‘Saturday Night Live’ re-watch: Check out Chris Pratt’s He-Man / Lion-O sketch again

Over the past couple of seasons, we’ve done a “Saturday Night Live” re-watch article every year to highlight some things that we’ve felt had some staying power on the show, and some that we feel should be left and buried.

We’re going to do something a little different for season 40: Rather than focusing on any of the sketches that stunk (since they are probably going to stink again), we’re focusing a little more on a quality sketch that deserves a little more attention. Tonight, the Chris Pratt-hosted premiere is airing, which is why we are focusing our attention here on the birthday sketch featuring live-action versions of He-Man and Lion-O.

The main reason this is a worth a re-watch, even if you don’t see tonight’s repeat, is because Taran Killam and Pratt kill it as action figures gone to life. Also, this is one of the rare times that Kyle Mooney has played a lead in a sketch that is not one of the awkward Good Neighbor bits that people either love or hate. Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong each put in some notable small appearances.

Ultimately, though, we have the same take on this sketch as we did back when we first saw it, and it’s almost that things started to fall apart a little when Ariana Grande shows up in her cameo. Her delivery was just a little slow, like she was trying too hard to make her cameo a big deal rather than being in the moment. Do we still think that it’s cool she did something a little offbeat in this, still? Definitely.

If you want to read some further news when it comes to “SNL” right now, be sure to take a look at some of the recommended changes for the rest of the season! Also, be sure to sign up to grab some further scoop on everything we cover, which will be sent right to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter.