Ep 8. Blake Lively/Rihanna

In season 35 episode 8 of Saturday Night Live, host Blake Lively, known for her roles in Gossip Girl and The Age of Adaline, takes the stage alongside musical guest Rihanna, a hit singer-songwriter and actress. The episode promises a showcase of both Lively's comedic skills and Rihanna's musical talents.

The episode opens with a sketch portraying President Barack Obama's recent events including the decision to send additional troops overseas. The scene had several cast members embodying the roles of political figures and advisors, and it's all taking place in the Situation Room. The sketch showcases the cast's impressions of various political figures such as Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and General Stanley McChrystal.

The second sketch, "The Cougar Den," features a group of older women flirting with younger men. The sketch gets progressively weirder. Blake Lively, Nasim Pedrad, and Kristen Wiig play some of the cougars, and each one delivers a hilarious performance. The sketch relies on the performers' comedic timing and ability to stay in character.

One of the funniest skits that night was "What's That Name?", which takes the game 'Celebrity' to the next level by having the players figuring out the names of obscure celebrities that no one has heard of before. The sketch features Lively, Kenan Thompson and Bill Hader among other cast members, trying to guess who the celebrity is while giving clever and hilarious hints. The sketch's comedic energy and wit make it stand out amongst the rest of the show.

Another sketch features the Weekend Update segment, which showcases a satirical outlook on current events and news. The segment had humor-infused jabs at America's dysfunctional health care system and religious holidays such as Hanukkah. The segment is one of the staples of SNL, and this episode did not disappoint with the hilarious jokes and punches it delivered.

In the episode's musical performances, Rihanna takes center stage, delivering mesmerizing performances of her hit songs "Hard" and "Russian Roulette." The singer's powerful vocals and captivating stage presence left the audience mesmerized. Blake Lively also appears in a skit where she hilariously impersonates Taylor Swift and jokes about how she "fits in" to Taylor Swift's notorious girl squad. The skit also had some references from various music videos, which earned great laughs from the audience.

Lastly, in the episode's final sketch, the cast took on a parody of the reality show "The Hills" named "The Real Housewives of Disney." The sketch presented a backstory common to most Disney princesses, including Cinderella, Belle, and The Little Mermaid. The twist was the skit showed how the princesses are leading more complex lives than the audience saw in their respective movies. The skit features Blake Lively as Cinderella and Kristen Wiig playing the Little Mermaid.

Overall, the twenty-second episode of the thirty-fifth season of SNL was well-received by its audience, offering a wide range of laughs and showcasing both Blake Lively and Rihanna's incredible talents. The episode's sketches and musical performances were entertaining and had the audience laughing throughout. It was a memorable evening for fans of the show.