Scarlett Johansson Hosts the Epic 50th Season Finale of SNL
As Saturday Night Live wraps up its monumental 50th season, who better to take the stage for the grand finale than the illustrious Scarlett Johansson? Known for her Oscar-nominated performances in “Marriage Story” and “JoJo Rabbit,” Johansson is no stranger to the iconic Studio 8H. She has hosted the show six times prior and is married to the Weekend Update’s very own Colin Jost, which has led to some spontaneous appearances.
On the acting front this year, Johansson reunites with Wes Anderson, teaming up once again for “The Phoenician Scheme,” and is set to star in “Jurassic World: Rebirth.” Let’s dive into the highlights of her recent SNL gig, spanning from the opening monologue to the standout sketches.
COLD OPEN True to form, SNL kicks off with a satirical take on current events, featuring James Austin Johnson as President Donald Trump. This week, Trump’s Middle Eastern escapades are highlighted, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (played by Marcello Hernández) joining him to discuss topics like Trump’s new luxury jet from Qatar and make light of SNL musical guest Morgan Wallen’s sudden departure (“Get me to Allah’s country”). Eventually, Trump amusingly breaks the fourth wall, acknowledging the audience as he bids them farewell for the season: “Worst one yet,” he quips, before forecasting a questionable future for America: “See you in the fall, if we still have a country. It’s a coin toss.”
OPENING MONOLOGUE “I first hosted this show at 21,” Johansson reminisced as she graced the stage. “So being back here feels like barely any time has passed!” With that, she launched into a heartfelt musical farewell to SNL’s 50th season, set to Billy Joel’s classic, “Piano Man.” Her performance featured the full cast joining in. She also extended a surprising good luck wish to cast member Sarah Sherman, quipping about her imminent departure—a surprise to Sherman herself. “Does someone know something I don’t?” she wondered aloud. Don’t fret, Sarah’s staying put as far as we know!
NEWARK AIRPORT VIDEO The sketch group Please Don’t Destroy crafted a hilarious new video where Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy find themselves aboard a first-class flight courtesy of Johansson. Their glee takes a nosedive when they realize the plane’s destination is Newark, New Jersey—a locale notorious for recent airport chaos. As the situation worsens, the pilot, played by Mikey Day, must rely on novice air traffic controller Bad Bunny as they navigate the emergency.
MIKE MYERS/KANYE WEST SKETCH Making a jovial return, former SNL member Mike Myers reprises his role as Elon Musk, this time playing himself. Together with a fangirling Johansson, Myers finds himself in a New York City elevator ride, which takes an awkward twist when Kanye West (portrayed by Kenan Thompson) enters. Johansson quickly parts ways, leaving Myers to reminisce on his last encounter with the rapper during a Hurricane Katrina relief telethon.
WEEKEND UPDATE In keeping with finale tradition, Jost and Michael Che swap jokes that neither have seen until showtime. Celebrating SNL’s golden anniversary, Jost cheekily addressed showrunner Lorne Michaels: “Lorne, retire, you tough nut. Let me handle the helm,” even dabbing a little lipstick for dramatic effect. Che, meanwhile, apologized to Johansson for some off-color jokes he’d penned for her spouse, Colin Jost, to read, humorously admitting he was acting out of envy, jesting: “I’ve never even seen a human vagina. And notice I said human, because I once spent a summer on a farm.”