For a brief moment, due to the C-Span intro, I thought the cold open would be congress-based, much like the Amy Poehler one earlier in the season. Ashley as Karoline Leavitt is good casting. Nice also to see a cast member instead of a random cameo in the role. Ashley is already great in her passive-aggressive behavior towards reporters. Even when the material given to her is nothing amazing.
November 8, 2025 – Nikki Glaser / sombr (S51 E5)
Figures they’d be doing a cold open around this incident. Andrew as RFK Jr? Andrew is one of my favorite current cast members, but seriously? Marcello as Dr. Oz is even more baffling. A lot of this cast, both good and bad, makes me feel at times I’m watching a talent show instead of a sketch comedy show.
November 1, 2025 – Miles Teller / Brandi Carlile (S51 E4)
SNL just now doing an NYC-centric cold open? I still remember some fans thinking this would be too niche for the rest of the country, but I guess not. Nice seeing the solid Miles Teller in the cold open, for the second hosting stint in a row. I’m liking that voice he is using as Cuomo. Ramy Youssef as Zohran Mamdani? I like that guy (and Zohran, too, not to get too political for these reviews), but why not a cast member? Ramy is also an Arab (like yours truly) and as far as I know, we aren’t that close looks-wise to how Indian people look like. I’m also sure we don’t need more cameos.