‘SNL’ Lampoons ‘Les Misérables’ in ‘Diner Lobster,’ and No One Can Keep It Together — Watch
There are some things you just don’t do in this world: wear a band’s t-shirt to their show, stand on the wrong side of the escalator, order lobster at a diner. To illustrate the importance of this last unwritten rule, “Saturday Night Live” enacted an elaborate “Les Misérables” spoof that saw host John Mulaney playing the role of an aghast waiter who can’t believe what one of his customers (Pete Davidson) has just done.
As in many of the best “SNL” skits, several of the players — including and especially Pete Davidson, who commits the original faux pas — laugh throughout. Watch below.
Upon being ordered, Kenan Thompson emerges as a very large lobster to perform an updated take on Jean Valjean’s “Who Am I?” from the musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel. “Who am I, and why am I condemned to boil alive when all that I have done is live my life?” he sings.
It’s at this point that Davidson cracks up, not even attempting to hide his uncontrollable amusement. The musical number gets grander and grander from there, eventually prompting Davidson to remark, “Wow, this diner has incredible set design.” What follows ranks among the most intricate “SNL” numbers ever produced.
Convinced by the display, Davidson finally relents and orders the veal instead. “All right everybody, let’s go kill that baby cow!” yells Mulaney.
Following the show, Mulaney revealed on Twitter that he and Colin Jost first wrote the skit eight years ago.
Colin Jost and I wrote Lobster Diner in 2010. Simon Rich, Marika Sawyer and I wrote Switcheroo in 2009. Neither went past the table. Both made it to air tonight. Thanks @nbcsnl for letting us bring back those beloved orphans.
— John Mulaney (@mulaney) April 15, 2018
