In general I liked last night’s episode more than the previous one. Even in “normal” times SNL can vary, so I’m not sure its because they are getting better at it or just random chance.
Last time I found the laugh track during Weekend Update disconcerting. This time was without one which I also found disconcerting (and I thought there were funny bits both times)
Brian
Last night’s episode had alot of good laughs. The Brad Pitt opening was great!
Also liked:
The Porn hub “at home” sketch
The Paul Rudd cousin video
Kate McKinnon’s cat sketch was hysterical. “This cat is into BDSM…bitin’ dem silly mice!”
Kate McKinnon looked like she had a bad cold. At least, I hope it’s a cold.
Was that the only sketch Kate was in? I hope she’s OK. This was definitely more polished than the last episode. Weekend Update is better without the weird laugh track. I think this format is it for the rest of the season. Maybe the lockdown restrictions loosen enough to do a show in studio without an audience, but I wouldn’t count on it.
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During the intro credits showing the cast at home, I was surprised to see a small child with Mikey Day; I assumed he was very young. So I looked him up. He’s forty and has one child. And some of the sketches, like Kate McKinnon’s with her cat, involved wigs. So I assume someone on the technical crew sent them out, along with a few props.
I thought this as well. Also, the video quality was much better, so perhaps they got actual tech as well.
Did anyone notice the odd art diptych behind Aidy Bryant’s couch?
Ha! I had the exact same thought about Day and did the same thing! 
She was also in the grocery store sketch with Aidy (possibly inspired by the SDMB thread “Foods that nobody buys, even in a pandemic”?)
Bill Hader’s Lindsey Buckingham was in full makeup, so that was definitely old footage.
I don’t think it was even footage, but just a still photo.
You noticed he was in full makeup, but missed the part where he was a still photo that was only shown in an, “opening credits” context?
I was entertained. Also impressed with Miley Cyrus’ “Wish you were here”. Never paid much attention to her, but that was an excellent combo of talent and craft. I thought Airbnb and pornhub were very funny, and “what’s up with that” every bit as good as any “true” live bit. I’m glad they’re doing this.
Was Miley Cyrus actually singing in real time during the show? The smoke from the fire obscured her at times. It’s hard to believe that would be true if it was prerecorded.
I don’t think anything was actually live. It was all prerecorded.
So there was no attempt to do a second take on the song despite the smoke obscuring her?
I agree with your baseball ratings, and also with everyone who said it was better overall than last time. Colin Jost did seems a bit off, but I’m sure it’s hard to do that without an audience.
Speaking of him, bidding on the “write a joke for Michael Che” charity is up to $55,000! That’s a little nuts.
ETA: though looking at it, there’s a lot that goes with it, for example attending the show and the cast party. Access Denied
Why? They probably just thought, “Hey, that’s a cool effect.”
I did. It was hypnotically distracting. Like was there more to it? Or was it just animals? They reminded me of the oh-so-funny-at-the-time shirts and posters that were super popular in the early-mid90s with sex positions but in an “edgy” way. Beer bottles. Vegetables. You know how that era was.
One was animals, one was people. Same artist, I assume.
I watched the episode over again, because. . . you know. . .all this time. . . and I saw that the smoke that obscured her does not seem to be coming from the fire, but from the opposite side of the fire from her. A smoke machine, I guess, so it was likely an intentional effect. She was singing a Pink Floyd song by a campfire at night. Artistic tendencies were likely heightened.