'Saturday Night Live' Recap: Hosted by Kevin Hart with Musical Guest, Sia

This week's Saturday Night Live episode (1/17/2015) is hosted by actor/comedian Kevin Hart, and features a special musical performance from Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, Sia. All things considered, we're anticipating a bang-a-rang show.

MLK Cold Open:

This week's episode opened up with a Kenan Thompson as Michael Luther King Jr., who appears to help a student write a paper about his legacy.

The student knows he's (1) black, (2) a great leader, and (3) owns a bunch of boulevards "where the Wu-Tang Clan are from." "Guess we're still climbing that mountain," King said.

They also talked a bit about Martin Luther King Day, and how it's mostly just, you know, a day off of work. Also, Barack Obama is a black man who is also president, so that's new.

"Selma" came out this week as well, so that's a thing. "I guess that movie will be nominated for a lot of Oscars, right?" King said.

The skit was less funny and more of a commentary on black culture as it's seen today. "I'm a white kid, probably," the student said, "And all of my heroes are black.

Though they're mostly rappers and NBA players." The skit also came with a nod to the modern influence of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., so in conclusion, the top of the mountain is a long way away.

Laugh Level: This was mildly amusing.

Opening Monologue with Host, Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) kicked off his opening monologue with a mention of his engagement announcement, and how they need to find a place to live and raise a family. They can't live where they are anymore, because one night, Hart was threatened by a "thug raccoon" who made shots at him from outside his glass back doors.

Hart told a really amusing opener with the same sarcastic silliness and vivacious energy of his stand-up comedy acts. He told mostly well-timed stories about home life and family life with his wife and son.

Laugh Level: You'll laugh out loud once or twice.

Calvin Klein Ad:

Following the opening monologue came a satirical video mocking a Justin Bieber Calvin Klein commercial, starring the hysterical Kate McKinnon, who does a seriously hysterical impression of the little shit.

Overall, they effing capture Bieber's essence as a wannabe underwear model.

Laugh Level:: Worth a few hearty #lolz. And Kate McKinnon is glorious. #mycalvins

Skit #1: "Why'd You Post That?" Starring Kevin Hart with Vanessa Bayer, Aidy Bryant

Kevin Hart stars as talk show host Darnell who brings Instagrammers on air and asks what every one wants to know: why'd you post that? First up was a shitty, blurry photo of the Empire State Building.

The picture didn't appear on screen at first, which seemed to be an unplanned glitch on the show. However, Hart expertly improvised through it.

The second photo was a horrifying image of a bruised toe with a crushed toe nail. It was really disgusting, and Hart shat all over Aidy Bryant's character, Trisha, for being an idiot and posting a picture of her nasty ass toe.

The last guest, Travis, posted an Instagram about the Charlie Hebdo attacks. He had the caption "Thinking of everyone in Paris" attached to a photo of him shirtless in bed...

Laugh Level: "Hah hah, I totally know someone who posts Instagrams like that, oh my god."

Bushwick, Brooklyn 2015: Starring Kevin Hart, Kenan Thompson, and Jay Pharoah

Hart, Thompson and Pharoah take on three tough talkers form Bushwick, and play with stereotypical personas.

Hart hands out with his "bitches," who happen to be the dogs he walks, while Thompson takes out the lady he nanny's for to brunch.

Laugh Level: This can be funny, yeah, ok, there are jokes here.

Skit #2: Starring Kevin Hart, Kenan Thompson, with the cast.

Hart leads this singing segment which has a steady beat but no point

Laugh Level: "Lorraine wants mustard with her chicken parm" is supposed to be the punch line, I think.

Skit #3 "Nancy," starring Aidy Bryant with Kate McKinnon, Sasheer Zamata, Taran Killam, Vanessa Brayer, Cecily Strong, and Kevin Hart.

Kevin Hart plays "Martine," the sound lead who plays "dumpy music" when Vanessa Brayer's character walks around.

Laugh Level: Fart noises are the punch line, and only Kevin Hart can make it funny.

Musical Performance by Sia: "Elastic Heart"

Sia does a live performance of "Elastic Heart" with accompanying choreography performed by Maddie Zeigler.

Replacing Shia LaBeouf for the dance was another woman wearing the characteristic blonde wig with bangs, and without the controversial distraction, the performance was powerful and artistically provocative.

Sia performed with a characteristic black mask, continuing to choose not to show her face when singing in public.

Sia (@Sia) is best known for her chart-topping hit "Chandelier," and her topically controversial hit, "Elastic Heart." While "Elastic Heart" lays out some killer beats, it's attracting attention more for its decidedly creepy music video featuring an interpretive dance between super talented "Dance Moms" star, Maddie Ziegler, and the one and only Shia LaBeouf.

(If you live under a rock (or just have significantly better things to do with your time) and haven't seen the video, click le here.)

Laugh Level: You'll probably contemplate the pain of love and meaning of existence. You actually might cry. No lolz here.

Weekend Update with Michael Che and Colin Jost

The best top story jokes came from Michael Che this week. He delivered a hysterical stab at the Pope's opinion on the Charlie Hebdo attacks, and some good knocks on the Oscar noms.

Though Jost threw in a decent zinger about how Idina Menzel will sing "Let It Go" in ode to the NFL's domestic violence policy at the Super Bowl. Bill Cosby was also a punchline.

Kate McKinnon guest appeared as "Mrs. Santini,"--Jost's neighbor--who gave her best tips for dealing with annoying neighbors.

She suggested leaving hysterical passive-aggressive notes about how unfortunate it that the people living above her are a family of elephants. Or perhaps play a nightly game of Jumanji?

Laugh Level: Kate McKinnon's facial expressions and comedic timing represent everything that is great and good after 12 pm on a Saturday night.