I have no idea why they are still using Jeremy as the guy who introduces Pete Hegseth in all these cold opens; feels redundant. This cold open feels a week out of date, considering that clownish Wolfenstein-esque speech Hegseth gave recently. Typical Colin-as-Hegseth lines though they are not as bad as the last few times. Ugh at the whole "no homo" part with Kam. I know they are making fun of Hegseth's own homophobia, but I do not find it funny.
October 3, 2026 – Dakota Johnson / Turnstile (S52 E2)
After all the hype about a potential Jack Smith cold open, we get this somewhat low-key open. Not sure how I feel. I admire the show not going the predictable route and all, but it feels like a lazy choice to do such a cold open to me. Marcello has decent energy as Marco Rubio, and while I chuckled at his "Little Marco" line at the start, the rest of his part did nothing for me. Although, his delivery was pretty impressive.
September 26, 2026 – Jalen Brunson / KATSEYE (S52 E1)
What is it with the wild audience applause for Ramy as Mamdani? Do they think that's really the real guy or something? Unless Ramy Youssef, whom I like a lot, is more popular than I have thought. For a while, I thought we might get an overlong summer recap cold open, but I like how this one seems more low-key and New York-focused. While he looks nothing like him, Ramy is at least fun as the Mayor, especially lampooning how he uses social media.
SNL51 Wrap-Up Extravaganza!
Season 51 was quite an interesting journey. The first two thirds, especially the first two runs of the back half and the November run, were overall really fun. Solid, fresh, with a lot of back-and-forth between the vets and newbies taking the spotlight (even Mikey Day churned out some of his best work in several seasons in that point). As soon as the Harry Styles episode came along, despite its highlights, the season sank and never recovered for me. That episode’s deadness crept into the last quarter and made it quite a tough watch, even with some excellent highs (as seen later in this post).
May 16, 2026 – Will Ferrell / Paul McCartney (S51 E20)
The “new era” vibes continue with a redone version of that S43 cold open with Trumpwin (shudder). You just cannot make this shit up. If the show is so nostalgic for the late ‘10s era, “my” era actually, then why even bother hiring a new cast and crop of writers? It is so clear how “precious” graying Colin Jost and Mikey Day are to Lorne. Why not emulate that’s era’s more structured writing and standout cast? I had my issues with the that era (though mainly cold opens and a few cast members near its end), but it is late ‘80s SNL next to these past two seasons. Bland nostalgia is nothing at the end.
May 9, 2026 – Matt Damon / Noah Kahan (S51 E19)
Cue the umpteenth appearance from Jost’s Hegseth. Part of me is slowly dying every time I have to review this impression. I should be happy to see not only Matt in the cold open, but reprising his classic Kavanaugh impression. But, between him, Jost and Kenan, we are getting already a “nostalgia” to the late ‘10s era.
May 2, 2026 – Olivia Rodrigo (S51 E18)
Groan. Fucking ugh at the visual of the large scotch glass with Colin. Considering how he horribly bombed the last time he showed up, I am not surprised the audience’s laughter is quite mild so far, especially that one loud lady. “Hilarious”, as get homophobic jabs at the reporters, for the billionth time this season. And, considering the five minutes humiliation sketch Jeremy Culhane was in last episode, not even going to pretend this isn’t a not-so-subtle digs at the newbies in these reporter roles.
April 11, 2026 – Colman Domingo / Anitta (S51 E17)
Been quite a while since Ashley last played Karoline Leavitt. I always love this impression of hers. A meta comment about Ashley playing all the women in his cabinet. While maybe funny on paper, it is a sad reminder of how poor/limited most of the other women in the cast are next to Ashley Padilla. This cold open’s format reminds me of those awful Trumpwin (shudder) cold opens, complete with phone calls and split screens. JAJ is doing his best to elevate this as always, however. Not sure if it is working for me as much as I want it to.
April 4, 2026 – Jack Black / Jack White (S51 E16)
Funny enough, I was complaining how the show never seems to do sports-centric cold opens like they used to. Am I being tracked? If so, can Lorne fire the people I’ve been begging to leave? Thanks in advance. As always, a very good Ernie Johnson voice from JAJ. I even like his impression a little more than the solid one Bill Hader used to do. I am not familiar with the coach Jeremy is playing, but he is great in this part.
March 14, 2026 – Harry Styles (S51 E15)
Utterly bizarre to get a non-political cold open, unless we get a twist. Guess the topical take on the gas prices is making this a somewhat political open. Alright, so JAJ’s Trump appears after a one-week break. I kinda grew tired of these interruption opens, especially watching the cast frozen behind him. Unearned airtime for certain some in the cast.