Ariana Grande recently hosted “Saturday Night Live” for the third time, joking about her previous appearance in 2016, just before the presidential election. She performed as the host without serving as the musical guest, which was done by Stevie Nicks. Grande promised not to sing during the show but ended up breaking into song and doing a few impressions, including a longer version of Celine Dion in a sketch. The singer was promoting her upcoming movie musical “Wicked,” where she plays the good witch Glinda. The episode is part of the show’s 50th season, which has been experiencing a ratings spike.
The episode featured Maya Rudolph as Vice President Kamala Harris leading a sketch with former cast members returning as guest stars, including Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden. They participated in an election-themed version of “The Family Feud” against a team representing Trump. Current cast member James Austin Johnson portrayed Donald Trump, making remarks about his opponent. Stevie Nicks performed as the musical guest for the first time in over 40 years, singing her new single and a classic hit. The upcoming episodes will feature hosts such as Michael Keaton and John Mulaney.
The 50th season of “Saturday Night Live” has brought reflection and nostalgia, including the release of a movie comedy based on the show’s early days and a primetime special planned for February 16 to celebrate the milestone. The show has been receiving high viewership during this season, likely due to the anniversary and the ongoing election season. Grande’s appearance as host was well-received, with her monologue touching on current events and her excitement about her upcoming movie musical. The show continues to attract top talent in both hosting and musical guests, bringing a mix of humor and music to audiences.
Overall, Grande’s hosting stint on “Saturday Night Live” was a success, with the episode featuring a blend of comedy sketches and musical performances. The show’s 50th season has brought renewed interest and nostalgia for the long-running sketch comedy institution. Grande’s promotion of “Wicked” added a unique flair to the episode, with her performance as the good witch Glinda drawing praise from fans. The show continues to adapt to current events and trends, with political humor and celebrity guest stars making regular appearances. As the season progresses, viewers can expect more entertaining episodes with a mix of comedy and music.