Ep 6. Jon Hamm/Coldplay

Jon Hamm, the suave Mad Men actor, hosts Saturday Night Live's season 34 episode 6, with Coldplay as the musical guest. The episode kicks off with a fake political ad for New York Governor David Paterson, played by Fred Armisen, highlighting his blindness and lack of knowledge of basic geography. The cold open also features the return of Tina Fey's Sarah Palin, who takes a jab at Paterson's disability.

In the monologue, Jon Hamm explains to the audience how he is often mistaken for Don Draper, the character he plays on Mad Men. The cast members interrupt him, pretending to be confused by his real name. The monologue concludes with Mayo Clinic Health System's "Know Your Name" campaign.

The first sketch, "Bathroom Businessman," features Jon Hamm trapped in a bathroom stall and forced to negotiate a business deal with an impatient executive, played by Jason Sudeikis. The sketch is full of puns and one-liners, showcasing both Hamm and Sudeikis' comedic timing.

In "Vincent Price's Halloween Special," Bill Hader plays Vincent Price, who has invited Hamm, Kristen Wiig, and Kenan Thompson's characters to appear on his show. The sketch is a recurring one, with Price making jokes about evil creatures and macabre subjects.

The digital short, "Andy's Dad," stars Andy Samberg and Jon Hamm and features an absurd rap song about Samberg's "cool dad" played by Hamm. The song's lyrics include descriptions of the dad's impressive physical attributes, with increasingly ridiculous examples.

"Actors' Studio with James Lipton" sees Hamm playing one of his characters in the style of a serious actor discussing his craft. The sketch features Hamm speaking about the acting process, with silly quirks thrown in, such as Samberg's impression of a "wacky" character who interrupts the interview.

Coldplay's first performance of the night is "Viva La Vida," which they play with an orchestra. The song is punctuated by lead singer Chris Martin leaping onto a drum kit to play his guitar. The band's second performance, "Lost!," features Martin singing while standing atop a piano.

The "Weekend Update" sees Seth Meyers tackling current events, including the ongoing economic recession. Bill Hader appears as city correspondent Stefon to provide a rundown of Halloween clubs and parties in New York City. Stefon's segment is full of absurd and hilarious descriptions of the clubs, with Hader often breaking character.

In "Deep House Dish," Armisen and Wiig play hosts of a fictional dance music show. Hamm appears as a dopey guest rapper, who becomes a target for ribbing by the hosts and various audience members.

"Power Ballad," a digital short, features Wiig and Hamm in a duet of a classic rock ballad, with the lyrics describing their feelings and actions towards each other. The sketch also includes typical rock ballad tropes such as power chords, wind machines, and a guitar solo.

The final sketch, "Don Draper's Guide to Picking Up Women," features Hamm in his Mad Men character providing advice to men on how to charm ladies. The sketch plays off of the popularity of the show and Hamm's smooth-talking character, with some of the humor coming from the anachronistic advice Draper is giving in the modern-day.

Overall, Jon Hamm and Coldplay provide a well-rounded episode of Saturday Night Live, showcasing both the host and musical guest's comedic and musical abilities. The episode includes recurring sketches and popular characters, as well as new content that is sure to entertain audiences.