If anything, this mock commercial wins points for impeccable timing. As travelers across the country begin heading home for the holiday season, this tourism ad, advertising “your hometown,” perfectly sums up the experience of skipping the Caribbean vacation and instead heading home to mom and dad’s. “Who needs snorkeling and parasailing when you can check out the new Kmart?” the narrator chirps. “And while you’re at it, check out the old Kmart, which is now a closed Michael’s.”
In an episode where several sketches felt lackluster, this one stood out for its ability to encapsulate a universal feeling — at least, to those of us who’ll be heading back to our sleepy suburban hometowns this winter. Best of all, the commercial provided plenty of great ideas for fun activities and attractions during your vacation. “If you’re up for a day trip, drive on down to your high school to visit your old teachers,” the narrator says. “Then think, ‘Why would I do this?’ and leave.” So apropos.