuccinos podcast, Siobhan Fallon Hogan. (Just in time for Easter!) 8H sleuths will recall she recently returned in person, attending the Alexander Skarsgard episode earlier this year. She recalls: “It was amazing being back on SNL because I haven’t seen my friend Stellan since we filmed Dogville 24 years ago. It was like time had not even gone by. He’s still the greatest guy and of course is a superb actor, and is genius in Sentimental Value.” She also tells me she was able to meet the SNL UK cast backstage. Fun!

Meanwhile, I checked back with another SNL alum his thoughts on tonight’s host! Gary Kroeger recalls, “When I first noticed Jack Black, probably with Tenacious D, I thought he was too intense. I didn't care for humor that seemed to require a maniacally focused delivery. It was when my sons kept telling me how much they love Jack Black. He really connected to his generation and younger. Tropic Thunder is what made me realize that he is a really, really good comedic actor. Then Jumanji. Now I will seek out a Jack Black movie. I loved Anaconda.”

In a fun bit of stunt booking, Black’s musical guest tonight is White. Jack White, that is, in his fifth appearance as a solo artist and sixth, overall, counting his 2002 appearance in the White Stripes. In fact, his last regular season appearance was when Woody Harrelson joined the Five Timers! SNL lore + symmetry, gotta love it.

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Cold Open

It’s the Final Four post-game show on TBS. Nice to see Kenan Thompson as Charles Barkley — he spoke so eloquently about immigrants last week. (Also nice to see Kam Patterson in a good role!) People love sincere Charles Barkley – and he loved going viral! “War is turrible,” he opines, solemnly. Ernie Johnson just wants to talk about basketball, but Sir Charles prefers to wax on about Artemis mission being a waste of money and Kalshi. The audience backs him up when he gets into Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem’s husband.

Barkley’s reference to Bondi being fired as Attorney General summons her to the show for equal time. No, it’s not Amy Poehler —Ashley Padilla repeats. Poehler did Bondi opposite Tina Fey's Kristin Noem at the beginning of the season but Padilla did her in “White Potus” spoof.

Gary Kroeger says the impression is“spot on” and deserves all the critical satire. “Keep it coming. Even those they have been retired to "other" positions within the Trump Reich, they defined blind loyalty to a demagogic authoritarian and every broadcast that portrays their vapid, stick-to-the-script, automatron, vanity should be preserved for future generations to understand what destroyed America. Did I reveal my opinion of them?”

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Monologue

Jack Black immediately notes it is his Five Timer show. Jonah Hill appears on-stage and immediately brings him to the actual club ,but there’s something amiss. He sees a ghoul! Oops, no — that’s Tina Fey.

Wow, Candice Bergen also returns! Like Fey, she’s done several Five Timer Club sketches. So many cameos, ah – Melissa McCarthy! I am having a sugar high. SNL podcast great Brad Robinson says in dress Hill explained the darkness of the club more and Melissa chugged more of John Mulaney's vodka-fused alcohol free beer, and everyone broke.

Mercifully, Jack White spars us from more of Marcello’s Domingo.

Jack Black has an idea to save the Club, which is in disarray. He sings “Seven Nation Army” accompanied by Jack White and some elves. It’s such an anthem, no notes. Great energy. Fallon Hogan notes she has "never met Jack Black, but I adore his work. He is fearless and beyond hilarious!"

"Work Lunch"

Kathy (Ashley Padilla) wants to talk tech (or anything at all) with her co-workers at lunch. She’s both loud and tedious, butting in multiple times. ”Shut up Kathy,” explodes Jack Black, several times. They resolve themselves to ignore her, but she’s relentless. “We talkin’ TV” she inquires, endlessly. Will the group break?

"Words to Live By"

James Austin Johnson spoof-singing is always welcome. This is a country ballad about his dying grandpa’s words to live by. They were short and sweet and kinda folksy… but he’s forgotten it. Tip of his tongue!

Second verse: Jack Black climbs a mountain and meets a wise man. He will always live by the man’s words… until his wife’s text distracts him. Jack White gets a nice guitar solo… wait, no he doesn’t!

Last verse is our guy Dismukes. He yells at a child. I welcome that too.

on Entertainment Weekly

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