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 garnered a passionate fanbase from Heated Rivalry during his debut as host. Photo: Will Heath/NBC
If you’re reading this, you likely already know who Connor Storrie is. It feels like Storrie is doing Saturday Night Live a favor by hosting, rather than the other way around. As a prominent figure in the world of gay hockey-themed entertainment — I mean, show — Heated Rivalry, Storrie’s rapid rise to fame has garnered him a dedicated following of enthusiastic women. If he’s making his debut as a host, you can bet they’ll be tuning in. The excitement caught me off guard: I received a suggested Instagram post for a bar on the Upper East Side hosting an SNL viewing party; even the quirky store I worked at in Chicago back in 2018 shared a carousel post about Connor Storrie hosting SNL.
There’s a valid reason for that. His experience in clowning and training at The Groundlings seems like perfect preparation for a hosting role. Additionally, he’s quite the scholar. The rough, Russian accent he adopted for the 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 approached, it became 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 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 as possible in the cold open, featuring a dual monologue from James Austin Johnson’s Trump and Colin Jost’s Pete Hegseth. For a segment created in just one 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 inclusion of members from the U.S. women’s team, but prior to the hockey players’ arrival, Storrie’s monologue is both delightful 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 asserting that it was truly his destiny. He seamlessly alternates between these two styles with confidence and grace. Throughout the episode, Storrie maintains the relaxed demeanor of a cast member. He portrays a variety of relatable characters — the jock, the class clown, the office worker — 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 its momentum rather quickly. Nevertheless, Storrie’s energetic presence and positive demeanor contributed to a fun episode overall.
Here are the key points to note:
Figure Skating
Experiencing rejection during a public proposal is tough enough, but for Casper (Tommy Brennan) and Candace (Veronika Slowikowska), the situation 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 delightful reference to his real-life friendship with Storrie (and, naturally, a seemingly essential gesture to the lively studio audience).
Coaching the Trendy Child
After mentoring the trendiest student at school, BJ (Storrie), socially awkward Dirkus (Marshall) receives an apology and — even better — an invitation to join the popular crowd at lunchtime. Storrie’s cool character realizes his error after Dirkus performs a gratitude song. Marshall delivers it with such fervor that it makes you want to secure your windows, while Storrie’s character displays a level of remorse that’s difficult to overcome. 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, including amusing lines like, “You were simply trying to showcase your individuality and chase excellence. And as Timothee Chalamet recently demonstrated, that’s in vogue now.” Additionally, “You can still be a baddie, even if you’re a bit quirky” is delivered flawlessly.
Saturday Night Live Update
The jokes from the Weekend Updates desk range from decent to quite good, particularly given that some were crafted under pressure. However, the more captivating elements are the character profiles, such as Veronika Slowikowska’s charming maid of honor who discusses current events.
In terms of the Update desk, Sarah Sherman shines as Punch the Monkey’s inattentive (and possibly Long Island-bred?) mother, truly stealing the spotlight. The monkey suit adorned with a bikini, combined with Sherman oscillating between teasing the crowd (“you shuh up!”) and trying to allure Colin Jost with a high-pitched croak, kept me chuckling throughout. Marcello Hernandez makes an appearance as Punch, clinging to a massive stuffed toy and all.
Workplace Groove
Boosting company morale can be as simple as an office dance, reminiscent of “Severance,” where external concerns fade away. Storrie passionately advocates for this office dance, yet the true highlight of the sketch lies in the ensemble cast. Some of my favorite moments feature Andrew Dismukes holding 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 becomes flustered 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 bachelorette party stripper who gets struck by a car en route. It’s arguably the highlight of the evening, likely because it taps into one of Storrie’s established clown personas. He enters, writhing in agony, his limbs bending in impossible ways. The women are not impressed; Padilla’s character attempts to feel attracted, but the blood complicates things (and the fact that he drags himself over to her like a toilet plumber doesn’t help either). Storrie contorts his body in ways that defy explanation, and the physical comedy is both hilarious and hard to turn away from. By the end of the skit, my notes simply read, “butt is up.”
• The sketch inspired by Bridgerton felt somewhat repetitive, 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) — highlighting the dual nature of humanity.
• Williams made a brief appearance for “Ice Skating” and introduced Mumford and Sons alongside Storrie, which seemed perfect for a guest spot. While I enjoyed seeing him (and, naturally, I always back Wasians in the creative fields), 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. Their line, “Stop making cars difficult,” is both amusing and undeniably true. I appreciated how it took a turn into more bizarre territory with the two of them confronting the character responsible for the flawed car door designs, 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’s due to Tourette’s, but the unclear premise made it seem like it was somewhat belittling those with Tourette’s (even if that wasn’t the goal).
• Amidst the Weekend Update R-word joke, the “Mr. Fronzi” sketch that revolved around “this guy’s accent is amusing,” and Mumford and Sons performing as the musical guest … 2012 feels like a mindset. One that I have no desire to revisit. That year, I donned a blazer with jeans at my cousin’s wedding and could only discuss South Park.
