“Saturday Night Live” paid tribute to Ukraine in its cold open by featuring a folk chorus singing a traditional anthem from the embattled Eastern European nation while a cluster of candles spelled out “Kyiv.”
The 13th episode of the late-night mainstay’s 47th season opened with stars Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong introducing members of Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York. A group of male and female singers, wearing intricately embroidered traditional outfits, sang the rousing choral selection “Prayer for Ukraine,” reflecting the resilient spirit of the nation that has been under attack from Russian on multiple fronts since earlier this week.
The somber setting on the “SNL” stage featured a cluster of candles and bouquets of yellow flowers, evoking Ukraine’s national colors of yellow and blue. After the song ended, McKinnon and Strong returned to deliver the opening “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night,” while the camera zoomed in on a cluster of candles that spelled out “Kyiv,” the Ukrainian capital.
“Prayer for Ukraine” performed by Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York pic.twitter/5pi2l1Olpx
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) February 27, 2022
Tonight’s episode is hosted by “SNL” alumnus John Mulaney, who joins the famed “five-timers” club of hosts who have fronted the show five times or more. That list includes Steve Martin, Drew Barrymore, Tina Fey, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Scarlett Johansson and Melissa McCarthy.
Mulaney, a two-time Emmy winner (including one for his work on “SNL”) and a much-praised multi-hyphenate, wasted no time in his opening monologue addressing his public battles with addiction and his time in rehab in late 2020 and early 2021. He started by noting “SNL’s” reputation as a home for hard-partying actors, writers and other creatives, saying it was comforting to be in an environment “that has always emphasized sobriety and mental health.”
Before Mulaney, actor Paul Rudd was the latest to join the five-timers bunch on Dec. 18, when he hosted an “SNL” installment with no studio audience because of the omicron variant COVID surge that hit New York hard late last year.
Tonight’s musical guest is LCD Soundsystem. It’s the first new “SNL” installment since Jan. 29 with Willem Dafoe as host and Katy Perry as musical guest.
