Nick begins a series of shows devoted to Vanessa Bayer, one of the most consistently funny cast members Saturday Night Live ever had. He talks a bit about her real-life story, including surviving cancer as a kid, and how that strength and optimism seemed to carry into her work on the show.

He spends this hour revisiting Laura Parsons, the relentlessly upbeat child performer who somehow finds pure joy in acting out scenes from Brokeback Mountain and The Wolf of Wall Street. The joke never gets old because Bayer commits completely, smiling her way through material that no kid should be that excited about. Her Weekend Update bits are just as strong, especially when she’s reporting on wildly inappropriate topics with total innocence. Guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Scarlett Johansson add to the chaos, and Michael Che trying to keep things under control on Update makes it even better.

It’s a funny, affectionate look at one great character and a reminder of why Vanessa Bayer’s run on SNL was so special. [Ep 164]

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