SNL101

In this episode, we discuss Jack Black’s fifth time hosting on April 4, 2026, which also featured five-time musical guest Jack White. The episode was fun and energetic — if not particularly deep — with standout moments including the NCAA Post Game Show Code Open f/ Charles Barkley, the Five-Timers Monologue, and Husbands. We unpack Kathy, which features Ashly Padilla as an awkward coworker desperately inserting herself into office conversations, to explore themes of social exclusion, belonging, and the psychology of prying. Readings include philosophical ethics, psychological research on ostracism, and critically acclaimed films.

Readings

Allen, A. L. (2008). The virtuous spy: privacy as an ethical limit. The Monist, 91(1), 3-22. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27904063 

Eisenberger, N. I., Lieberman, M. D., & Williams, K. D. (2003). Does rejection hurt? An fMRI study of social exclusion. Science, 302(5643), 290-292. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1089134 

Levitin, D. J., & Cook, P. R. (1996). Memory for musical tempo: Additional evidence that auditory memory is absolute. Perception & Psychophysics , 58 (6), 927–935. https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/bf03205494 

Williams, K. D. (2007). Ostracism. Annu. Rev. Psychol., 58(1), 425-452. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085641 

Resources

Jenkins, B. (Director). (2016). Moonlight [Film]. A24; Plan B Entertainment; Pastel Productions.

Showalter, M. (Director). (2015). Hello, my name is Doris [Film]. Sailor Bear; Cold Iron Pictures.