'SNL' RECAP: Anna Kendrick and Her International Nasty Girls Are All About 'Dongs of the World'

Welcome to Edition No. 38 of Popculturology's Saturday Night Live recaps. All of your questions about the Anna Kendrick-hosted episode will soon be answered.

How'd Anna Kendrick do?

Some of the best SNL hosts are the ones who surprise us. Kendrick was that kind of host. Sure, we know that she can deliver Oscar-worthy acting thanks to Up in the Air and sing thanks to Pitch Perfect, but before this weekend, we had no idea if she could hold up on the SNL stage. Kendrick not only held up but she turned in one of the best hosting performances of Season 39.

SNL didn't mess around when it came to putting Kendrick's singing talents to work. The actress' monologue was sung to the tune of Beauty and the Beast's "Belle." The show also had Kendrick do some singing as The Little Mermaid's Ariel, rap in "Dongs All Over the World" and show off her chops for Pharrell. Unfortunately, most of these musical sketches didn't get posted online due to musical rights.

What were the best sketches of the night?



This is the sketch from Kendrick's episode that everyone is talking about. SNL's very talented female cast had a hit with "(Do It On My) Twin Bed" back when Jimmy Fallon hosted, and they did it again with "Dongs All Over the World." I'm not sure if it's Kendrick's rapping, but "Dongs All Over the World" feels more like a Digital Short than anything SNL has done since Andy Samberg and The Lonely Island left the show.

Kendrick also did some singing during a sketch featuring her dressed up as The Little Mermaid's Ariel. With Aidy Bryant playing Ursuala, Kendrick's Ariel sang in the style of Kesha, Britney Spears and Selena Gomez. I wish SNL had posted this one online so you could hear Kendrick say, "Um, you're being kind of a bitch."



I love the "Les Jeunes de Paries" sketches. This recurring sketch was one of the first things Taran Killam did back when he joined SNL, and since then he's performed it with stars like Emma Stone, Miley Cyrus and now Kendrick. There was no a cappella sing during Kendrick's episode, but she did get a quick bit of "Cups" in during this sketch.

This sketch was the only thing Nasim Pedrad did during the episode. You're wasting her, SNL.



The Booker T. Washington High sketches are always an exercise in absurdity, and the latest installment played right along. Kendrick stole this sketch, playing a worker at the Norfolk Zoo who had to announce the winner of a name-the-elephant contest (Ashy Larry) and try to get kids to answer questions about an iguana ("Bitch, you tell me" and "Tig old bitties").



Are the current Congressional hearings over GM CEO Mary Barra a thing people are talking about right now? SNL seemed to think so, leading the show with a political sketch about the hearings. It shouldn't be shocking, but Kate McKinnon delivered yet another amazing impression.



Speaking of McKinnon impressions, she portrayed German Chancellor Angela Merkel again during "Weekend Update." This was her Merkel's first time interacting with Colin Jost, and while she doesn't quite have the chemistry she had with Seth Meyers yet, McKinnon's Merkel did offer Jost some boob touches.

How about any shorts or commercials?



While "Dongs All Over the World" took the prize for best short, Kyle Mooney continued to get offbeat sketches on the air. During this one, Mooney and Vanessa Bayer played a couple who nervously tried to ask each other out, but instead could only talk about poop in their underwear. Beck Bennett continued to fulfill the role of "New SNL Jason Sudeikis," filling the role of "handsome guy who gets the girl" in this sketch.

How was Weekend Update?



Nobody thought to properly glue Bobby Moynihan's beard to his face for his appearance as Game of Thrones author George RR Martin on "Weekend Update"?



If Brooks Wheelan is on SNL after this season, I'll be shocked. When the only role the show gives you is playing yourself during "Weekend Update," you should probably start brushing up your LinkedIn profile.

Anything else worth mentioning?



These "Fox and Friends" segments are always great for being just close enough to reality to be super uncomfortable.



Ever since Killam was on How I Met Your Mother again this past season, I keep thinking of him as that guy, which made seeing him in lifts and a padded muscle suit even weirder.

What's next?

SNL is back on April 12 with Seth Rogen hosting and Ed Sheeran as the musical guest..

Previous Saturday Night Live recaps

April 6, 2014: Louis CK
March 8, 2014: Lena Dunham
March 1, 2014: Jim Parsons
Feb. 1, 2014: Melissa McCarthy
Jan. 26, 2014: Jonah Hill
Jan. 18, 2014: Drake
Dec. 21, 2013: Jimmy Fallon
Dec. 15, 2013: John Goodman
Dec. 8, 2013: Paul Rudd
Nov. 24, 2013: Josh Hutcherson
Nov. 17, 2013: Lady Gaga
Nov. 3, 2013: Kerry Washington
Oct. 27, 2013: Edward Norton
Oct. 13, 2013: Bruce Willis
Oct. 6, 2013: Miley Cyrus
Sept. 29, 2013: Tina Fey