Ariana Grande returned to Saturday evening live for the second time last night as host. This time she brought along musical guest Stevie Nicks, who sang the classic hit “Edge of Seventeen” and her new anthem about reproductive rights, “The Lighthouse.”
Grande, fresh off her role as Glinda in the upcoming film Bad film, kicked things off with a playful musical monologue, teasing fans with her famous impressions of Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Gwen Stefani and Celine Dion – some of which she reprized later in the evening.
Whether she was airing a bridesmaid parody of Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso, making fun of Dion in a UFC promo or starring fellow impressionist Chloe Fineman as Jennifer Coolidge’s reflection, Grande kept the audience laughing.
Although technically it was Grande’s third time performing SNL (she hosted it once before in season 41 and was a musical guest in March this year), she made it clear that when it comes to hosting, it’s not a question of which diva she will imitate – but how many!
‘Family Feud’: Election edition 2024
The cold open once again featured the 2024 election players, with Maya Rudolph reprising her performance as Vice President Kamala Harris and Jim Gaffigan returning as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in a special election-themed edition of Family feud hosted by Kenan Thompson as Steve Harvey.
Andy Samberg also returned to the stage as second gentleman Doug Emhoff, or as he called himself during the sketch, “Doug the Shrug,” as did Dana Carvey as half-asleep President Biden, who was conscious enough to deliver the president’s famous to bring. -liners: “Anyway…and guess what…and by the way…the show is great. I’m serious now.”
On the Republican side, Thompson’s Harvey introduced Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson) as “the man who kicked me out of my apartment in 1982.”
Conspicuously missing, however, was former first lady Melania Trump. “I could have sworn she was standing right next to me about two years ago,” Johnson said as Trump. The real Harris gave Rudolph’s impersonation her approval The view last week, gushing, “[Rudolph] had the whole thing: the suit, the jewelry, everything. Wow, the mannerisms!”
Who will host next?
October 19: Michael Keaton with musical guest Billie Eilish
November 2: John Mulaney with musical guest Chappell Roan
