Ariana Grande was the perfect parting gift for Bowen Yang’s final ‘Saturday Night Live’ episode

by Therese Odell, posted in saturday night live: season 51

Saturday Night Live
Ariana Grande & Cher
December 20, 2025

Ariana Grande returned to host Saturday Night Live for the third time, tasked with helming what is traditionally one of the best episodes of the year: the holiday episode. Recent previous hosts include SNL alums and royalty, including: Kate McKinnon, Martin Short and Steve Martin, Paul Rudd and Eddie Murphy, and so choosing her to host this episode suggests a degree of trust and faith SNL and Lorne Michaels have in Grande to deliver. On top of all that pressure, this episode was also now-legendary cast member Bowen Yang’s final show. So not only did Grande have to carry the Christmas episode, it also fell to her to usher Yang’s goodbye. And I’m happy to report she pulled it off.

This episode was easily the consistently funniest of the season so far. Grande was her delightful elfin self, leaning into whatever ridiculous task she was given, while also providing emotional support for Bowen’s final bow. All in all, a terrific episode, and she’ll be back for her Five-Timers jacket in no time.

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Looks like tomorrow’s ‘SNL’ will be Bowen Yang’s last

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Josh O’Connor kisses his way through the cast of ‘Saturday Night Live’

by Therese Odell, posted in saturday night live: season 51

Saturday Night Live
Josh O’Connor & Lily Allen
December 13, 2025

I do not know who Josh O’Connor is. Despite having watched and enjoyed Challengers, and having seen Peaky Blinders and The Crown, I have no idea who this man is.

And it would seem that the SNL writers were in a similar quandary this week, because they placed this man in so many sketches where he basically just filled space. He also occasionally made out with a male cast member, playing off the homoeroticism of Challengers, which I am guessing is the only thing the writers’ room saw him in.

It’s a shame, Josh O’Connor seems like a perfectly endearing actor: his monologue was self-deprecating and amusing, and I’m sure they could have done something more with his British charm. But it certainly feels like the show sandwiched him between two reliable hosts, Melissa McCarthy and Ariana Grande, and they decided to just take this week off.

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Panicked and angry grandpa speands twenty minutes screaming at America that they’re wrong

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All your Oscars are belong to YouTube now

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Everyone is so grossed out by what President Toddler said about Rob Reiner … including some of his fans

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Well, this weekend sucked.

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‘Fallout,’ ‘Emily in Paris,’ a bunch of fall finales and everything else you don’t want to miss on TV this week

by Therese Odell, posted in set your dvrs
Emily in Paris (Netflix)
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman. (L to R) Michael B. Jordan, David Letterman in episode 604 of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
Watson (CBS)

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Melissa McCarthy pratfalls her way back into our hearts on ‘Saturday Night Live’

by Therese Odell, posted in saturday night live: season 51

Saturday Night Live
Melissa McCarthy & Dijon
December 6, 2025

NOTE: I am obviously running behind with my SNL recaps because I was out of town for the last couple of weeks. This week’s recap will be up sometime hopefully later today or tomorrow. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Melissa McCarthy is an SNL pro, but you know that already. McCarthy is maybe our funniest female physical comedian (maybe our funniest physical comedian, full stop), but she is also gifted at creating endearing weirdo characters whole cloth. She’s a natural fit for the show; every time she’s on, it’s a joy; and you just know Lorne Michaels would hire he in an instant if he could afford her.

So why is it that this is the first time for McCarthy to host in over EIGHT YEARS? I know it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long since she hosted, thanks to a handful of cameos here and there, but the last time she hosted was in May of 2017. HOW? Did Lorne Michaels lose her phone number? Did she go live on an island for a few years? Did she have beef with someone on the cast in those missing years? Did she just really hate Chris Redd?

It’s a mystery for the ages. But after this episode, which I thought was solidly funny, I hope McCarthy isn’t a stranger for so long again.

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New York wants to limit A.I. nonsense, so obviously President Deepfake is out to put a stop to that

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