Recap: Teyana Taylor’s SNL Was So Intense Even Her Bald Cap Couldn’t Survive
- Je-Ree
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Teyana Taylor didn’t just walk onto the Studio 8H stage last night; she essentially vogued her way into the history books. Hosting the January 24, 2026, episode of Saturday Night Live, Taylor proved that her recent Oscar nomination for Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another wasn't a fluke. Between her effortless comedic timing and the sheer athleticism of her sketches, Taylor reminded everyone why she’s frequently the most overqualified person in the room. However, even with an Oscar nominee at the helm, the writers didn't always stick the landing.
The Monologue: From Sweet 16 to the Academy
Taylor kicked off the night by addressing the elephant in the room: she found out about her Academy Award nomination while a production assistant was gluing a bald cap to her head. It was a classic Teyana moment, raw, funny and slightly chaotic. She poked fun at her children, who were spotted in the front row ignoring her monologue in favor of their phones, mirroring their viral behavior at the Golden Globes. It set the tone for a night that leaned heavily into Taylor’s ability to be both a prestige actress and a total goofball.
The Highs: Dancing Through the Glue
The undisputed highlight was "Grandpa Jackson," where Taylor donned full prosthetic makeup to play an 80-year-old man who can’t stop dancing to Earth, Wind & Fire. Mid-way through a high-octane shuffle, her bald cap began to peel back like a banana skin. In a display of true professional grit, Taylor didn’t flinch, incorporating the flapping latex into her choreography.
The biting social commentary of "Beyond the Headlines" also stood out. Taylor and Kenan Thompson played news anchors who responded to their white colleagues’ "shock" at systemic issues with a series of rhythmic, non-verbal murmurs that communicated more than a 1,000-word op-ed ever could.
The Lows: When the Writing Faltered
Not everything was a home run. The "NFL on ESPN" sketch which featured Troy Aikman and Joe Buck obsessively promoting a fictional Hulu show about queer chefs called Quefs felt like a "one-joke" premise that overstayed its welcome by three minutes. Taylor was relegated to a sidelined reporter role with very little to do, wasting her high-energy presence.
Similarly, the "Shrimp & Grits" musical sketch started strong but devolved into a messy shouting match between Kenan Thompson and the backup dancers. While Taylor’s vocals were, as always, flawless, the comedic timing felt clunky, leaving the audience with more of a "polite chuckle" than a belly laugh.
Final Verdict
Teyana Taylor’s SNL gig was a high-energy victory lap that proved she has the range to handle live TV. She brought a level of physical commitment, even when the material didn't quite match her talent. Whether she was selling "highly inappropriate" action figures in a parody commercial or matching the indie-rock intensity of musical guest Geese, Taylor owned the room.
What did you think of Teyana’s hosting chops? Did the bald cap mishap make the sketch better, or was the writing too uneven for your taste? Sound off in the comments below!
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