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Scarlett Johansson sets new hosting record in Saturday Night Live season finale

Scarlett Johansson sets new hosting record in Saturday Night Live season finale

Express Tribune18-05-2025
Scarlett Johansson made Saturday Night Live history this weekend, becoming the first woman to host the show seven times, closing out SNL's milestone 50th season. The star kicked off the episode with a musical tribute to the long-running sketch show, joined by the full cast, marking a sentimental highlight of the night.
The cold open featured James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia, joking about planes and politics, followed by a series of sketches that varied in quality. Johansson played multiple characters throughout the night, including a news anchor obsessed with puns and a partner in a barroom couple's spat with Bad Bunny, who doubled as the evening's musical guest.
A 'Please Don't Destroy' sketch about luxury travel gone wrong and a recurring 'Straight Bowen' segment added humor, though some skits — including one about intimacy coordinators — fell flat with audiences.
Mike Myers returned briefly for a self-aware sketch referencing his infamous Hurricane Katrina moment with Kanye West (portrayed by Kenan Thompson), while Weekend Update brought back fan-favorite Ms Eggy (Ego Nwodim) for another edgy airport roast.
The episode ended with a gross-out Victorian luncheon sketch, and a curtain call that included Colin Jost kissing Johansson onstage and a tribute to longtime SNL producer Lorne Michaels.
While the finale showcased Scarlett Johansson's versatility and comedic chops, the episode reflected the show's season-long inconsistency. With cast changes, Michaels' uncertain future, and a British version of the show in the works, fans are left wondering what's next for SNL.
The 50th season finale highlighted both the enduring charm and uneven nature of Saturday Night Live — a fitting close to a legacy season.
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