Louis CK on ‘SNL’: ‘Black Jeopardy,’ ‘Dyke & Fats’ and Obamacare Spoof Snoozer (Video)

Comedian plays to his strengths; cold open on Obamacare falls flat

SNL Black Jeopardy
SNL/NBC

Louis CK has no problem playing up his strengths.

The second-time “Saturday Night Live” host drew big laughs with an eight-minute barrage of jokes on everything from God and heaven to domestic abuse and hunger during the show’s opening monologue.

“I don’t have third-world hunger. I have first-world hunger,” CK explained with signature drollness. “I would like a doughnut.”

See video: Louis CK, Kenan Thompson Head to 30 Rock Bathroom to Smoke Pot in ‘SNL’ Promos 

CK kept the laughs and the momentum going when he appeared in a brilliantly irreverent sketch called “Black Jeopardy.” The 46-year-old former Chris Rock collaborator is the king of playing culturally ignorant but well-intentioned characters. That’s exactly what he did as Mark, a professor of African-American history and the sole white contestant.

It was funny on a number of levels  (including the fact that the sketch had to utilize all three of “SNL’s” black cast members).  One of the best punch lines was Mark’s inability to get any of the answers right until he aced one from the category called “White People.”

See video: Meet Sasheer Zamata: New ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast Member Is Really, Really Funny 

Unfortunately for viewers, “Black Jeopardy” and CK’s monologue were the best parts of the show. There were a few sparks of comedic brilliance here and there — in a short called “Dyke & Fats” with cast members Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant as exploitation-era lady cops, another short mocking the cheapness of Jos A. Bank suits and a “Mr. Big Stuff” musical number. And “Weekend Update” made it abundantly clear that anchors Colin Jost and Cecily Strong have found their comedic groove.

See video: Lena Dunham Gets Naked – Again – for ‘Saturday Night Live’ 

But the night’s closer, featuring an eccentrically insane man trying to win back his ex-girlfriend, was very light on laughs. Even that bit was better than the CK-free cold open, which parodied Obamacare and the lengths the president will go to online to get people enrolled.

The opener was the biggest dud of the night despite always impressive impersonations of Obama, Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian from Jay Pharoah, McKinnon and Nasim Pedrad, respectively.

What did you think of  CK’s second time on “Saturday Night Live”? Tell us in the comments below.

Watch the videos:

Healthcare.gov Meeting Cold Open

Monologue

Black Jeopardy

Office Boss

Joseph A. Bank Suits

Sam Smith: “Stay With Me”

Weekend Update

Weekend Update: Stephen A. Smith

Mr. Big Stuff

Doctor Appointment

Private Eyes

“Dyke and Fats”

Sam Smith: “Lay Me Down”

Chris For President

Romantic Speech

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