Saturday Night Liverecap: Anya Taylor-Joy and Lil Nas X make their debuts in season finale

Ahoy-hoy, welcome to the final installment in ourSNL in Reviewcoverage for season 46. It has been a season for the record books, with peaks and valleys unlike any in recent memory. Already, palace intrigue has begun on who will remain and who will depart once the summer hiatus begins. Tonight’s season finale is hosted byAnya Taylor-Joy, with musical guestLil Nas X. Anyone who follows X on social media knows how troll-y and funny the Gen Z provocateur can be....

May 1, 2025 · 7 min · 1309 words · Pamela Herrera

Saturday Night Liverecap: Ariana DeBose makes hosting debut

Fellow Coneheads, a new year is upon us. Welcome back toSNL in Review: 2022 edition. And as much as we venture to escape what’s coming, the closer it gets. No, that’s not a reference to Kanye West’sinevitable rap beef with Pete Davidson. Late-night shows are retreating, theatrical shows are again being canceled. What is the right answer? That comes with risks, but we are in a morally/politically/legally/socially charged time. We are trying to allow for choice while being respectful and cautious....

May 1, 2025 · 4 min · 828 words · Dawn Davis

Saturday Night Liverecap: Benedict Cumberbatch brings laughs to Mother's Day weekend

Strange star hosts for the second time, with musical guest Arcade Fire. Hello lowly Conehead nation. As I noted on Twitter, Dan was always a thoughtful and generous person with me. Benedict Cumberbatch hosts ‘SNL’.Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty A rare, brave soul. Despite his brief time onSNL,Lorne Michaelsmentored him on several projects, includingasitcomand the infamousNew Show). Tonight’s host isThe Power of the Dog’sBenedict Cumberbatch, who is here peddling theSam RaimiMCU movie....

May 1, 2025 · 4 min · 807 words · David Robinson

Saturday Night Liverecap: Billie Eilish is the latest guest to pull double duty

On the horizon, potentially choppy waters. For the first seven episodes of season 47, ourSNLin Reviewvessel enjoyed a relatively peaceful sea. And for the most part it all felt very organic. But now, an existential threat:Kate McKinnonwill return after being absent all season. The fact is the show has thrived with new blood being given a chance to answer the call. The cast size is already huge how will Kate (with her outsized stage presence) fit in?...

May 1, 2025 · 6 min · 1092 words · Philip Short

Saturday Night Liverecap: Carey Mulligan brings her dramatic chops to Studio 8H

Welcome to the latestSNLin Review experience tonight’s show is hosted byCarey Mulligan, with musical guestKid Cudi. I am joined tonight by Siobhan Fallon Hogan, who was aSaturday Night Livecast member in the early ’90s. She says Mulligan’s performance at the Atlantic “was truly inspiring. Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images She is a fantastic actress.” Fallon Hogan is looking forward to seeingPromising Young Woman. Cold Open: Minnesota News We open withEye on Minnesota, KDBD midday news....

May 1, 2025 · 5 min · 924 words · Randy Bowman

Saturday Night Liverecap: Dan Levy makes hosting debut forSNL's 900th episode

The Schitt’s Creek star is joined by musical guest Phoebe Bridgers. Welcome, Coneheads, to another very specialSNLin Review! It’s what I love about the show. NBC Which brings me to this week’s host:Dan Levy. A brief strike by the Writers Guild of Americakiboshed their episode, and Levy never appeared. Levy’s son Dan was just a year old at the time. Eugene Levy makes a cameo when son Dan Levy hosts ‘SNL’....

May 1, 2025 · 7 min · 1288 words · Michael Hurley

Saturday Night Liverecap: Daniel Kaluuya makes his hosting debut

Greetings, Conehead nation. Welcome back to your latestSNLin Review experience. I am joined tonight by formerSNLcast members Victoria Jackson and Dr. Ellen Cleghorne. Daniel Kaluuya hosts ‘SNL’.NBC I was underwhelmed bylast week’s episodewith Maya Rudolph, beginning with a rushed, ham-handed cold open. Let’s dive in and see if they bounce back tonight. Let’s give someone like Chloe Fineman back the baton! And tonight, the merciful gods at 30 Rock have graced us with a rare repeat performance!...

May 1, 2025 · 7 min · 1449 words · Michelle Dyer

Saturday Night Liverecap: Dave Chappelle returns for 2020 post-election episode

Welcome, Coneheads, to yet another momentousSNLin Review. The joyful images being shown arenot unlike the end ofReturn of the Jedi. He also contributed some of the show’s best political material during the 1984 election. Credit: Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Cold open It’s CNN America’s Choice, election week. Beck Bennett is Wolf Blitzer, and Alex Moffat is John King. They’ve been up for days. The crowd erupts when Bennett calls Fire Marshall Biden as the next president....

May 1, 2025 · 5 min · 944 words · Ryan Allen

Saturday Night Liverecap: Elon Musk makes controversial hosting debut

Buckle up as we recap the Tesla CEO’s turn as SNL host. Here we go, on these unchartered waters. Welcome, my dear Coneheads, to a Very SpecialSNLin Review. saturday night live And how you feel about that may say more about you than the show itself. “Burnt my fingertips, man,” as Bo Diddley says to Dan Aykroyd inTrading Places. And, sadly, the attention that’s been garnered almost certainly justifies all the controversy and hoopla....

May 1, 2025 · 6 min · 1071 words · Susan Vasquez

Saturday Night Liverecap: FormerSNLcast member Will Forte returns to Studio 8H for the first time as host

Forte is joined by musical guest Maneskin. Having distinguished alumni return to host is always special and heartwarming, particularly on a cold night like tonight. As always, I am joined tonight by a formerSNLcast member, who will share insights on the episode. Will Forte hosts ‘Saturday Night Live’.Saturday Night Live/Youtube “It was like meeting a young Don Johnson. Cold Open Kate McKinnonhas the ball for this cold open she is playing Laura Ingraham again....

May 1, 2025 · 4 min · 836 words · Jeffrey Hill

Saturday Night Liverecap: J.J. Watt aims to score with Super Bowl weekend episode

Welcome back, my fellow Coneheads, toSNLin Review. Tonight’s host is the defensive end for the Houston Texans, J.J. Watt. I am curious whether that will be a potential sketch hook! Credit: NBC Episodes hosted by athletes tend to be a mixed bag for the show, historically. (Cough,paging Deion Sanders.) (No one wants to relive aYankee Wives-jot down sketch premise again, after all.) Some of my favorite shows, as a viewer, were athletes....

May 1, 2025 · 4 min · 807 words · Kimberly French

Saturday Night Liverecap: Jake Gyllenhaal returns to host for the first time in 15 years

What’s kickin', Conehead nation? You’re entering another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. It is an area that we callSNLin Review. That’s right, set your dials. It’s time for another rivetingSaturday Night Liverecap. Tonight’s host isNightcrawlerhimself,Jake Gyllenhaal, star of Michael Bay’s latest movie,Ambulance. I am joined tonight by formerSNLcast member Jeff Richards. It’s been wild watching him evolve over the years. A lot of people might not remember his work inOkjaor as Mr....

May 1, 2025 · 5 min · 922 words · David Evans

Saturday Night Liverecap: Jason Bateman hosts cast-driven episode with musical guest Morgan Wallen

My fellow Coneheads, hello, it is I,SNLin Review. Even without the specter of the election looming over season 46,Saturday Night Liveremains in a precarious place. As the streaming wars continue to reshuffle the deck,SNLis one of few true monoliths in pop culture. Credit: NBC Bateman previously hosted way back in season 30, whenKenan Thompsonwas a mere featured player. (I wonder if he and Kenan will bring backT.T. and Mario, incidentally.)...

May 1, 2025 · 5 min · 938 words · Joseph Smith