Quinta Brunson returned to host Saturday Night Live for the second time. Her first hosting gig was in Season 48, and she was fantastic. She did not disappoint this time either, showing off her versatility and impeccable comedic timing and delivery. So let’s get into it!
Cold Open
The episode kicked off with a shot of the White House and voiceover comparing Trump’s first 100 days to those of FDR, in which he created vital government departments, forged new alliances, and established the social safety net. Trump has essentially done the same thing, but in reverse.
Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson) is in the Oval Office, discussing his executive orders and signing some new ones. He brings in his vampire-esque sidekick, Stephen Miller (Mikey Day), who hands him executive orders ranging from reviving Columbus Day to making it socially acceptable for old men to date much younger women—dubbed the “Belichick Law”—to banning ghosts (especially the ones who visit him on Christmas Eve). Marcello Hernandez made a quick appearance as Marco Rubio.
I like that this was a short cold open, just over five minutes. They got right into the jokes, which were funny and didn’t drag on or weave in unnecessary storylines. Sometimes, a quick and sharp cold open is exactly what we need, especially when we’re already tired from the reality it’s parodying.
Monologue
Quinta opened with a musical ode to the vertically challenged, embracing the fact that she is 4’11”. She highlighted the perks of being petite – like walking through the park and unintentionally winning a limbo contest. Sabrina Carpenter joined her on-stage as they sang about all the things they get to see – like door handles and being eye-level with people’s knees. Marcello joined them, because standing next to them makes him look super tall. There was even a surprise appearance from Dwyane Wade, who is 6’4″, but admitted he feels short in the basketball world, and this song made him feel seen.
Will and Todd’s Radical Experience
In this clever spin on Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Will and Todd (Andrew Dismukes and Marcello Hernandez) have just aced their history test by bringing Frederick Douglass (Keenan Thompson), Harriet Tubman (Brunson), Julius Caesar (Emil Wakim), Queen Elizabeth I (Chloe Fineman), and Leonardo da Vinci (Mikey Day) to 1987 San Diego, in a time-traveling phone booth.
Will and Todd are saying their goodbyes and each enter the phone booth, except Douglass and Tubman. Keenan delivers the best line of the sketch when he replies, “We’re not going back.” Todd tells them that they have to go back so they can end slavery, when Quinta responds, “Oh, lots of people are working on that!” Instead she wants to stay and ride the roller coaster. Douglass and Tubman, with their 80’s sunglasses and skateboard, refuse to return to their time, eventually pushing Will and Todd into the phone booth, sending them back to the “1-800’s”.
This was a standout sketch. While it initially felt random to parody Bill & Ted, it turned out to be a smart and funny commentary on how iconic historical figures might react to modern freedoms. Plus, for ‘80s kids, the nod to this classic film was most excellent!
Only Seniors
This was a commercial parody for a company called Only Seniors – a different kind of life insurance company. Quinta and Keenan play aging parents who, much to the shock of their children, were able to get life insurance, but not the normal kind – and also not really life insurance at all. It’s Only Fans for older folks. We see clips from their channel as their kids grow increasingly horrified. It was equal parts cringe and hilarious.
Traffic Altercation Returns
The angry drivers returned, this time their cars are on a ferry, with Quinta as the driver who parked too far over the line, and Mikey Day and Chloe Fineman are in the car beside hers. The sketch follows the same formula as the first time when Quinta hosted in 2023, and was just as funny. They mime insults at one another, with Chloe as Mikey‘s daughter, making obscene gestures. This led to one of my favorite lines, or gestures rather, of the sketch, when Quinta mimes a gardening tool, and says, “You raised a hoe.”
Mikey mentions how disappointed he is, because he loves the ferry, when Colin Jost appears at the passenger window, desperately trying to sell them the Staten Island Ferry. In this great meta joke, Chloe says “Oh my God, is that Colin Jost?”, to which Mikey responds, “Don’t make eye contact.”, as Colin yells “Hey, I’m Pete Davidson!”
Weekend Update
Riffing on Trump’s recent statement about children maybe only getting two dolls for Christmas instead of 30, Colin responded in his new segment, Oh Hell, No!, where he talks directly to Trump, declaring that if he runs downstairs on Christmas morning to find only two dolls instead of 30, “I’m going to lose my f-ing mind.”
Michael Longfellow had another outstanding bit as he ripped into the Real ID requirement, making it clear that he refuses to comply. Staring into the camera, he said, “Hey government, no.” According to him, going to the DMV is so awful that he’d rather be at the hospital with a bullet in his penis. He made a strong argument that this really isn’t the time for airports to start making demands, and instead proposes they make a deal—like letting passengers vote to “risk it” when there are mechanical issues with the plane, or allowing five ounces instead of three. He also joked about not being on the show much this season. He’s always great in the sketches he’s in and has the best deadpan delivery. I’m hoping to see him in the show more next season.
Bowen Yang and Sarah Sherman were hilarious as Darlene and Duke, Applebee’s barflies mourning the loss of chain restaurants. This sketch was giving Bronx Beat vibes—and I didn’t mind it at all. It ended with Benson Boone bringing their sizzling fajitas as they sang, “Applebee’s, stay.”
Weekend Update, as usual, knocked it out of the park. And they “kept the groan train going,” as Michael Che put it. Colin and Che have found such a great rhythm, and Update has been reliably funny week after week.
Parting Thoughts
The last two sketches of the night were a bit of a letdown, but overall, this was a strong episode with plenty of memorable moments. It’s hard to believe we’re already nearing the end of Season 50—with just two episodes to go. It’s been a standout season, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the final stretch. Next week, Walton Goggins hosts with musical guest Arcade Fire. Thanks for reading!
