The SNL 50th Finale was one for the ages

Scarlett Johansson made history as the first woman to host Saturday Night Live seven times, guiding the milestone 50th‑season finale through a blend of nostalgia, humor, and heartfelt moments The show opened with James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump sketch targeting Middle East policy. Johansson’s monologue cleverly parodied Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” nodding to the season’s big events—from the election season to the star‑filled anniversary special.

Sketch highlights included a darkly comedic “Local News” segment with pun‑laden humor, and a memorable “Couples at the Bar” scene that showcased Bad Bunny’s comedic charm opposite Marcello Hernández in Spanish. A Please Don’t Destroy short—“First Class”—saw Johansson land with paranoid air travelers, while Bad Bunny gave a standout musical cameo as an air‑traffic controller.

The Weekend Update joke‑swap delivered the season’s highlight: Michael Che apologized to Johansson on‑air for his crude roast‑beef joke, prompting a playful revenge arc involving Colin Jost, ending sweetly with Jost presenting Johansson flowers and sealing it with a kiss.

Finale reflections ranged from “fun but uneven”  to bittersweet speculation—emotional hugs as the show cut abruptly, sparking rumors of cast departures, especially Bowen Yang.

In all, it was a warmly reflective, celebrity-spiked send‑off that celebrated SNL’s legacy while hinting at both fresh chapters and farewells ahead.