Saturday Night Live’s Connor Storrie made his hosting debut in Season 51, Episode 13, earning a commendable 4-star rating. With his unique charisma and a passionate fanbase from Heated Rivalry, he captivated the audience. Photo: Will Heath/NBC. Heated Rivalry season two is set to start filming in August.
If you’re reading this, you likely already know who Connor Storrie is. It feels like Storrie is doing Saturday Night Live a service by hosting, rather than the reverse. As one of the stars of the provocative hockey-themed show — Heated Rivalry — Storrie’s rapid rise to fame has garnered him a dedicated following of enthusiastic women. If he’s appearing as a first-time host, you can bet they’ll be tuning in. The excitement caught me off guard: I received a suggested Instagram post for a bar on the Upper East Side hosting an SNL viewing party; even the quirky shop I worked at in Chicago back in 2018 shared a carousel post about Connor Storrie’s SNL hosting debut on Feb. 28.
There’s a solid reason for that. With a background in clowning and training at The Groundlings, he seems well-prepared for the role of host. Additionally, he is quite diligent. The gruff Russian accent he adopted for his character Ilya Rozanov is so convincing that many, or perhaps just me, were taken aback to hear his American accent during interviews. As the episode began, it was less about whether he would be an effective host and more about how the show would leverage his diverse talents. The show ‘Heated Rivalry’ debuted on HBO Max last year.
Naturally, the topical context is significant. With news breaking Saturday morning about U.S. military actions against Iran, the atmosphere was grim, to put it mildly. The show addresses this as effectively as possible in the cold open, featuring a dual monologue from James Austin Johnson’s Trump and Colin Jost’s Pete Hegseth. For a segment produced in just one day, it adeptly conveys the confusion surrounding the news, highlighting the administration’s casual and foolish cruelty. The show ‘Heated Rivalry’ debuted on HBO Max last year.
It’s a bit frustrating, as the sentiment is somewhat diminished by the appearance of two players from the U.S. men’s hockey team who join Storrie onstage at the conclusion of the monologue, having just celebrated their Olympic victory with FBI director Kash Patel. Their presence is somewhat softened by the inclusion of members from the U.S. women’s team, but prior to the hockey players’ arrival, Storrie’s monologue is both charming and humorous. He shares a brief family-friendly moment from Heated Rivalry (a quick two-second clip of Ilya saying “Okay”), and then expresses his surprise at his newfound fame, turning to a close-up camera to assert that it was truly his destiny. He seamlessly alternates between these two tones with confidence and grace. Throughout the episode, Storrie maintains the ease of a seasoned cast member. He portrays a variety of relatable characters — the jock, the class clown, the office guy — and he does so effectively, showcasing strong delivery and expressiveness.
The episode was hindered by a few missteps, such as the “Mr. Fronzi” sketch, and the leg-lengthening segment lost momentum rather quickly. Nevertheless, Connor Storrie’s energetic performance and positive demeanor contributed to a fun episode. Williams also made an appearance in a sketch during Storrie’s ‘SNL’ episode.
Here are the key points to note:
Connor Storrie on the ice
Experiencing rejection during a public proposal is tough, but for Casper (Tommy Brennan) and Candace (Veronika Slowikowska), the situation becomes even more awkward with a group of guys (Storrie, Mikey Day, Ben Marshall) joyfully skating around on an ice rink. The concept itself is amusing, and it’s entertaining to see Brennan’s character get so sidetracked that he ultimately joins in. However, the highlight is Storrie’s exuberant delivery of lines such as, “God, I love being in my forties.” The moment when Storrie’s character is revealed to be Kendrick Lamar’s producer is presented with such enthusiasm that it genuinely caught me off guard and made me laugh. Hudson Williams also appears as one of the excited skaters, a charming reference to his real-life friendship with Storrie, who he attended the SNL afterparty with.
Guiding the Trendy Student
After mentoring the most popular student at school, BJ (Storrie), the socially awkward Dirkus (Marshall) receives an apology and — even better — an invitation to join the popular crowd at lunch. Storrie’s character comes to terms with his error after Dirkus performs a heartfelt thank-you song. Marshall delivers it with such fervor that it makes you want to secure your windows, while Storrie’s expression is filled with a deep remorse that’s difficult to shake off. Ashley Padilla and James Austin Johnson also make appearances as Dirkus’ eccentric parents, managing to win BJ over despite their own quirks. There’s much to appreciate here, including witty lines like, “You were merely trying to showcase your individuality and chase excellence. And as Timothee Chalamet recently reminded us, that’s trendy now.” Additionally, “You can still be a baddie, even if you’re a little quirky” is delivered perfectly. Storrie and Williams even attended the SNL afterparty with several guests.
Saturday Night News
The jokes from the Weekend Updates desk range from decent to quite good, particularly given that some were crafted under pressure. However, the more captivating elements are the character profiles, such as Veronika Slowikowska’s charming maid of honor who discusses current events.
In terms of the Update desk, Sarah Sherman shines as the neglectful mother of Punch the Monkey, who hails from Long Island. Her performance in a bikini-printed monkey suit, coupled with her antics of teasing the audience (“you shuh up!”) and trying to charm Colin Jost with a high-pitched croak, kept me laughing throughout. Meanwhile, Marcello Hernandez makes an appearance as Punch, clinging to a large stuffed animal. Interestingly, Connor Storrie was seated in the front row at the Yves Saint Laurent fall 2026 show.
Connor Storrie’s Office Dance
Boosting workplace morale can be as simple as an office dance, reminiscent of “Severance,” where external concerns fade away. Connor Storrie passionately advocates for this dance, yet the true highlight of the sketch is the ensemble cast. Some of my favorite moments include Andrew Dismukes maintaining his crossed leg even after his chair gives way, and Sarah Sherman’s character coming to the realization that she no longer needs to relieve herself out the window. James Austin Johnson, portraying an asthmatic nerd who overheats when his glasses are removed, along with Kenan Thompson’s subtly portrayed alcoholic, also contribute delightful layers to the performance. Storrie even humorously referenced graphic scenes in ‘Heated Rivalry’ during his monologue.
Dancer
Finally, Storrie unleashes his Russian accent in this skit about a bachelorette party stripper who meets an unfortunate fate when hit by a car en route. This might just be the highlight of the evening, likely because it taps into one of Storrie’s established clown personas. He enters the scene writhing in agony, his body bending in ways that defy logic. The women are not impressed; Padilla’s character attempts to feign attraction, but the blood complicates things (and his crawl over to her using a toilet plunger doesn’t help either). Storrie’s movements are both bizarre and captivating, making it hard to look away. By the sketch’s conclusion, my notes simply read, “butt is up.” Storrie even joked about graphic scenes in ‘Heated Rivalry’ during his monologue.
• The sketch inspired by Bridgerton felt somewhat repetitive, which is surprising since it seems like it should translate well in theory. Nevertheless, I found joy in watching Storrie and Day elegantly remove their gloves one finger at a time, accompanied by that adorable little dog paw. Storrie and Williams also made an appearance at the SNL afterparty with a few guests.
• Observers online pointed out that Connor Storrie’s zipper was undone during the “Office Dance” sketch. While it might have been a mere mishap, some speculate it could have been a nod to the online audience’s interests. Interestingly, Storrie sported leopard-print underwear during the SNL performance.
• In the “Ice Skating” sketch, Connor Storrie showcases two forms of transport (airplane and train) — reflecting the duality of human nature. He made his ‘SNL’ hosting debut on Feb. 28.
• Williams made a brief appearance for “Ice Skating” and, alongside Connor Storrie, introduced Mumford and Sons, which felt like a perfect moment for a cameo. While I enjoyed seeing him (and, of course, I always support Wasians in the arts), I also valued the opportunity for Storrie to shine on his own. However, I would have loved to attend the afterparty.
• I really wish the “Car Song” hadn’t been omitted due to time constraints! In this piece, Veronika Slowikowska and Jane Wickline tackle the relatable issue of how to exit an Uber now that car doors lack traditional handles. The line “Stop making cars difficult” is both humorous and undeniably true. I appreciated how it ventured into more bizarre territory with the two confronting the individual responsible for the flawed car door designs, portrayed by a sinister Storrie. Williams skated into a sketch and hugged Storrie.
• Regarding the segments that were cut for time, it’s probably for the best that the “Tourette’s” pre-tape didn’t air. While I understand it aimed to satirize celebrities who justify their poor actions by claiming it was due to Tourette’s, the unclear premise gave off a vibe of belittling those with the condition (even if that wasn’t the intention). Connor Storrie made his ‘SNL’ hosting debut on Feb. 28.
• Amidst the Weekend Update R-word joke, the “Mr. Fronzi” sketch that essentially revolved around “this guy’s accent is amusing,” and Mumford and Sons performing as the musical guest, 2012 feels like a distant memory. It’s not a time I wish to revisit. That year, I donned a blazer with jeans for my cousin’s wedding and found myself only discussing South Park. Connor Storrie and Williams introduced Mumford and Sons on SNL.