There’s no telling how many languages exist throughout theStar Warsgalaxy, though I’m sure someone in the comments or mentions will have an exact number at the ready. Regardless, one of the myriad leaps of faith that are asked of theStar Warsaudience is to believe that seemingly everyone understands every language in the universe. I vaguely remember exceptions to this rule or even an unconvincing explanation being doled out but its still high on the Nitpickers Guide to the Star Wars Canon. And thus, the writers over atSNLfound a way to turn that into a sketch. Well, a cut sketch anyway.
One of the sketches that landed on the cutting room floor from last night’s SNL, which featuredCharles Barkleyas host, was a fake clip from an unannounced third one-offStar Warsmovie in the mold ofSolotitledThe Mos Eisley Five, complete with an intro from J.J. Abrams. The clip essentially parodies the meeting between Han Solo and Jabba the Hutt and expands it, pairing the Solo character (Mikey Day) withKate McKinnon’s Rey stand-in and Barkley’s conflation of Obi Wan Kenobi and Saw Gerrera. The hook is that Barkley’s character, unlike everyone else, can’t understand a word of what anyone says that isn’t English, which is at once a rote joke concept and a useful cliche in this particular setting.
It’s far more funny to watchKenan Thompsonpull off a pretty funny Hutt variation called Goba, which looks a lot more like the smoking caterpillar fromAlice in Wonderlandthan it does Solo’s worm-like boss. One almost wishes they’d put more focus on the cheapness of the parody, such as the small puppet that plays Goba’s pet or the ludicrously incorrect Chewbacca mask that they utilize, just to underline how much money usually goes into the Star Wars films. Still, there have certainly been less-inspired Star Wars sketch that have made it onto air forSNL, so take your blessings where you can get them. You can watch the sketch right below.
Here’s the ‘Mos Eisley Five’ sketch:
