Ep 10. Amy Adams/One Direction

In season 40 episode 10 of Saturday Night Live, actress Amy Adams takes the reins as the host. Known for her work in films such as Enchanted and Arrival, Adams brings her charm and wit to the iconic sketch comedy show. Joining her as musical guest is the popular boy band One Direction.

The episode kicks off with a holiday-themed cold open, featuring the SNL cast dressed up as characters from classic Christmas movies. This leads into Adams' monologue, which sees her poking fun at her image as a serious actress and her inability to distinguish between musical genres.

The first sketch of the night features Adams as a contestant on a fictional game show called "What's Wrong with Tanya?", in which she must guess what's wrong with a co-worker played by Kate McKinnon. The sketch is full of comically absurd ailments, with Adams ultimately guessing correctly that Tanya's problem is that she's recently broke up with her boyfriend.

Another highlight of the episode is a parody of The Office, with Adams playing the character of Pam Beesly. The sketch sees the cast of SNL playing the characters of The Office, but with exaggerated and ridiculous personalities, such as a Dwight who constantly drinks coffee and a Creed who is an actual vampire. The sketch ends with a hilarious dance party, in which the cast let loose and have fun in classic SNL-style.

One Direction's performances are interspersed throughout the episode, with the band performing hits such as "Night Changes" and "Ready to Run". In one sketch, the band plays a group of employees at a mall who break out into song to relieve the stress of the holiday rush.

The episode also features a political sketch, with Taran Killam reprising his role as Senator Ted Cruz. The sketch sees Cruz struggling to connect with voters, until a puppet version of him takes the stage and wows the audience with its charming personality and dance moves.

Overall, the episode is a classic example of SNL's ability to blend comedy, music, and political satire into one entertaining package. Adams' hosting skills and the addition of One Direction make for a memorable night of sketch comedy.