The next episode of Saturday Night Live is currently in its annual summer break, so here’s a review of the latest episode to air. This week was also without a new episode so NBC used this time slot for a rerun of the current airing. Olivia Rodrigo also did double duty tonight, playing host and musical guest, as it was originally aired on May 2, 2026. This SNL last night review dissects each and every sketch; ranks up some of its best bits and explains why this particular episode still stands the test of time. Next, we’ll examine the monologue, music and answer typical fan questions at the end.
Table of Contents
Why This SNL Last Night Review Focuses on a Rerun?
If you’re looking for an SNL last night review, here you go, it’s in between seasons. Season 51 concluded on May 16 with a hilarious episode of Will Ferrell, and viewers won’t see any new episodes until Season 52 hits this fall. Until then, NBC is filling the traditional Saturday night programming hole with re-runs of last season. This means all reviews of last night on SNL which took place during this period are considered a repeat broadcast and not fresh material.
Tonight’s rerun is one of the better shows from earlier this year, so it’s certainly worth taking a look at carefully. The physical comedy skills of the cast were highlighted in sketches such as “Edge of Destiny” and “My Ex”, and the May 2 episode of the series provided some of the biggest laughs of the season for Olivia Rodrigo. For this reasons alone, this one particular broadcast deserves to be reviewed last night in the proper and detailed manner like SNL did.
What will happen in SNL’s episode of Rodrigo?
It’s always helpful to first read the other sketches to see why this one is notable during the original airing in the spring time. The show premiered as the 18th episode of Season 51, and was hosted and performed by Olivia Rodrigo on the same night. This is the third time she’s followed Harry Styles and Sabrina Carpenter in doing such a challenging double act this season.
If this was a musical, it definitely rubbed off on the whole show. The whole episode was pretty much musical comedy, starting with a takeoff on her hit track “Driver’s License. If you were a fan who wanted a comprehensive SNL last night review, you will see how her singing voice seamlessly merged with the sketch after sketch. The music was not conceived as a gimmick but rather added a certain comedic beat to this particular episode.
This is the SNL Last Night Review: The Monologue and Cold Open!
As all good SNL last night reviews begin, it is crucial to first look at how the episode opened, as the first impression sets the tone of what the audience expects to see. The show started with a political cold open with a surprise appearance of Aziz Ansari, who previously hosted the show in Season 42. The cameo was an energetic and unpredictable introduction before Rodrigo stepped out for his own monologue scene.
The monologue itself was full of love and sentimentality, and was a very special way for Rodrigo to touch the hearts of older fans of the show. She said she was happy to see the show when she was growing up and said that her favorite show period was when Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson and Chloe Fineman were all on the show. All the 4 cast members actually came back during the monologue just to cheer her on, giving her a sweet moment of a full circle. Then she shifted into a witty spin-off on her breakthrough song, with a new era that involved getting a REAL ID rather than a driver’s license.
Here are some of the most iconic sketches from the SNL Last Night Review
Here is a handy table summarizing some of the best sketches from Rodrigo’s episode. This table is to be used in conjunction with the SNL full night review above to get a full picture of each highlight.
| Sketch | Format | Why It Worked | Standout Performer |
| Cold Open | Political parody | Aziz Ansari’s late cameo created a surprise moment and added energy to the opening. | Aziz Ansari |
| The Power Chord! | Musical parody | A nostalgic callback combined with a reworked version of “Driver’s License.” | Olivia Rodrigo |
| Rasta Driver ChareX | Dancehall comedy | Its unexpected commitment to the dancehall concept helped steal the show. | Andrew Dismukes |
| Soap Opera | Parody sketch | Clever staging helped the sketch avoid typical genre clichés. | Olivia Rodrigo |
| Shop TV: Lava Cake | Recurring sketch | Continued an ongoing season gag that had become a favorite. | Ashleigh Padilla |
| My Ex | Physical comedy | Strong ensemble chemistry and well-timed physical humor made it effective. | Ashley Padilla, Ben Marshall |
| News Desk + Weekend Update | News satire | Sharp topical jokes and strong delivery kept the segment engaging. | Colin Jost, Michael Che |
This table is designed to let you quickly scan the SNL last night review, but offers no context on every entry and should be read in conjunction with the more expansive text below.
SNL Last Night Review: The Rasta Driver Sketch Steals the Show snl 2.20pm
For each of the sketches in the broadcast, one particular sketch is always the most well received by both critics and casual viewers. Andrew Dismukes’ soulful, committed rendition of “Rasta Driver” had the biggest laughs of the night, not to mention soulful performances from other artists as well. Dismukes has usually been the straight faced comedic foil but audiences were taken aback to see him behind the wheel with a full on absurd dancehall personality.
The humour of the sketch came from the two chatty passengers getting ever more astonished at their driver’s surprise ability. Dismukes was totally in character as Rodrigo and his castmate Veronika Slowikowska portrayed passengers, who gave priceless reactions. Dismukes, a singer who got a lot of in-character criticism, never lost his place in character. This sketch is a must-have for any SNL last night recap, because it definitely was the evening’s highlight.
The SNL Last Night Review is a collection of musical moments that are worth revisiting
It’s all of this and more that Rodrigo brought to the table with his music performances, which many hosting-only broadcasts cannot offer. Her upbeat new single “Drop Dead” was a highlight of the season to perform in front of a TV audience. We also had a second, more emotional ballad that she performed in the show that is coming out on her album later.
The sketch comedy was well broken up with these acts, to provide audiences with a true change of pace during the broadcast. This type of show, which tends to polarize people, was not a problem for Rodrigo, who kept most of the viewers entertained with his music. It’s worth noting that this is one of the rare times when a comic host can boast the same level of success in both comedy and music.
Here are a few sketches to look back on from SNL Last Night Review
Not all of the segments were created equally and even if good reviews, the weak moments should be confessed as well. The Shop TV sketch and a segment on security were complaints of one reviewer, who called them the “weakest” moments of the night. All of that was another reason that it was one of the better outings of the season, as the same reviewer noted, writing that the overall broadcast, despite the aforementioned problems, was mostly solid.
In any reasonable SNL last night review, balance is a key consideration, as even good shows can’t always hit 100.00% on each sketch. In fact, the strength against weakness comparison helps to point out why some sketches, such as “Rasta Driver,” really stood out in contrast. This sort of diversity is common for a live sketch show that must operate under a weekly production schedule.
SNL Last Night Review: “Why Reruns Still Matter During Hiatus”
It’s also worth noting that some viewers may ask themselves why it’s even worth reviewing a rerun of SNL versus a new episode. It’s all about rediscovery because a lot of people watch reruns of strong shows they missed the first time around in the summer. Re-watching a good show such as Rodrigo’s also enables fans to enjoy some of the more subtle elements of the show they might not have noticed the first time around.
Reruns also have a practical function for NBC during the long period of time between seasons each year. The network usually repeats some of the best moments from the previous season, so newer and casual viewers can catch up on the season before the next one airs. It is for this reason that this particular SNL last night review will be on an episode aired back in the spring months.
In what ways does this episode fit into the overall season 51 storyline of SNL?
When giving a serious SNL last night review, context is important, so it’s helpful to put this episode in a wider context of the season. In Season 51, musical talent was the mainstay of the hosting, with the show running for 20 episodes. In addition to Rodrigo, the season added musicians with solid musical backgrounds such as Bad Bunny, Jack Black and Finn Wolfhard as well as favorites. That trend seems to indicate that producers were consciously catering for crossover talent in their music this year and Rodrigo’s episode was a perfect fit.
Her episode was also towards the end of the season, which allowed members of the cast to have a lot of chemistry from months of live performances together. One of the dedicated reviewers commented that he hopes the last two episodes of the season can be as good as this one, as a send-off. That’s the kind of anticipation that has grown among loyal fans who have been watching the season very closely, for this particular episode. It’s important to note how momentum can impact the quality of an SNL episode over the course of the season in any thoughtful review last night.
SNL Last Night Review: The Cast Chemistry on Display
A great guest star performance typically relies on the ability of guest stars to seamlessly integrate into a cast of characters. Rodrigo could be seen in almost all of the sketches that night and he certainly got plenty of chemistry with the veteran players. During the broadcast she played many roles, such as a villain on a soap opera and a human creature in an alien zoo exhibit! That was a true range that showed the versatility of comedy, not just acting with some musical fragments.
Real opportunities to shine also came to supporting cast members throughout the episode, along with their high-profile host. Ashley Padilla, Ben Marshall, and Veronika Slowikowska had some great moments in several sketches during the show. This is one of the many reasons why an episode of “good” hostings is different from a “great” episode of hostings you will want to watch again. To write a fair last night review of SNL is to credit the entire cast, not just the SNL “headliner.
This week’s highlights from SNL Last Night Review are highlighted
The Weekend Update segment is a staple of SNL, so of course, no last night review is complete without it. During this segment of the show, hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che followed with the usual combination of topical jokes and dry political analysis. Alongside, there were a number of returning characters visiting the desk, as is always the case with Weekend Update, which infuses the segment with fresh comedic fuel. These character visits add a refreshing break to the straight news-joke routine and make the segment interesting even after decades of running it on air.
While they’re more likely to be the love child of small-talk than the big star of the show (as are more elaborate sketches most weeks), they do serve as a steady comedic component on a weekly basis. Anyone looking for a specific SNL last night review for Weekend Update will appreciate that this one continues in the same vein. That’s the reliability is very important for a franchise of live, weekly TV, under quite time pressure.
The ShowNews Last Night Review is the final verdict on the broadcast
Overall, this episode is highly recommended for summer viewing! Rodrigo really had a double act going, with fast comedic timing and two great live performances. The supporting cast was not far behind her with energy as well and some great sketches, such as “Rasta Driver,” during the broadcast added longevity. The few minor flaws in weaker material don’t detract from an otherwise fun hour of live sketch comedy.
Those who want to see new episodes are not waiting for too long as fresh episodes are slowly making their way back into the schedule. The next season, Season 52, is expected to air this fall, and continue the decades-long tradition of political satire and pop culture parody. For now, NBC will continue to air solid reruns such as this Rodrigo show in the time slot it has been squeezed into every Saturday night. This rerun format will probably be the standard for all future SNL last night reviews until the fall premiere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Was there a new SNL episode last night?
No, Saturday Night Live remains on its annual summer hiatus, so NBC aired a rerun instead of new material this week.
Q2: Which episode aired as the rerun?
The broadcast featured Olivia Rodrigo’s May 2, 2026 episode, where she served as both host and musical guest for the night.
Q3: What was the best sketch in this episode?
Most critics agree “Rasta Driver” delivered the biggest laughs, thanks to a fully committed comedic performance from Andrew Dismukes.
Q4: Did Olivia Rodrigo perform any songs during the episode?
Yes, she performed her single “Drop Dead” live and also debuted a second, more emotional ballad from her upcoming album.
Q5: When does SNL return with new episodes?
Season 52 is expected to premiere this fall on NBC and Peacock, following the usual pattern of prior seasons.
Q6: Where can fans watch this full episode?
The complete Olivia Rodrigo episode is available for streaming anytime through Peacock, the show’s official streaming home.
