Saturday Night Live, the comedy crucible where laughter sizzles and careers crackle, witnessed a unique eruption on December 9th, 2023. Adam Driver, hosting for the fourth time, donned a diaper and gurgled his way into internet infamy as “Lil’ Archie,” Meghan Markle’s (played by Heidi Gardner) royal baby in a parody commercial for “Air Miles for Tots.” The result? Uncontrollable guffaws from the live audience, and, according to reports, Meghan Markle herself doubled over in fits of laughter.
Driver’s portrayal wasn’t your typical cooing cherub. Imagine a cross between Yoda and a miniature Winston Churchill, spewing pronouncements on royal protocol and demanding Dijon mustard with his mashed bananas. Driver, known for his brooding intensity, embraced the absurdity with gusto, contorting his face into rubbery expressions and flailing his limbs with baby-fied ferocity. His deadpan delivery of lines like “I demand a helicopter to Monaco!” and “This bib smells like pheasant! Fetch me a new one, posthaste!” had the audience clutching their sides.
While some might wonder about the appropriateness of poking fun at the British monarchy, the sketch cleverly avoided direct jabs. Instead, it targeted the absurd lengths celebrities go to for sponsorships and the air miles industry’s tendency to exploit every aspect of life, even infancy. The humor lay in the juxtaposition of Driver’s gruff, middle-aged persona trapped in a squirming baby body.
But what truly elevated the sketch was Meghan Markle’s reported reaction. Seeing a respected comedic actor send up her life – even in such an outlandish way – with her laughing in the front row, sent a wave of goodwill across the internet. It painted a picture of a woman comfortable in her own skin, able to laugh at herself and the media circus surrounding her.
Adam Driver’s “Lil’ Archie” may not have been a real baby, but he delivered a real dose of comedic gold. He made millions laugh, and maybe, just maybe, helped bridge the gap between the carefully curated royal image and the relatable human underneath. And what better way to do it than with a diaper-clad driver demanding Dijon mustard?
