The world of comedy has seen a new star rise with Quinta Brunson's second appearance on "Saturday Night Live. "  She has proven that her first time was no fluke.  Brunson's comedic timing and character work shone brightly in her second hosting gig, showcasing an impressive lineup of new sketches.  There was only one repeat, but it was worth the revisit.  It's interesting to note how different comedians handle their second time around.  Some, like Nate Bargatze, didn't quite match their first performance.  Others, like Shane Gillis, had a much weaker second outing.  But Brunson?  She didn't miss a beat.  She brought laughter with her portrayal of a time-traveling Harriet Tubman who wasn't keen on going back to the past.  She also went wild as a bad employee at a leadership summit and played a model in an ad for oversized clothing.  In "Two Bitches vs. a Gorilla, " she faced off against a gorilla at the zoo.  She also played a joke-telling old-time boxer and one half of a surprisingly sexy "OnlySeniors" couple in an insurance ad.

    Brunson's performance was so strong that she even sang in the monologue.  She should definitely be invited back next season.  The musical guest, Benson Boone, did a backflip before performing "Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else" and skipped the backflip for "Mystical Magical. "  He also made a brief appearance on "Weekend Update" as an Applebee’s waiter, referencing his hit song "Beautiful Things, " which he didn’t perform.

    President Trump has been a recurring character in the "SNL" cold open.  James Austin Johnson played the role of the hard-charging POTUS, delivering a string of executive orders with Stephen Miller, played by Mikey Day.  Trump signed orders to deport "Sesame Street, " pardon J. K. Rowling, and bring back Columbus Day.  Marco Rubio also made an appearance for an order to keep Latino babies from getting their ears pierced.

    Brunson's monologue started with jokes about her time working for a phone sex line.  She then moved on to her song and dance number about her height.  The 4-foot-11 actress sang about the perks of being small, like being a cheap date.  She was joined by pop singer Sabrina Carpenter and former NBA star Dwyane Wade, who insisted he’s still short compared with other basketball players at 6-foot-4.  "I just really want to be in the song, " he said.

    The best sketch of the night was "OnlySeniors. "  Brunson and Kenan Thompson played elderly parents whose kids found out they’ve got life insurance through a service that requires them to have sex and spend a lot of time naked for online fans.  "We set up our camera and do stuff to each other. And watch the money just start pouring in, " they’re told.  When they’re not interacting with their "Filthy little chat babies, " they’re spending time with their also-naked neighbors and sitting on cakes.  In these uncertain economic times, it’s a business model that seems very viable.

    Another standout sketch was the traffic altercation.  Mikey Day and Brunson faced off in separate cars, battling with a series of hand gestures and facial expressions over bad parking on a ferry.  Day’s character can’t forgive the other driver for parking too close, which invites a devastating response from the woman in the other car.  Day’s daughter Quinn participates with over-the-line sexual gestures, prompting Brunson’s character to make gestures for a gardening tool as she tells him whom he raised.  Sure, it’s a repeat, but again it’s executed perfectly on both ends, with the only disappointing note being an appearance by Colin Jost, who’s trying to sell the real-life ferry he bought with Pete Davidson.  It’s not that Jost is bad, it’s just that it couldn’t possibly live up to Melissa McCarthy’s appearance when they did a version of this sketch with Martin Short.

Quinta Brunson's Second SNL Outing: A Comedy Powerhouse

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