“Brat” summer may have come to an end, but Saturday Night Live (SNL) brought it back to life during its season opener. In this episode, Bowen Yang channeled Charli XCX to host a fictional show called “The Talk Talk Show,” inspired by one of the British pop star’s song titles.
Towards the end of his performance, Yang introduced “Australian dingo twink Troye Sivan,” played by Sarah Sherman, who humorously lifted her shirt to reveal fake washboard abs. “Troye, are you happy to be here?” Yang asked, to which Sherman replied, “Naur!”
Yang then categorized recent events as either “brat or nat.” For example, Hunter Biden’s laptop was labeled “brat,” while Mark Robinson’s search history was deemed “nat.” Barron Trump attending NYU was considered “brat,” but NYU itself was classified as “nat.” Amy Adams’ role in Nightbitch was a “brat,” while Eric Adams’ indictment was a “nat.”
Next, Yang welcomed guests to The Talk Talk Show: queer nightlife icon Susanne Bartsch, played by host Jean Smart, and CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, portrayed by Chloe Fineman. Yang directed pointed political questions at Smart’s character while asking more personal inquiries, like “Have you ever done ketamine?” to Fineman.
The segment also featured U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Texas, played by Ego Nwodim. The congresswoman candidly shared her thoughts on various topics, including JD Vance and gerrymandering.
Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, Brat, was released on June 7 and quickly resonated with cultural and political themes. Its hyperpop tracks and vibrant visuals made it the soundtrack of the summer, inspiring TikTok dances and memes. The album even caught the attention of Kamala Harris’s campaign, which briefly adopted the “brat” label.
A week before her SNL appearance, Charli XCX performed at Madison Square Garden alongside Troye Sivan and special guests Lorde and Addison Rae. She is set to release a remix album for Brat on October 11.
SNL kicked off its 50th season on September 28 with Jean Smart as host and Jelly Roll as the musical guest. The iconic sketch series will celebrate its milestone with a live primetime special on February 16. Fans can catch the show on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET or stream it on Peacock.
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