The 15th episode of the landmark 50th season of Saturday Night Live aired on NBC on March 29, 2025, marking a significant moment as Academy Award winner Mikey Madison took to the stage for her hosting debut. Joining her was Morgan Wallen, who returned as the musical guest for the second time.
In the lead-up to the episode, a promotional clip was released on YouTube featuring an engaging interaction among Madison, Wallen, and cast member Chloe Fineman. The promo showcased Fineman’s humorous revelation about being inspired by Madison’s performance in the film Anora, leading her to enroll in an “exotic dance class.”
Madison, visibly taken aback, offered a hesitant approval of Fineman’s dance moves, humorously describing them as an “interesting take.”This light-hearted exchange set a cheerful tone for the episode.
“That’s an interesting take,” Mikey said.
Mikey Madison’s Engaging Monologue
Watch Mikey Madison’s Monologue
Kicking off the episode, Mikey Madison delivered a captivating monologue that reflected on pivotal moments throughout her life and career. Madison opened the monologue by expressing that March had been a whirlwind, referencing the success of her film Anora, which garnered five Oscars, including her own for Best Actress. Jokingly, she mentioned her plans for April would consist of catching up on sleep following the hectic month.
She further highlighted her “relaxed vibe,”which she strives to maintain even in her more intense roles. The monologue cleverly contrasted her real personality with the often chaotic characters she portrays. Clips from her performances showcased this disparity, featuring scenes where her characters experience extreme situations, such as her character Anora from the film Anora engaged in a heated confrontation and her well-known scene from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood where her character encounters a fiery demise.
Watch Maddison’s Iconic Scenes
Shifting gears, Madison shared fond memories of her childhood, playfully branding herself a “self-proclaimed horse girl.”She humorously described her experiences, mentioning how she was homeschooled to spend more time with her beloved horses, which drew smiles from the audience.
“When I was a kid, I was a very proud, self-proclaimed horse girl. For those of you unfamiliar, a horse girl is basically a nerd, but with long hair. I even did homeschooling so I could spend more time at the barn with the horses. Here’s a photo of me and my pony Thumbelina on Halloween,”she said.
Continuing her nostalgic tales, she jokingly questioned whether the most embarrassing part of her childhood was the couples’ costume she wore with her horse or the intricate backstory she created for it, both of which drew laughter from the audience.
“Yep. I honestly don’t know what’s worse — the fact that I did a couples’ costume with my horse or the fact that I created a backstory. So, we were jailbirds arrested for the crime of stealing each other’s hearts. I know — it’s so hard to believe I was homeschooled, right?”
After teasing her brother with a lighthearted jab, Madison transitioned back to discussing her role in Anora, emphasizing her commitment to authenticity by performing her own stunts and dance sequences. She explained her discomfort with assumptions that someone else was behind the dance moves, eager to set the record straight.
In a comedic twist, as she prepared to demonstrate her skills on a pole, a man hilariously stepped in wearing her dress, showcasing the dance routine in her place, much to the delight of the audience.
New episodes of Saturday Night Live premiere every Saturday on NBC, offering fresh comedy and entertainment.