The two really great moments on “SNL” last night were worth some of the lesser ones.

The cold open was perfection. James Austin Johnson’s Trump was on fire doing stand up. Then came the obvious surprise of the great Cecily Strong reviving the boozy Jeanine Pirro, and Colin Jost — in a rare non-news appearance — as Pete Hegseth. If this had been the whole show, it would have been fine by me.

I also liked the sketch with Walton Goggins selling the 2nd amendment to the writers of the Constitution.

Weekend Update was reliably good, although the Scarlett Johansson jokes are getting a bit tiresome. Michael Che scored some good laughs, however.

The best part of WU: Marcello Hernandez as the movie usher reviewer. Hernandez has really taken off a la Bowen Yang, and how he’s undeniably a star we look forward to seeing. Plus, he has a hot mom.

A minus show. We’ll see how the rating went. Arcade Fire, always rockin’.

Denise Alexander has died at age 85.

Alexander was a great star of soap operas beginning with “Days of our Lives.” She played Susan Martin from 1966 to 1973, where she met her husband, Richard Colla. He left after a year but she stayed and became a huge star.

Alexander became such a big star that ABC lured her over to a dying “General Hospital” in 1973. Her character, Lesley Williams, became the central character and brought the show back to life until the late ’70s when her story — a love triangle that was famous — brought “General Hospital” to number 1.

When Lesley was killed off in 1983, there were stories in the papers about the ABC switchboard exploding with protests. ABC revived her from the dead in 1996, and she made appearances on the soap until 2021.

In between, she had a short run on NBC’s “Another World.”

Alexander’s calling card was a light touch. She was not like the scene chewers who blow through soaps. There are plenty of clips on YouTube that show when her daughter, teenage Laura, hooked up with the much older Luke, Alexander kept her cool and calm. Considering what was going on around her, that was pretty good.

How do I know all this? Our housekeeper, Mrs. Daniels, watched all her “shows” when I was a kid, from grade school on. The experience left a mark that has only faded in time. Recently, Leslie Charleson, who played Alexander’s nemesis, Monica, on “General Hospital,” also passed away. It’s sad to think all those classic characters who Mrs. Daniels loved so much are now in heaven. With her.

This year, if I were going to choose an Emmy winner for Best Actress in a Comedy, it would have to be Natasha Lyonne.

Sorry, Jean Smart, but this season of “Hacks” is headache inducing.

Lyonne stars once again as Charlie, the girl who can see if peple are telling the truth, in “Poker Face.” Rian Johnson’s 70s-like creation was so novel and unique in its first season, I didn’t know if he could do it again. But he has, with aplomb.

Charlie, if you remember, is also on the run from Vegas mobsters, so she cruises around the country in a 1969 vintage sky blue Plymouth staying barely one step ahead of her pursuers. She lives in the car, smokes, a little like if Jim Rockford were on the lam.

Lyonne’s Charlie is a throwback to snappy, glib dames with great comeback lines. Her crazy big round eyes and Rapunzel red locks make a face for the ages. She’s a standout in every crowd, especially as she solves the murder of the week “Columbo” style.

Peacock dropped the first two episodes this week. (I could watch ahead but the pleasure here is digesting these gems one at a time.)

First episode, called “The Game is a Foot,” is stunning. Tony winner and Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo plays five roles, all matching sisters, like she’s the symphony conductor and first chairs. Even if the story gets confusing (the metal leg thing, don’t think about), Erivo pulls it off.

The stage mother (Jasmine Guy!) of child stars from a lost TV show has stolen the earnings and royalties of the kids (all Erivo). She dies, and the kids want their money. But it turns out there’s a secret sister who will throw a wrench in the works.

It’s a little like those Tyler Perry or Eddie Murphy movies (or, see Jerry Lewis) where one actor is taking on a collection of identities. The only person who could figure out the mystery of too many Erivo’s is Lyonne, who wise cracking sarcasm cuts through the maze.

Next up, sort of “Six Feet Under” with a murder mystery. “Last Looks” starsthe great Giancarlo Esposito as an evil undertaker, and an amazingly hilarious and charming Katie Holmes as his younger wife who wants to leave the embalming for a glamorous life. Kathrine Narducci, of “Sopranos” fame, screeches in on a motorcyle for a kooky cameo as if she’s arrived by mistake from a Marlon Brando movie.

Esposito has built a career as a character actor, especially from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” He’s always an overnight sensation, but he’s the star of this episode as the undertaker undertakes killing his wife while a TV crew is using the funeral parlor to film a murder series. It’s all very meta, with lots of inside jokes about Hollywood.

Katie Holmes is just a knockout as the wife, Greta, with a pixie haircut and Capri pants. She’s like something out of William Inge or F. Scott Fitzgerald. It’s like she’s getting 222 volts instead of the standard 110. She’s only married to Esposito’s character because he buried her parents. Now it’s time to move on.

Enter Charlie, who befriends her, then becomes Esposito’s worst nightmare. Together they look like Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovitt, especially when they’re in the crematorium. You almost think Lyonne is going to sing “Not While I’m Around.” Of course, the whole story goes up in smoke, and there’s a nice surprise twist for Charlie at the end that points to episode three. Cheers!

Still great: the Helvetica type for the titles of the episodes, the whole “Columbo” feel of something from another time, one we’d all like to revisit right now.’

Again sorry “Hacks,” and also “The Bear.” “Poker Face” actually has jokes, and the people seem happy. That’s a comedy.

Here’s a shock: NBC is canceling three shows no one watched. They were used as background noise for pets so they wouldn’t get lonely.

“Found” was on for two seasons. Really? Was it the opposite of “Lost”? “Suits LA” was an attempt to cash in on the mysterious popularity of “Suits” on Netflix after it ended its run on USA Network. Did they think Meghan Markle would do a guest shot?

Apparently there was a show called “Irrational” something. No one knew it. NBC is famous for putting on filler hour long shows that no one follows. No one ever watched the one with James Spader, it went on for years. Well, it’s gone. Sorry.

NBC also axed the revived “Night Court,” which was also like wallpaper. The original “Night Court” was popular because of Harry Anderson, who is no longer with us. But it was filler comedy to begin with. Again, my condolences.

CBS canceled Queen Latifah’s show, “The Equalizer.” Too bad, it was a good Sunday night show. I like Queen L, and Lorraine Toussaint. But the writing was on the wall. CBS yanked it all over the place. They used it as a mid-season replacement. When that happens, you’re done.

If the networks considered putting on something interesting, of value, or cutting edge, we’d all faint. But all the shows that were snuffed will be replaced by more iterations of existing hits. There’s no more Steve Bochco type innovation. If only…

Also, ABC renewed all their unscripted shows including “American Idol,” because why not? The dogs and cats need content. No word yet on “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.” It’s time to shut it down, but will they?