A heated debate started after Saturday Night Live (SNL) aired a sketch making fun of Aimee Lou Wood’s role in HBO’s The White Lotus. The sketch mocked American politics by showing figures like Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as if they were characters in The White Lotus. However, part of the sketch specifically made fun of Wood’s looks, exaggerating certain features. This led the actress to speak out publicly against it.

Wood posted on social media to share her frustration, calling the sketch “cruel” and “not thoughtful.” She explained that while she’s usually okay with comedy and satire, she felt this particular skit relied on easy, hurtful jokes rather than smart humor.

Wood claimed that SNL had apologized to her, making the situation more complicated. However, those inside SNL quickly denied this to the Daily Mail and TMZ, saying no official apology had been made. Representatives for SNL said the sketch was normal for their style of comedy, which often pokes fun at celebrities’ appearances, and they didn’t believe an apology was needed.

The White Lotus actress likely lied about apology from SNL

It makes a lot of sense since SNL has done a lot worse than that sketch and did not apologize after. Reports suggest that if any apologies were given, they were casual and came from people involved in the sketch, not from the show itself. The network also stated that the parody was meant as a joke and didn’t require Wood’s permission.

Wood initially pointed out that the sketch exaggerated her teeth and eyes in a way that didn’t even match her actual character, as most parodies do. She also claimed that other figures in the political parody were shown in a more positive light somehow. She really just thought the focus on her appearance felt unfairly negative. Wood claimed that even in satire, the portrayal should have some truth rather than just mocking someone’s looks.

The reaction from Wood’s White Lotus co-stars added more tension to the situation. One co-star publicly said they liked the SNL sketch, while others stayed quiet. The fact that most of her castmates didn’t publicly her has been noticed, especially since they had all worked closely together on the show. This lack of backing makes it seem like she must not have been as liked as outsiders would think.

Either way, it seems like she did overexaggerate the apology. It might have just come from cast mates, and not being a real formal one from SNL.

Country singer Morgan Wallen’s recent appearance on Saturday Night Live ended in a surprising way, leading to a lot of guesses about what happened—and eventually, a smart business decision. Wallen left the stage unexpectedly during the show’s closing moments, walking off while the rest of the cast stayed.

This sparked a lot of talk online. Shortly after, he posted an Instagram story showing a private jet with the caption, “Get Me To God’s Country,” which quickly spread across the internet. That was its own can of worms, but things tend to take weird turns after controversies.

People had different ideas about what this message meant. Some thought it was a quiet dig at the show, the cast, or even New York City. Others believed it was just Wallen saying he’d rather be back in his rural Southern hometown. To make things more confusing, Yahoo reported that a professional lip reader watched a video of Wallen’s last moments on stage and claimed he was thanking the cast and crew, saying something positive about his time on SNL. This went against the idea that he left angrily.

Morgan Wallen is trying to cash in on SNL controversy

No matter what the real reason was, Wallen took advantage of the attention, as reported by Taste of Country. His official online store now sells merchandise with the phrase “Get Me To God’s Country” printed on it. The collection includes t-shirts and trucker hats, each selling for $45.

Turning this controversial moment into a money-making opportunity has received mixed reactions. TMZ reported that some people ire his business sense, while others think he’s being opportunistic by cashing in on a situation that got people talking.

Even people connected to SNL ed in on the discussion. One of the show’s writers shared a photo of a Krispy Kreme truck (as shared by the NY Post) with its doors open, playing off Wallen’s Instagram caption. This lighthearted response suggested that not everyone at SNL saw the situation in a bad way.

NBC, the network that airs SNL, has publicly said that they don’t have any hard feelings toward Wallen. Sources say they see the incident as just an awkward moment, not a major problem. They’re still open to working with him in the future, meaning the situation hasn’t ruined their professional relationship.

The drama around Morgan Wallen’s abrupt exit from a recent episode of Saturday Night Live continues to unfold, with new details involving Kenan Thompson, Joe Jonas, a line of merchandise inspired by the fiasco. 

In case you missed it, Wallen — who was serving as the SNL musical guest — turned heads over the weekend when he delivered a sensational stage-exit before the credits had rolled. Since guests typically remain on stage and hug the sketch show’s cast, Wallen’s abrupt departure fuelled speculation that the country music singer had an unpleasant experience while shooting the episode, which was hosted by recent Oscar-winner Mikey Madison. 

Country artist Morgan Wallen skips the traditional SNL cast hugs during post-credits and walks off lastnight

followed by a post boarding his jet leaving saying "Get me to God's country"

he was the guest performer this weekend pic.twitter.com/rgFEPRCDOd

— SOUND | Victor Baez (@itsavibe) March 30, 2025

Now, those rumors have been given extra weight in the form of an insider who claims Wallen rejected a pitch by SNL writers to star in a sketch, with the role ultimately going to Jonas instead. The story goes that Wallen was supposed to feature on the bridge of the skit song “Big Dumb Line” alongside Bowen Yang, Chloe Fineman and Madison. However, the singer turned down the part (per Variety), meaning the sketch ultimately went to air with Jonas in his place.

The source didn’t clarify why Wallen supposedly rejected the role, but SNL nonetheless went ahead with Jonas delivering a Europop-inspired song about waiting in “dumb” lines for even dumber foods, like “palad” (pizza and salad) and “fandy” (fish and candy). While he didn’t appear in that sketch, Wallen did perform two songs from his album during the episode, titled “I’m the Problem” and “Just in Case”. While the source remained tight-lipped about Wallen’s supposed beef with SNL, Thompson was far less vague about the fiasco. 

Big Dumb Line ft. Joe Jonas pic.twitter.com/zkd7g1sxof

— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) March 30, 2025

The SNL castmate responded to all the hullabaloo in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. “I don’t know what goes through people’s minds when they decide to do stuff like that,” Thompson said of Wallen’s abrupt exit. The comedian said he was unsure whether Wallen “understood the assignment” that is a guest usually hanging on stage for the credits, or whether the musician “was really feeling a certain kind of way” about his SNL experience. 

“It’s definitely a spike in the norm,” Thompson added, saying castmates are “so used to everybody just turning around and high-fiving us” that Wallen’s departure made them “wonder what that’s about.” Thompson compared Wallen’s move to that of Prince — who similarly stage-exited during his own SNL musical guest spot — but said the difference is “Prince was notoriously kind of standoffish.” Just when you thought the drama couldn’t get any messier, Wallen decided on Monday to release a merch line inspired by the debacle. 

Kenan Thompson reacts to Morgan Wallen’s abrupt exit on SNL:

“I thought maybe he had to go to the potty or something. […] I don't know what goes through people's minds when they decide to do stuff like that. I don't know if he understood the assignment or not, or if he was… pic.twitter.com/QlxYQFLCH5

— Pop Base (@PopBase) March 31, 2025

Yep, the musician announced on social media that he was selling an array of hats and t-shirts emblazoned with the phrase “God’s country,” which is exactly the term that landed him in hot water amid the SNL controversy. The speculation around Wallen reached fever-pitch when, in the wake of the episode, he shared an image of himself on a private jet with the caption: “Get me to God’s country,” which many fans took as evidence that he was eager to leave his SNL experience behind him. 

Now, Wallen is cashing-in on the phrase, but Thompson isn’t too impressed. “The ‘God’s country’ of it all is strange because it’s like, what are you trying to say?” Thompson said of Wallen’s Instagram post. “Are you trying to say that we are not in God’s country?” So feverish is the controversy that one must wonder whether Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are breathing a sigh of relief. Probably not, but it must be nice for the pair to see an unfolding Hollywood drama that, for once, doesn’t include them.

When you pack a room full of comedians and former cast , magical things are bound to happen. But apparently, so are viral outbreaks.

Saturday Night Live’s 50th-anniversary has been marred by COVID-19 infections and flu cases among attendees, raising questions about the risks of hosting such a large-scale gathering in winter.  The fallout began to emerge when Steve Martin, a frequent SNL host and comedy partner of Martin Short, revealed in an Instagram post that Short had tested positive for COVID following the event. Maya Rudolph, another SNL alum and beloved cast member from 1999 to 2007, also contracted the virus. “Maya had COVID. Marty has COVID. I wonder why? The SNL 50th COVID curse is real,” wrote Martin.

The timing couldn’t have been worse for Martin and Short, who were on their The Dukes of Funnytown! comedy tour. The pair had to postpone sold-out performances originally scheduled for Feb. 22 at the Durham Performing Arts Center and Feb. 23 at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. These have been rescheduled for Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, respectively. In his Instagram post, Martin apologized for the inconvenience to fans, adding cheekily, “I think we’ll be funnier then, anyway.”

The news has sparked concern about whether other attendees at the event may have also been affected. Indeed, SNL50 seemed to be a superspreader event. Dana Carvey, another SNL legend, was notably absent from the anniversary show altogether. The reason? The flu. On his podcast with David Spade, Fly on the Wall, Carvey explained that he’d been advised not to travel because he was still recovering. Even Whoopi Goldberg, who attended the event, ended up missing multiple episodes of The View due to illness. Her co-host Joy Behar explained Goldberg’s absence, saying, “Whoopi is still out with the flu. It’s going around, be careful. We hope you’re feeling better, Whoopi. Come back soon!”

As Colin Jost wryly noted during the “Weekend Update” segment of the broadcast, packing so many veteran comedians into one room during winter may not have been the smartest decision. “Health experts are facing increased pressure this winter in the face of outbreaks of COVID, the flu, RSV, and norovirus, which they’re calling a quad-demic,” Jost said. “So we did the smart thing and packed every beloved entertainer over 60 into one tiny space.” This was always going to happen. You can’t throw an event — one that involves a lot of close , and apparently, a surprising number of makeout sessions (we’re looking at you, Molly Shannon and Martin Short) — and expect everyone to leave unscathed.  If anything, the real surprise is that more names haven’t come forward with their own post-party illnesses.

Pete Davidson‘s love life may firmly plant him in the spotlight 24/7, but before he was known as Ariana Grande and Kim Kardashian’s ex, Saturday Night Live kept him super busy. But as it turns out, Lorne Michaels is the reason he didn’t leave the beloved late-night show after only one season.

According to The Daily Mail, as explained in the Peacock docies SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, Davidson met with Michaels during his first year in 2014 and said, “Please fire me.” The comedian and actor was 20 at the time and said, “I don’t belong here. Everybody’s so talented and they don’t want to be my friend.” Davidson said Michaels gave him harsh but true advice: “It’s just gonna suck for three or four years.”

SNL is a famously tough place to work and comedy legends ranging from Tina Fey to Elaine (I mean, Julia Louis-Dreyfus) have shared stories of their less-than-perfect experiences. Although it’s a shame to hear how much Davidson struggled at first, this is a reminder that sometimes you have to put some time and effort into something before you see the fruits of your labor. Or you have to kiss a few frogs before you get your prince (or however that saying goes). Davidson definitely deserved to be there.

Playing a range of comedic characters on Saturday Night Live would give any up-and-comer the experience needed to explore any kind of career that they wanted. The popular show definitely gave Davidson a great platform and allowed people to get to know him and his talent. He has since starred in a range of movies like the rom-com Meet Cute and the horror comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies, to coming-of-age stories like The King of Staten Island and Big Time Adolescence. More recently, he starred on Bupkis, the funny TV series he also wrote, created, and served as executive producer on.

Davidson has mentioned the challenges of being a young SNL star in other interviews. When appearing on CBS Sunday Morning in 2020, he said, “I was like 10, 12 years younger than everybody else. It felt like it was a joke.” And, as The Daily Mail pointed out, Davidson was convinced he would never be hired on SNL because there wasn’t a ton of laughter during his audition. He asked a friend if stand-up or impressions would be better for the audition, and when he said impressions weren’t his thing, his pal advised him to focus on the former. He thought, “That was terrible, there’s no way I’m getting it.” Of course, he impressed the powers that be at SNL.

All good (and hilarious) things come to an end, though, and Davidson began wondering if it was time to say goodbye in 2020. He was interviewed on Live Your Truth:  An Honest Conversation With Charlamagne Tha God and said he contemplated leaving because “they make fun of me.” He called SNL “a cutthroat f*cking show” but praised Michaels because “He’s the best and has treated me with nothing but love and he’s like a father figure to me.”

Fans can check out SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, which premiered on Jan. 16, 2025 on Peacock, and reflect on Davidson’s amazing years at SNL. He might not have been sure that he was going to last, but he starred on the show from 2014 to 2022, and he had an incredible run.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of one of America’s most prolific institutions. To celebrate the occasion, Peacock is releasing a documentary showing behind the scenes of Saturday Night Live.

Entitled SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, the documentary focuses on the highs and lows of the sketch comedy show. Just some of the interviews are Tracy Morgan, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and late-night host, Jimmy Fallon. Former cast get many interview opportunities, but the documentary also explores iconic sketches of the past five decades.

“This is beyond my wildest dreams that they’re making a documentary about the cowbell sketch,” Fallon says over the pointed shot of someone dramatically putting a cowbell down on a table. While only one part of the 50-season span of SNL, it is undeniable how much of a pop culture footprint the sketch left.

Airing in 2000 with Christopher Walken as host, the sketch envisions what the recording session for Blue Öyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper” would have been like. In the song, there is a slight sound of a cowbell which Will Ferrell emphasizes to great comedic effect as Gene Frenkle, a fictional addition to the band. Walken plays record producer Bruce Dickinson who keeps insisting that the cowbell be played louder and louder through the recording of the song — much to the irritation of the band. The sketch ranked in the top 10 on Rolling Stone’s best SNL sketches list and features Walken’s iconic exclamation: “I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!” Ferrell stated that when writing the sketch, he always wondered what the person playing the cowbell in the real song was like.

The early aughts were a golden age of SNL and showcased the comedic talents of many players who still remain iconic. Viewers should tune in to get the full story of the sketch, but there is more than fun and games in store for this documentary. The trailer also hints at conflict that was long-standing behind the scenes.

SNL50 shows behind-the-scenes drama

Television such as this doesn’t last this long without ruffling some feathers. The least shown and most underappreciated component of running the ship is the writers. Each week they have to come up with content to fill an hour and a half and a fast ticking clock. In the SNL50 trailer, a producer asks the pressing question that hangs over every show.

“Do you think that the writers get the credit they deserve">

“Oh dear, you’ve really stepped on a land mine, here.”

Seth Meyers served as head writer in 2006 and expressed that it always seems to be a coin toss when dealing with live television. Even with dress rehearsals, there is no ing for fan reaction when the show goes to air. The documentary will also cover the notorious year of 1985 when SNL seemed to be on the brink of cancelation. The season is ed as one of the worst the series had ever had, only a decade after its first season. Things have worked all right for the comedic brand since then but the only way viewers can find out more is by streaming the four-part series, only on Peacock.

All the buzz around Travis Kelce now is for his romance with Taylor Swift, but rewind to 2023, and it was his Saturday Night Live hosting debut that had everyone talking—and now we know the mastermind behind it.

Season 48 of SNL featured several impressive hosts, but Travis Kelce’s hot jock humor knocked everyone out of the competition for the best host of the season. However, it wasn’t an easy job to convince the football maestro to make his hosting debut—in fact, it took years of convincing. In a recent episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, SNL cast member Heidi Gardner revealed the struggle it took to get Kelce on the show.

“[It was] the biggest swing I ever did in that department, and it did work, but it took a couple of years,” Gardner said. (via Variety) Though she was humble about it, so as to not “take full credit from the show and the talent department,” Gardner’s inner Chief’s fangirl soul kept her dedicated to pursuing Kelce. But there was another hurdle—the executive producer and creator Lorne Michaels would only agree to her plan on one condition: Kelce had to win the Super Bowl first.

At first, Gardner was worried, thinking “That is so much pressure to ask.” But would you guess it—Kelce ended up winning the Super Bowl 2023 and even began his monologue on the show by humbly bragging about the win. Part of the reason behind his bragging was to poke fun at his brother and Philadelphia Eagles opponent, Jason Kelce, sitting in the audience, but who would miss the chance to flaunt their wins anyway?

And it wasn’t just us fans excited to see Kelce work his charm on stage, the entire Kelce family paid Studio 8H a visit for his hosting debut. Gardner also revealed that “[Kelce is] the only host in SNL history that’s ever tailgated before hosting the show.” She recalled how before his show on March 4, she opened her phone to a picture of Travis and Jason eating a barbecue in her dressing room. The pre-show celebration undoubtedly helped him because the studio was brimming with laughter by the end of the night.

However, we would have never gotten to see this side of Kelce if it wasn’t for Gardner’s spidey senses that caught on Kelce’s natural humor early on. “I had seen him do like other little acting gigs and appearances, and I was like, ‘He’s funny, he’s charming,'” she recalled. But this gig did wonders for Kelce’s television career. He soon went on to star in the FX show Grotesquerie and will also be seen in the Netflix sports comedy Happy Gilmore 2 in 2025.

Donald Trump’s life is a surreal blend of billionaire antics and reality TV drama. Hanging out with his richest pal, Elon Musk, to throwing verbal punches at world leaders and countries , and strutting around his personal paradise of Mar-a-Lago with a new mullet cut.

If you squint hard enough, it almost looks like a guy in his golden years trying to impress his grandkids. Except this isn’t just anyone, it’s Trump. And this isn’t retirement; it’s a warm-up act for his return to the big stage.  Sure, Elon Musk might’ve threatened to shut the government down, but it’s the sort of high-octane drama Trump has been soaking in lately that has people reminiscing about the version of him we knew before politics.

The media mogul/diva we once knew

His true calling https://t.co/29vNzoEo7Q

— Ashley Reese (@offbeatorbit) December 18, 2024

For those who Trump’s pre-politics, this is classic behavior. Before he was the 45th president, Trump dominated the media with his reality TV smash The Apprentice, his cameos in movies like Home Alone 2, and his larger-than-life personality on talk shows. His guest spots on Saturday Night Live and even his stints with Wendy Williams were pure entertainment gold, complete with campy theatrics and meme-worthy soundbites. As one X wrote, “he was having so much fun.“

Trump’s larger-than-life persona, flair for dramatics, and his ability to turn even the smallest interaction into a spectacle felt authentic once upon a time. It’s a similar energy he’s brought to politics, but only now, it’s wrapped in the gravity of the presidency. In fact, some argue it’s this knack for showmanship that won him the Oval Office. Others think it’s the very thing that makes him unsuited for it. Either way, there’s no denying that Trump seems most at ease when he’s entertaining, whether on-screen or at a rally. Maybe, just maybe, he’d be better off trading the White House briefing room for a soundstage.

A second act, or final curtain call?

Donald Trump reveals his new haircut pic.twitter.com/b6ChsY4DhY

— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) December 18, 2024

As the only other President to win a non-consecutive term, the first being Grover Cleveland, Trump now has the rare chance to learn from his first go-around and rebuild with a clean slate. New team, new promises, new energy, right? Except, well, this is Trump we’re talking about.

The reality is that this holiday from reality won’t last forever. The promises he made on the campaign trail, taming inflation, creating unprecedented prosperity, and solving the border crisis, aren’t going to fulfill themselves. And with a war raging in the Middle East, ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine, and a divided nation at home, the stakes couldn’t be higher. 

We’re officially just days away from the next Presidential term, and somehow, the whirlwind you’d expect from a Trump presidency is already in full force, even though he hasn’t been inaugurated yet. It’s almost as if the man is setting the stage for a show, and honestly, hasn’t that been his M.O. all along?

If Trump doesn’t deliver, his approval ratings could plummet faster than they did during his first term. Sure, some people will always be drawn to his personality, laughing along at his unpredictable antics. But hubris has a way of catching up with even the most charismatic leaders. So, for every er cheering him on, there’s someone else watching closely, praying he doesn’t let it all fall apart.

Alec Baldwin nearly exposed his family jewels in front of Saturday Night Live viewers on Nov. 16, when he suffered a mortifying wardrobe malfunction that had people flocking to social media to ridicule him.

Did he or did he not intentionally leave his fly open? That’s what viewers of this past weekend’s episode of the comedy show want to know after they saw the actor with his pants unzipped during the closing scene. The 66-year-old may have forgotten to zip his pants before he ed the rest of the cast, including host  Charli XCX, for the traditional bow at the end of the show. He clapped and waved to the audience and never once noticed his visibly open fly.

Did he not feel any draft coming to his nether region? If only someone bothered to tell him before he got up on stage. It’s an embarrassing situation that’s thankfully NSFW safe as no underpants or privates were shown on screen. Regardless, viewers were left bothered, disgusted, and some even wondered if he was intoxicated during the show. “Alec Baldwin’s zipper was down on SNL. What a loser,” one wrote on X and another asked: “Is he drunk??">TLC reality TV show The Baldwins in 2025.

Charli XCX has been demanding everyone’s attention this week. She recently filmed an appearance for Saturday Night Live that gives fans a chance to see her comedic skills in action and wow us with her outfit choices. She will be the host and musical guest this week, and in a short clip of her skit, the “365” singer wears a white dress with a plunging neckline as she discusses her “real name” with Marcello Hernandez.

So, what does she say in response to the question? ​​“Charleston Ten One Hundred Ten,” she told Hernandez with a straight face and the perfect amount of attitude. We are sorry to inform those who believe the singer was born with such a far-out name, but she was born Charlotte Emma Aitchison.

The entertainer posted the clip on Instagram (where many of her loyal 6.6 million followers were excited to share their thoughts). Reactions to the post include “Let’s go babyyyyyy,” “we WILL BE watching,” and “this is literally all i have going for me this week.” But not everyone is impressed with the jokes, and honestly, they lacked that extra oomph we were expecting because Charli XCX is such an interesting character. “This is disgustingly unfunny,” a fan whined, while others complained how the show uses “recycled internet jokes for the promos.”

Are we excited to see Charli XCX on SNL? Of course, and we have no doubt her appearance will be memorable once they get into the more humorous material. But this is not the only post she has made this week that has caught our eyes!

Charli XCX has everyone’s attention thanks to her sultry pose

The singer also posted a topless photo from her campaign with fashion brand Acne Studios, which racked up comments from thirsty fans, and Charli XCX posed on an orange/brown sofa wearing matching brown pants and a top combination. The blouse she opted for has an interesting shawl collar neckline, which draws the eye in and becomes the focus of her outfit. She opted for heeled sandals and black sunglasses to complete the look. It’s not so much her outfit but the rather suggestive way she is sitting that has gotten her fans’ attention. “All of a sudden I want to be an orange couch,” a comment states, referring to the sofa she is sitting on.

Other reactions include, “Who is this DIVA,” “Hot,” and “Omg.” Due to the sheer excitement fans are experiencing from this photo, they are struggling to string a sentence together!

There have also been comments expressing joy that the singer will be on SNL, and she teased her appearance again in this post with a photo taken from outside the studios and with her caption. “Snl week babbyyyyyy lets gooooo,” she wrote.

This will be Charli XCX’s debut on the show, but she inspired a comedy sketch earlier this year when Bowen Yang parodied her. The “Apple” singer was asked to share her thoughts in an interview on The Howard Stern Show, and she let us know she took it comedic bit with good humor. “Oh no, no, no, I think SNL is iconic, and Troye [Sivan] and I, we had an inkling it was coming,” she said. “We were very excited about it, and I love Bowen, and honestly, I think he did a great job. I was very impressed with the hair texture actually, I thought it was a really good wig. Yeah, it was good. It was cool.”

Saturday Night Live has aired its first episode since the election, and its castmates addressed Donald Trump’s shocking presidential victory as hilariously as you’d expect.

The episode begins with a cold open that strikes a somber tone. Ego Nwodim addressed the results of Election Day by describing them as “shocking and even horrifying,” while Heidi Gardner reminded us of Trump’s involvement in the January 6 insurrection. For his part, Bowen Yang lamented how the president-elect’s second term will come with “no guardrails,” and Keenan Thompson noted how Trump has “openly called for vengeance against his political enemies.”

Since this is SNL, it wasn’t long before the tone became comedic, as the castmates did their best to avoid becoming an aforementioned enemy by sarcastically declaring their long-running of Trump. In a masterclass in false flattery, the comedians said on behalf of SNL that they’ve “been with [Trump] all along.” Yang added ironically that he was “so excited for Trump 2.0,” while Marcello Hernández also tried to get on the former president’s good side by declaring that “every single person on this stage voted for you.”

In perhaps the shrewdest example of flattery, Sarah Sherman sarcastically described Trump as “the man I want my future children to look up to.” Of course, anyone who watches SNL will know that the cast didn’t Trump during his most recent bid for the White House, and would regularly ridicule the Republican candidate chiefly through Michael Che and Colin Jost of the Weekend Update section but also through James Austin Johnson’s uncanny impersonation. Johnson was one of multiple SNL comedians to whip out a political impression in the most recent episode, with Dana Carvey delivering his version of the president-elect’s new bestie, Elon Musk.

Sadly, Maya Rudolph’s Kamala Harris was nowhere to be seen, but we will always have that pre-election SNL appearance the pair made when we all still thought there was hope in this world. In a joke that would be funny if it weren’t also terrifying, Carvey’s Musk declared that he “run[s] the country now,” before heading offstage wearing a black MAGA hat and chanting “USA! USA!”. Regardless of the terrifying implications of their jokes, the SNL cast received widespread praise:

“This was so good lmao they ate that,” one fan wrote on X, with another adding that “they cooked with this.” Elsewhere, one fan was particularly impressed with SNL’s daring approach to addressing Trump’s election win. “The SNL cast’s take on Trump’s victory was both bold and humorous,” they wrote, “they never shy away from addressing current events.” The sketch comedy show has been so daring, in fact, that it has actually prompted a response from the Oompa Loompa who they most frequently lampoon. 

“They copied my routine,” Trump said last month about SNL’s Rudolph-Harris skit. “I did it a long time ago.” It’s always promising when the soon-to-be president is whining about being supposedly plagiarised on TV. It’s about as promising as everything outlined in Project 2025. Here’s hoping that sarcastic quip keeps me off Trump’s enemies list, even though his only real enemy is the makeup artist who insists on making him resemble a traffic cone.

Wicked star Ariana Grande hosted Saturday Night Live last weekend and kicked off her opening monologue with a string of impersonations that included Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus, among many others.

Grande, long known for her uncanny celebrity impressions, was just getting warmed up.

Grande, who is well known for her ability to impersonate several fellow famous faces, hosted the late night comedy sketch show on Oct. 12, 2024.

“Before I start, I want to make one thing clear tonight: I am just hosting. I’m not going to make this about me,” she told the studio audience. “I’m just going to have fun, take it easy and, yeah, just keep it low key.”

From there, Grande was handed a microphone and she began to sing about her intention to
“keep it low key tonight” before she broke into song anyway. Her tune included her favorite notes “C, D, B, A or G” before she launched into her celebrity impressions — the first of which began when she sang the opening line of Spears’ “…Baby One More Time.”

STREAM: Ariana Grande’s full episode on Peacock

From there Grande performed as Cyrus, who was followed up by No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani. She pledged to not wink at the camera before doing exactly that and said she wouldn’t talk about Wicked but was promptly met by SNL cast member Bowen Yang, who was dressed as her character Glinda.

“Bowen, didn’t anybody tell you? We cut the Wicked sketch!” she told Yang.

“Oh, that’s okay, I’m gonna do it anyway,” Yang answered.

Grande also insisted, “I’m not going to do a duet tonight, so please don’t bring out Stevie Nicks!” before she added, “Worth a shot” when the evening’s music guest failed to appear.

The “Thank U, Next” singer didn’t stop her impersonation arc with the monologue’s end. She later appeared as one of three people who played actress Jennifer Coolidge in a Maybelline ad spoof. Grande was ed by cast Chloe Fineman and Dana Carvey, who each portrayed Coolidge as she was getting ready to go on a date.

WATCH: Every episode from all 50 SNL seasons, exclusively on Peacock

Grande almost broke character at least once during the sketch after she suggested to Fineman’s Coolidge that they tell her date crab walking is the superpower she would most want to have. The entire group was caught laughing once Carvey entered the sketch and the trio applied lip color to one another.

Grande also spoofed Céline Dion’s recent NFL promo in another sketch. Like Dion’s original promo, Grande’s take was also set to the mega hit “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now,” but she offered up a second sport “whose timeless emotions ignite the bittersweet emotions that live in my soul” — UFC fighting.

Grande sang Dion’s song over footage of UFC fights. “There was breaking of bones and there was knees to the balls,” she belted over the video.