Even though Adele was merely the musical guest on last night’s Matthew McConaughey-hosted episode, there were plenty of fans who were hoping she would make an appearance in a sketch or two. They got their wish … sort of. In what initially seemed like a sketch about how potentially awful this year’s Thanksgiving family discussions will be — refugees! police violence! your great aunt’s thoughts on the “transgendered” trend! — the solution to all that family strife was simple: press play on Adele’s “Hello” and watch everybody transform into amber-toned, fur-coated, Xavier Dolan-directed chanteuses. This isn’t the first time that Saturday Night Live has explored catharsis through Adele songs. In an Emma Stone-hosted episode in 2011, office workers [had themselves a good cry] (http://www.downvids.net/adele-039-s-someone-like-you-skit-snl-s37e06-emma-stone-coldplay-336558.html) to “Someone Like You.” Also getting in on the Adele tip? George Takei. The outspoken and meme-friendly actor, who spent the week [battling back against refugee-related xenophobia] (http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/11/george-takei-perfect-response-mayor-syrian-refugees), appeared in an advertisement for his Broadway musical Allegiance. The ad was cut to appear like an SNL digital short, complete with canned laughter and applause at the end. And just like SNL, Takei turned to Adele for comedy.
The ad managed to fool quite a few people into thinking that it was a real-deal SNL sketch, so kudos to George Takei and the Allegiance team for the year’s best guerrilla advertising.
