Kaylah Walton
Ariana Grande returned to the iconic stage of “Saturday Night Live” at 30 Rock for her third time as the host, encountering a similar vibe as before.
Reflecting on her previous hosting stint in 2016, she mentioned in her opening monologue, “We were on the cusp of electing our first female president. So, it seems like the second time may just be lucky?”
This appearance marked Grande’s first time hosting without also being the musical guest, with Stevie Nicks taking on that role. Although she promised to refrain from singing, she couldn’t help but break out into a song.
Maintaining the humorous theme, she declared she wouldn’t perform her usual impressions of Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and Gwen Stefani, only to later mimic them in a light-hearted manner. A longer impersonation of Celine Dion was included in a sketch later in the episode.
Her hosting was linked to the promotion of her upcoming movie musical “Wicked,” a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” set to premiere next month.
Grande expressed that portraying the character Glinda, the good witch in the film, is a dream fulfilled for many theater enthusiasts like herself, akin to a rite of passage.
This episode coincided with a surge in ratings for the beloved sketch show, likely thanks to its golden 50th season and the ongoing election season, marking last month’s premiere as the most-watched since 2020.
Maya Rudolph reprised her role as Vice President Kamala Harris during the opening skit, bringing back former cast members, including Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden.
Together, they engaged in an election-themed segment of “The Family Feud,” opposing team Trump.
Kenan Thompson, the longest-serving cast member since 2003, assumed the role of “Feud” host Steve Harvey, asking Rudolph’s Harris about her recent media appearances.
In a humorous remark, she responded, “It’s been a wild week. I went on Howard Stern to connect with the cab drivers, appeared on ‘The View’ for the moms, and went on ‘Call Her Daddy’ to remind young women to make their voices heard at the ballot box.”
James Austin Johnson returned as Donald Trump, critiquing his contender as “a very low IQ individual.” Adding humor, he noted, “The whole world is pointing fingers at her with ridicule.”
Stevie Nicks, at 76, graced the show as a musical guest for the first time in over 40 years. She debuted her latest single, “The Lighthouse,” while also performing her classic “Edge of Seventeen” from 1981.
Next week, Michael Keaton will take the hosting reins with musical guest Billie Eilish, followed by John Mulaney and Chappell Roan in the following episode.
The launch of the 50th season has stirred feelings of nostalgia with various tributes, including the film “Saturday Night,” showcasing the moments leading up to the first episode of Lorne Michaels’ original sketch show on October 11, 1975.
Additionally, a special three-hour primetime event is planned for February 16 to commemorate the 50th season.
