Miley on SNL

ICYMI: Miley Cyrus further embedded herself in the fabric of pop culture this weekend, serving as both host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live. The RCA star, whose Bangerz streets tomorrow, acquitted herself well in a brief, cheerful opening monologue (in which she promised "no twerking" and related the sad news that Hannah Montana had been murdered) and a handful of skits. These included a VMAs-spoofing cold open and a GOP shutdown-themed video, "We Did Stop," that cast her as Michele Bachmann gyrating (alongside a disturbingly sexualized John Boehner) to a politically altered version of her twerk-happy hit. But the highlight was her high-energy rendition of "Wrecking Ball," which goosed the power-ballad punch of the record. Cyrus also turned in a charmingly stripped-down "We Can't Stop," backed only by a trio of acoustic guitarists; the minimal arrangement seemed designed to ensure that every party-hardy detail of the lyrics came through clearly. All told, Miley's SNL party was a pretty confident mix of pop-star power and breezy self-mockery, at least to this viewer. But see for yourself. (10/7a)