Ep 8. Lucy Liu/Jay-Z

The 26th season of Saturday Night Live was, as always, full of memorable moments and hilarious sketches. Episode 8, titled "Lucy Liu/Jay-Z," was no exception. The show featured the talented actress Lucy Liu as the host and rap icon Jay-Z as the musical guest.

The show kicked off with a cold open sketch featuring Will Ferrell as George W. Bush, delivering a Thanksgiving speech from the Oval Office. As always, Ferrell's portrayal of the former president was spot-on, and the sketch was full of topical humor and witty one-liners.

Following the cold open, Liu delivered a monologue that was both charming and funny. She talked about her experiences growing up as an Asian-American and how she struggled to find her place in the entertainment industry. The monologue was a great showcase for Liu's comedic skills, and it set the tone for the rest of the show.

One of the standout sketches of the night was "Jingleheimer Junction," a parody of the children's TV show "Thomas and Friends." In the sketch, Liu played the role of a train conductor who is constantly being interrupted by a group of bizarre characters. The sketch was full of absurdist humor and memorable one-liners, and Liu was absolutely hilarious in her role.

Another highlight of the show was the "Weekend Update" segment, which featured the always-entertaining duo of Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey. The segment included a number of topical jokes and satirical takes on current events, as well as a number of funny sketches and segments.

One of the most memorable sketches of the night was "The Love-ahs," a recurring sketch that features Fallon and Rachel Dratch as a couple who are overly affectionate with each other in public. In this particular sketch, Liu played the role of a woman who unwittingly gets caught up in the Love-ahs' antics. The sketch was full of physical comedy and absurd humor, and Liu was a great addition to the cast.

The musical guest of the night was Jay-Z, who delivered a high-energy performance that had the entire studio on its feet. Jay-Z performed a number of his hits, including "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and "Girls, Girls, Girls," and he was joined on stage by a number of surprise guests, including Beyonce and Nas.

Overall, "Lucy Liu/Jay-Z" was a great episode of Saturday Night Live that showcased the talents of its host, musical guest, and cast. The sketches were all funny and well-written, and the performances were top-notch. It's an episode that's definitely worth revisiting, whether you're a longtime SNL fan or a newcomer to the show.