This is your SNL review of one of the best talked about episodes of the year, Season 51’s finale on Friday, May 16, 2026. Will Ferrell returned for the sixth time as host and Paul McCartney was back as musical guest for the fifth time overall. As a result, the show’s opening was already hyped and this SNL review will take you through the night of the show. This episode offered a lot of fun, a little surprise and a ton of nostalgia, from the opening scene through the closing credits. So, if you missed it or just need a summary of what was going on, this SNL review will cover the most important moments of the show.
There are always risks when doing a live sketch comedy; one bad joke can ruin the rest of the segment. Finale episodes, however, do tend to get the most experienced players and this often elevates the overall level of the show’s quality. This SNL review considers this context when assessing each sketch because fairness is a key consideration when it comes to live TV under pressure.
Moreover, after a full year, it’s about incorporating “favourites” with new content, and there is no right or wrong way of doing this that will be universally loved. It’s a tension I’ll be keeping in mind as I follow this SNL review, as it will help explain a few creative decisions that were made during the show. Let’s now go shot by shot through all of the things that made this particular finale great to watch and then talk about when it’s over.
Table of Contents
The reason behind this SNL review focusing on a finale episode
Season finales are important, and that’s why this SNL review is here because the episode from May 16 was a perfect end to Season 51. The fact that Ferrell was returning alone sparked a lot of excitement among longtime fans as he hadn’t appeared on the host list before 2019. Meanwhile, Beatles legend McCartney brought a certain star power, as the band’s members are rarely seen late at night on sketch shows.
Moreover, the week before’s episode with Matt Damon and Noah Kahan was high stakes enough to generate a lot of expectations. This SNL review then, is a testament to the fact that Studio 8H had to come up with something that would stick in the minds of viewers, and for the most part, the cast did not disappoint. We’ve isolated each and dealt with them one by one, so you can make your own judgment about whether this episode lives up to the hype surrounding it.
SNL Review: A Political Tone That is Powerfully Familiar
The night began with the political cold open–a staple of the show since its inception, which is to treat current events early in the night. The overall tone of this particular sketch was more topical satire, and it set a chaotic tone for much of the episode. Political cold opens often divide audiences, and this SNL review notes that reactions to this one were mixed at best. Those who liked the show appreciated the writing, others thought the segment was simply repeating old jokes from past episodes this season. But the cast embraced the material, holding the momentum up until Ferrell’s much-awaited monologue.
Cold opens are a huge deal to write because they need to establish the mood for the rest of the broadcast which lasts ninety minutes. All too often, writers can’t think of a new angle on a familiar political figure, particularly when this is so far into an extended, arduous campaign. This SNL review doesn’t have the shrewdness to understand that this is a challenge, but it does point to some future potential. But, in comparison, these earlier cold openings—sharper and earlier as they are—also addressed similar themes, and with far more inventive staging and dialogue. There’s an inconsistency in that, which meant that the writers’ room could have grown weary toward the end.
Ferrell’s Monologue And The Chad Smith Callback
Ferrell’s monologue centered on his long-standing (and amicable) feud with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and it was really a natural fit for this SNL review. Over the years they’ve joked about how similar the two are, and for a finale it was a perfect fit and a crowd favourite to bring it back. Ferrell here acted like a bit player with the same sort of confidence he showed in his performance of the solo, and the reaction from the audience indicated that it worked.
Furthermore, this segment brought back old-timers to the reasons why Ferrell is still one of the most popular alumni in the history of the show. This monologue was such a good fit for programming because of its nostalgia element, which drew in finale numbers.
A sketch of a man’s body and another one of a woman’s body
The first sketch that came to mind was a mechanic discussing the problems with his car, in a way that was completely unclear, like a foreign language. Ferrell was so near the line of not being able to understand the words she was saying, it was not aggravating, it was just funny. Even McCartney appeared briefly as another mechanic, saying a line of subject matter which was a bit risqué for the studio audience.
I think this sketch is one of the great highlights of this night’s SNL because of the cross-over it made between being silly and actually getting a laugh going. The chemistry between Ferrell, Mikey Day and Ashley Padilla takes a situation that could have been dull and makes it something great.
This was the moment of the weekend, when And Jeremy Culhane broke out
Weekend Update has been part of every episode and this SNL review wouldn’t be complete without a reference to the impression work of Jeremy Culhane during this episode. One of five new featured players this season, Culhane was said to have taken the segment by storm with a Tucker Carlson impression. After much of the political product from this season seemed fairly innocuous, Culhane’s breakout performance was a breath of fresh air. That, in turn, led many critics to point to this moment as a sign that Season 52 could be more of a show for the newer cast members. This SNL review says Culhane deserves some credit for turning things up a notch on familiar political ground.
It has been a long time since I chose to do something out of the ordinary
Later in the episode, “The Nudemans” took it up a notch, including Andrew Dismukes first meeting with his girlfriend’s family. Veronika Slowikowska was cast as the girlfriend, and things took a dramatic turn for the worse when the sketch cut an unexpected scene in which Ferrell’s character dons leather underwear. This SNL review felt the sketch was polarizing–some saw it as shock while others saw it as shock for the sake of shock. The segment, no matter how it’s viewed, sparked a lot of social media discussion soon after the show airs. That’s the reaction that tells me that the writers had enough of a moment that I’ll be talking about it.
Now that the episode has aired, here’s a breakdown of the major moments from SNL
Below is a summary of the key segments from this episode, for quick reference while reading this SNL review.
| Segment | Cast/Participants | Overall Reception |
| Cold Open – Political Ensemble | Political ensemble cast | Mixed; some viewers felt it was slightly repetitive. |
| Opening Monologue / Callback | Will Ferrell, Chad Smith | Well received, with a strong sense of nostalgia. |
| Post-Op / Mechanic Sketch | Will Ferrell, Mikey Day, Ashley Padilla, McCartney | Highlight of the night. |
| Weekend Update – Tucker Impression | Jeremy Culhane | Hailed as a breakout moment. |
| The Nudemans | Andrew Dismukes, Veronika Slowikowska, Will Ferrell | Divisive but memorable. |
| Musical Performances | Paul McCartney | Surprise appearance on the third song; emotional and well-liked. |
The episode had great moments and some that missed, but it evened it out as you will see in this table. It’s a pretty typical season finale balance, as writers typically make greater creative leaps in these high-profile episodes.
Paul McCartney’s Music Performance took the show!
It’s not only the sketches that are worthy of attention in this SNL review, but also the music set put together by McCartney. He played several songs all night and just towards the end of the broadcast he played an unannounced third song. At that last track, McCartney declared his new album “The Boys of Dungeon Lane” and brought an added dimension of thrill to the loyal fans.
His acting was quite passionate and raw and was more in touch with the emotional part of the episode, which was a nice contrast to the more chaotic comedic parts of the episode. At the age of 77, and in the company of his legendary reputation, it’s a treat for any generation to see McCartney up on a sketch comedy stage.
Interestingly, this was also an appearance by the oldest musical guest in the show’s history, which further enriched the show’s significance. The segment was impressive and fans on social media started pouring in lauds immediately after the third song that they didn’t expect ended the episode in a surprise. This SNL review thought that the show was worth watching just for the moment, and the rest is history.
How Episode Compares With Other Season 51 Finales
SNL review: Historically, the shows’ finales are mixed, and this SNL review is no exception. There was some criticism that the episode felt disjointed – it had such strong moments and then some scenes were just for shock value. Others said the level of energy was impressive, and often finales don’t focus on tidying up but on having fun, chaos and memorable send-offs. This season emphasised on more nostalgia than usual, thanks to Ferrell’s return and McCartney’s fifth appearance. So, if you’ve seen it for years, you may have enjoyed the callbacks more than the newer generation who were not aware of the decades long show history.
Ironically, the last week’s episode with Matt Damon as host, and Noah Kahan as musical guest, was far more favorably received by most outlets. The previous episode was more focused and closer to its goal of being a good sketch, whereas this finale was more about the show and the performer. That’s not something this SNL review would call a blunder, as finales are meant to be something entirely different than a standard midseason episode.
Past ratings tell us that, with season-ending shows, viewers are more likely to turn on for a big name than for impeccable writing. Therefore, simply counting the number of jokes in each episode isn’t really a good measure of how packed it is, since it doesn’t take account of the larger context of the reason for having finales.
This SNL Review Tells You This About Season 52
In the future, this episode provides some hints as to the direction of Season 52 when it will return this fall. Jeremy Culhane’s big Weekend Update play could mean that producers are going to rely more on newer featured players in the future. Plus, when the political cold open didn’t go over well in the room, it suggests writers will have to come up with new angles when the new season starts.
In the meantime, Ferrell’s success with his comeback only reinforces the power of his beloved alumni to continue to bring energy and ratings during the marquee. As Season 52 kicks in, fans can look forward to more experimentation, particularly from the newer cast members who are gaining ground in the cast.
Final Verdict This SNL Review
Overall, this SNL review rates this Season 51 finale fairly solid but slightly weaker than expected. The mechanic sketch was a great, solid spot, and Ferrell’s monologue was a really good, clear one, and by comparison the cold open was a little bit predictable. McCartney’s songs really were the highlight of the show, bringing emotional depth and balance to the show’s usual comedic mayhem. But the breakout Weekend Update moment by Jeremy Culhane is worth noting too as it shows there are some exciting things in the cards for the upcoming season.
Most of all, this episode did what an episode of any kind should do, at least during the summer break, and that is give the viewers something to discuss and debate. Some comedians could get a little disappointed at the length of the few rough patches, but those seeking a neat, consistently funny hour may end up disappointed. But for those looking for star power, a sense of familiarity and a few moments that are memorable will likely find this one of the show’s most memorable moments of the season.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Q1: Who hosted the SNL Season 51 finale?
Will Ferrell hosted the finale for his sixth time overall, marking his first hosting appearance since 2019.
Q2: Who was the musical guest during this episode?
Paul McCartney served as musical guest, making his fifth overall appearance and performing a surprise third song.
Q3: What was the best sketch according to this SNL review?
The mechanic sketch, sometimes called “Post-Op,” stood out as the strongest segment thanks to strong chemistry between Ferrell and McCartney.
Q4: Did Weekend Update feature any standout moments?
Yes, featured player Jeremy Culhane delivered a widely praised Tucker Carlson impression that many critics called the episode’s breakout moment.
Q5: When does SNL Season 52 premiere?
Saturday Night Live traditionally returns each fall, with Season 52 expected to premiere in October following the usual summer hiatus.
Q6: Is this SNL review overall positive or negative about the episode?
This SNL review leans positive overall, praising several standout segments while acknowledging that a few sketches felt uneven or predictable.
