Finale of Saturday Night Live’s Historic 50th Season: Highlights and Recap
The landmark 50th season of Saturday Night Live reached its grand conclusion on May 17, 2025, featuring Scarlett Johansson as host. This marked her seventh appearance in this role, cementing her status as the top female host in the show’s esteemed Five-Timers Club.
Returning for his third time as the musical guest, Bad Bunny performed following his earlier showcase during the SNL50 special. The milestone season was characterized by a strong emphasis on nostalgia and a celebration of the show’s legacy, featuring moments that delighted long-time fans.
The finale brought back beloved comedic legends such as Maya Rudolph, Dana Carvey, and Mike Myers, resulting in an action-packed episode filled with fan-favorite moments and sketches. Johansson’s hosting, along with a stirring cold open by James Austin Johnson, perfectly encapsulated the celebratory spirit intended for this anniversary season.
A Closer Look at the Saturday Night Live Finale
The evening kicked off with a memorable cold open featuring James Austin Johnson, who reprised his impersonation of Donald Trump. Set against a backdrop of the Middle East, Johnson’s comedic delivery included improvised moments referencing various American cities like “Newark!”
In a clever twist, Johnson interacted with the audience directly, breaking the fourth wall to comment on the season finale and humorously suggesting that viewers would have to wait until Fall for Trump’s comedic return to the SNL stage. This sketch artfully contrasted the show’s satirical take on politics with the stark reality of today’s political landscape.
Johansson’s opening monologue seamlessly transitioned into a lively musical parody of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,”where cast members, including Chloe Fineman, joined her on stage. Heidi Gardner humorously mentioned her fondness for Q&A formats, adding a delightful dynamic to the performance, which included a playful jab at cast member Sarah Sherman being “fired.” They concluded with the upbeat line, “We got to spend it with you!”– a cheerful send-off to a memorable season.
In the sketch titled ‘Local News Stories’, Emil Wakim’s character Keith presented a humorous morning news segment alongside Johansson’s Denise, who reported tragically comedic headlines. One such story included the quip:
“Hasta la vista baby! Another baby was been deported!”
Additionally, the popular segment ‘Please Don’t Destroy’ made a return in a pre-taped sketch featuring Johansson in a first-class setting. The skit parodied Lonely Island music videos through a rap about flying in luxury until the punchline revealed their destination was Newark Airport.
As tension mounted over Newark’s less-than-stellar reputation, hilarity ensued when chaos broke out, showcasing Mikey Day as a panicked pilot while Bad Bunny made a humorous appearance as an air traffic controller, harmonizing his landing instructions.
The live sketch ‘Couples Feud’ featured Marcello Hernández and Ego Nwodim portraying a couple whose casual fling evolved into a surprising three-week relationship. Tension arose when Johansson and Bad Bunny entered as another couple at their restaurant table, leading to quirky interactions.
In a comedic twist, Johansson’s character Janice encountered Mike Myers, who made a cameo as himself. Their encounter brought a nostalgic feel, referencing Myers’ real-life moment with Kanye West during a 2005 Hurricane Katrina fundraiser, where West’s infamous comment about George Bush became a cultural touchpoint. This sketch added comedic layers, addressing both past and present controversies.
Fans can catch up on all the hilarious moments from Saturday Night Live’s 50th season finale on Peacock.