Oscar winner Charlize Theron hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time since 2000, but doesn't appear to have lost a step. She's not going to join the list of all-time great hosts, but did manage to defy expectations and prove that she's capable of being much looser and funnier than most of us probably anticipated (probably because she very rarely has ever acted in a comedy, though she's hosting now to promote Seth McFarlane's A Million Ways to Die in the West).

I was worried that every sketch would just be about trying to make a statuesque movie star appear homely, and the show proved me wrong by only doing that for two or three sketches. Better yet, Theron was actually given comedic roles to play and wasn't around just to back up a series of recurring characters played by the show's regular cast. This was only an ok episode, but strong enough going into next week's season finale hosted by former cast member Andy Samberg.

Sketch Highlights

• "Cold Open: Michelle/Hillary Address" As excited as I was to see new cast member Sasheer Zamata open the show (by playing the First Lady for the first time; I can't believe it's taken this long), I so wanted this cold open to be better. SNL has only one joke to make when it comes to Hillary Clinton, no matter who is playing her. I would love to have seen Vanessa Bayer's take differ from what Amy Poehler used to do, but no such luck. Also, what was with that long silence? There are silences that are long and awkward on purpose, and then there was what happened here.  (Watch the full "Michelle/Hillary Address" video)

• "Charlize Theron Monologue" After many seasons' worth of monologues built around having the host sing a song, here's one devoted to the fact that the host can't sing. The jokes weren't particularly funny (most were about how Theron is perfect in every other way, a fact not lost on most of the world even before SNL pointed it out), but Theron sold her bits and seemed to be having fun. Plus, I like it when the whole cast (or most of the cast as turned out to be the case) gets together. I still like the singing Les Mis monologue from last season's Anne Hathaway episode better, but this was fine. (Watch the full "Charlize Theron Monologue" video)
• "Mother's Day Game Show" Against my better judgment (I'm tired of SNL doing game shows and talk shows), I liked this sketch. Kate McKinnon -- who was all over the show this week -- was very funny and the jokes were good. The show is always solid with the "mom" jokes. Must be something about the writers. (Watch the "Mother's Day Game Show" video)
• "Girlfriends Talk Show" Just about any time there's a female host, "Girlfriends Talk Show" gets trotted out. I'm over the sketch, but even I have to admit this was one of the best installments. The joke got switched up a little -- it wasn't about Aidy Bryant being replaced by a new best friend as much as it was about her shy awkwardness -- and Charlize Theron got to be funny as a weirdo drama teacher (Watch the "Girlfriends Talk Show" video)
• "Dragon Babies" The show has been doing great work with their video pieces this year; often times, they're the highlight of any given episode. While Mike O'Brien and Cecily Strong's thick Chicago accents were funny enough (probably because I live in Chicago and live to see our rich culture reflected back comedically), I couldn't help but think about anything other than how expensive this sketch must have been. That sample animation cost more than some animated feature films. I like that SNL knows how to do things right -- it always helps sell the joke -- but sometimes the money is more on the screen than it is on the page. (Watch the "Dragon Babies" video)
• "Heshy: Dating Seminar" Nasim Pedrad's character gets a second chance despite not being funny the first time, receiving an assist from host Charlize Theron in one of several sketches this week that tried to turn a very pretty actress into a frumpy dork. I liked their choreography, but not much else. (Watch the "Heshy: Dating Seminar" video)
• "Bikini Beach Party" As a fan of the Frankie/Annette Beach Party movies of the 1960s, I wanted to love this sketch. It's really all a buildup to one big, bloody joke. When it comes, it's a pretty great joke. The rest wasn't anything special, but with a gag like that it almost doesn't need to be. My favorite part was that Charlize Theron still wore her costume and bloody face while introducing the Black Keys' second song. (Watch the "Bikini Beach Party" video)
• "Pet Rescue Commercial" I didn't love this sketch, since it mostly existed to make Charlize Theron seem frumpy and odd, but Kate McKinnon's run about the "feline sociopath" was some of my favorite stuff of the night. (Watch the "Pet Rescue Commercial" video)
• "Tourists" This week's "Kyle Mooney, Weirdo" slot was given over to a video piece in which most of the cast (and host Theron) play various immigrants interacting with real New Yorkers, Sacha Baron Cohen style. Kate McKinnon's line about "That's anarchy" was the best moment (Watch the "Tourists" video)

Original Air Date: 5/10/14

Host: Charlize Theron

Musical Guest: The Black Keys