Ariana Grande returned to the iconic stage of “Saturday Night Live” at 30 Rockefeller Plaza for her third hosting gig, recalling previous moments while addressing the audience.
The 31-year-old singer and actress reflected on her last hosting experience in 2016, when the country was on the brink of electing its first female president. “I guess, second time’s the charm?” she cleverly quipped during her opening monologue.
This time, Grande was not taking the stage as a musical guest; that honor went to the legendary Stevie Nicks. Although she had assured everyone she wouldn’t sing, she soon broke into a song.
Continuing with the musical theme, Grande jokingly promised that she wouldn’t showcase her well-known impressions of artists like Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and Gwen Stefani, only to sneak in a snippet of each before treating viewers to a longer impersonation of Celine Dion in a subsequent sketch.
Grande’s hosting stint was driven by the promotion of her upcoming movie adaptation of “Wicked,” a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” set to release next month.
She expressed her enthusiasm for playing the role of Glinda, the good witch, mentioning that it’s a dream come true for theater enthusiasts like herself.
This episode aired amid a noticeable increase in ratings for the venerable sketch show, which is currently in its 50th season, coinciding with the build-up to the election season. Viewership for last month’s season premiere reached levels not seen since 2020.
As has been the trend already this season, Maya Rudolph returned to portray Vice President Kamala Harris during the cold open, joined by several former cast members as guest stars, including Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey taking on the role of President Joe Biden.
The group engaged in an election-themed edition of “The Family Feud,” competing against a team representing Donald Trump.
Kenan Thompson, the show’s longest-serving cast member since 2003, reprised his role as the game show host Steve Harvey. He asked Rudolph-as-Harris about her busy media schedule, to which she humorously replied, “It’s been a hell of a week.” She elaborated on her appearances across various platforms to reach different audiences, urging young women to head to the polls to reclaim their agency.
James Austin Johnson appeared as Donald Trump, making light of his competitor’s potential ineffectiveness by belittling her intellect.
Stevie Nicks, aged 76, marked her first musical appearance on “SNL” after more than four decades. Her performance began with her latest single, “The Lighthouse,” showcasing her signature style of numerous rings and flowing scarves, followed by a nostalgic presentation of her classic hit, “Edge of Seventeen,” originally released in 1981.
In the upcoming episode, actor Michael Keaton will take on the hosting duties with Billie Eilish set as the musical guest, while comedian John Mulaney and newcomer Chappell Roan are confirmed for the following Saturday.
The kickoff of the 50th season has sparked a wave of nostalgia and reflection, as seen in “Saturday Night,” a film that captures the moments leading up to the very first episode of the beloved sketch show, which debuted on October 11, 1975.
To commemorate this milestone, a special three-hour primetime celebration is scheduled for February 16, marking the official 50th season festivities.