The much-anticipated finale of Saturday Night Live (SNL), which aired on May 17, 2025, on NBC, marked the culmination of its remarkable 50th season. Hosted by the talented Scarlett Johansson, this episode also highlighted the actress’s nostalgia, noting her impressive journey since first hosting the show at age 21. Johansson commenced the evening with a heartfelt musical tribute, celebrating the show’s milestone alongside various cast members joining her on stage.
During her performance, Johansson extended her well wishes to fellow cast member Sarah Sherman, who purportedly is departing from the show. However, Sherman appeared oblivious to any such plans and humorously questioned if others were privy to information she wasn’t. This moment seemed to blend genuine sentiments with jovial banter, perfectly exemplifying SNL’s signature comedic style.
“It’s been a great season and Sarah is leaving, we’re all gonna miss you next year,”sang Scarlett Johansson with other cast members of Saturday Night Live.
While there has been no official confirmation regarding Sherman’s exit, the jesting nature of the song suggests that it was lighthearted rather than an actual farewell.
Highlights from the Final Episode of SNL’s 50th Season
The finale featured a plethora of returning talent, including notable appearances by The Lonely Island, and familiar faces such as Maya Rudolph, Dana Carvey, and Mike Myers. This episode marked Johansson’s seventh time hosting, further solidifying her status within the SNL family.
One of the standout moments occurred during the Cold Open. James Austin Johnson portrayed Donald Trump, engaging with Emil Wakim as the Saudi Arabian Prime Minister. The sketch took an amusing turn as Johnson broke character, interacting with the live audience and reflecting on the show’s end, playfully expressing hopes for his character’s return in future seasons.
Another memorable sketch titled Local News Stories featured Scarlett Johansson as Denise Jones, who infused humor into serious news narratives, addressing grave topics involving murder and misconduct through clever puns. Joining her were fellow cast members Kenan Thompson, Emil Wakim, and Chloe Fineman.
The comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy also contributed to the episode with a sketch illustrating their chaotic first-class flight experience, courtesy of Johansson’s character. The humor escalated when they realized they would be traveling from New York to Newark, resulting in a hilarious panic amid turbulence, capped off by an emergency pilot call played by Mikey Day.
In a nostalgic twist, Mike Myers returned for a sketch called Mike Myers Elevator Ride, where he and Kenan Thompson, who played Kanye West, revisited their infamous encounter from a Hurricane Katrina telethon nearly two decades earlier.
The Weekend Update segment also delivered comedic gold, featuring a joke swap that had Che and Jost exchanging humorous barbs at one another, including Che’s proposal for Jost to take over from Lorne Michaels, complemented by self-deprecating jokes regarding Johansson.
Other entertaining sketches included Couples at the Bar and Bowen’s Still Straight, culminating with a musical performance by Bad Bunny, who showcased his hit NUEVAYoL. Fans eager to relive the highlights of this landmark season can stream episodes of Saturday Night Live from season 50 on Peacock.