Saturday Night Live (SNL) recreated Monty’s Python’s infamous “Black Knight” scene to rip men competing in women’s sports Saturday, duh.
The skit was based on a fake “Untold” documentary episode focused on the “battle of the sexes” in tennis, pre-the Billie Jean King-era. A fictional player called Charna Lee Diamond is profiled as the reason King was able to go on to change the world of tennis … because Diamond apparently martyred herself on the court.
When told “there’s no place for girls” in tennis, Diamond chooses to compete against Ronnie Dunster, played by the colossal human that is Jason Mamoa. Diamond wants to prove any woman can beat any man in athleticism, but things go horribly awry.
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UNTOLD: Battle of the Sexes pic.twitter.com/ym4q24iqia— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 19, 2023
Dunster’s serve ends up carving a flaming hole in Diamond’s stomach. But, it’s just a flesh wound! So Diamond keeps playing. But the next serve literally decapitates her, even though Dunster really, really doesn’t want to continue. Of course, she keeps on playing, despite not having a head. And then dies shortly after, we assume.
It seems obvious to me the sketch was based on the “Black Knight” scene in Monty Python’s “The Holy Grail,” where a legless, armless man thinks he can win a battle to the death with just his teeth. (RELATED: Dave Chappelle Invites Cancelled ‘SNL’ Comic On Stage. What Comes Next Is Pure Gold)
Though it wasn’t pointed, the entire sketch pokes serious fun at any man who chooses to compete in women’s sports. It also mocks women who think biological men have a place to play in women’s sports. It’s so nice to see SNL on the right side of science and history on this one. Perhaps it’ll be worth watching in full again soon?