It’s been some time since Saturday Night time Dwell has had a second fairly just like the second it’s having with Marcello Hernández’s Domingo — which is to say, it’s been some time since a brand new authentic character has turn into so standard that he’s escaped the confines of Studio 8H into the true world. But that’s what simply occurred final weekend, the place the return of Domingo within the Charli XCX-hosted episode of Saturday Night time Dwell was adopted up by Hernández showing as Domingo at Sabrina Carpenter’s live performance tour cease in Los Angeles.
In viral movies shared from Sunday’s live performance, the viewers could possibly be heard dropping its collective thoughts over Domingo’s look, particularly as he riffs on lyrics from Carpenter’s “Mattress Chem” by referring to himself because the man with “the blue jacket and thick accent.” (We already knew Domingo knew the lyrics to Carpenter’s “Espresso.”)
It’s not surprising that Carpenter followers can be aware of the character, although. The primary Domingo sketch, that includes a intentionally horrible riff on the pop star’s “Espresso,” is presently the most-viewed video on SNL’s TikTok account with over 100 million views, eclipsing the second hottest video — a behind-the-scenes second that includes Maya Rudolph and Vice-President Kamala Harris — by 55 million views. (And there are two different Domingo-related movies within the high 10.)
There’s a reasonably clear cause for why Domingo has turn into so standard — due to the primary sketch’s connection to an already zeitgeist-y music, it was tailored to seize the eye of the TikTok algorithm. But whereas the rationale for his viral unfold could be very particular to 2024, the arrival of a brand new fan-favorite SNL character is a proud custom going again a long time.
Breakout recurring characters have all the time been a foundational a part of the sketch comedy collection from the start: Within the Nineteen Seventies, the Coneheads and the Nerds confirmed up on the common; within the Nineteen Eighties, there was Mr. Robinson and Gumby and even just a few different characters not performed by Eddie Murphy; within the Nineteen Nineties, Wayne, Garth, Pat, and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer had been finally succeeded by the Girls’ Man, the Cheerleaders, and Mango.
Throughout these a long time, SNL was usually critiqued for relying an excessive amount of on recurring characters over contemporary comedian premises, however that’s not a grievance you hear an excessive amount of today. Maybe that’s as a result of like most long-running establishments, SNL modifications based mostly on its writing workers and forged, to not point out rising tendencies. And loud splashy characters like Domingo haven’t been a giant a part of the present’s comedic vibe for some time, because it as a substitute leans more durable on sport present parodies and absurdist pre-taped sketches spotlighting the forged as themselves.
These subgenres have been fruitful, from the thrill of “Black Jeopardy” to the behind-the-scenes antics of Please Don’t Destroy, however aren’t essentially constructed for breaking via on a mainstream degree. Domingo represents the primary authentic character to actually go viral for the reason that days of Stefon, the Goal Girl, Miss Rafferty the alien abductee, and even David S. Pumpkins.
It seems like we’re on the cusp of a change — although perhaps not the plain one. The Domingo sketches are notable for instantly touchdown on a format with a variety of clear construction: Kelsey (Chloe Fineman) and her hapless husband Matt (Andrew Dismukes) watching as “the Kels Squad” (Sarah Sherman, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, and the visitor host) performs a preferred new pop hit with “authentic” lyrics, which finally reveal that Kelsey has gotten very shut with the mysterious Domingo.
The truth that SNL introduced again Domingo for a second sketch after solely a month doesn’t simply converse to his reputation, however the distinctive alternative offered by Charli XCX internet hosting. A key a part of the bit appears to be the open slot for the fourth squad member, as thus far the dignity has gone to hosts who’re additionally pop stars — which implies that if the present declares that Olivia Rodrigo or Carpenter herself will likely be internet hosting within the not-too-distant future, it seems like even cash that Domingo will return. (Possibly the primary birthday celebration of Kelsey and Matt’s little one? There’s already a time bounce spanning months from “Bridesmaid Speech” to “Babymoon.”)
Even when SNL doesn’t discover a strategy to deliver Domingo again earlier than the tip of 2024, although, his on-line success marks a brand new area for the present to discover — pop music-driven comedy meant to straight attraction to TikTok. As an establishment, the present has all the time aimed to be in communication what its followers reply to; it’s why creator Lorne Michaels pushed for dwell studio audiences even through the top of the pandemic. Proper now, the viewers likes Domingo, so Domingo is right here to remain… Not less than till he wears out his welcome. And that could possibly be some time.