Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | TV | May 17, 2026
Cold Open — Despite the presence of James Austin Johnson’s Trump, it manages to be a solid cold open with Will Ferrell playing Jeffrey Epstein’s ghost. Aziz Ansari also returns to do his Kash Patel impression for the third week in a row, and normally, I’d say that’s too much but it’s the last three episodes of the season, and let’s be honest, there’s no way Kash Patel is still director of the FBI when SNL returns next season, so get while the getting is good, SNL. (Score: 6.5 out of 10)
Will Ferrell Monologue — For the monologue, Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers came out, pretending to be Ferrell and the likeness is crazy, although he also somehow simultaneously looks like Martin Kove from Karate Kid. Basically, Chad Smith looking like Will Ferrell and the actual Will Ferrell rattling off a list of songs that Paul McCartney wrote is the whole monologue. (Score: 6 out of 10)
Post-Op — A doctor explains to a patient that, during a gall bladder surgery, he accidentally removed his penis. There’s not a lot of meat on it, but it Ferrell makes it work. (Score: 6 out of 10)
Bobbin’s Sacrifice — The high production value on this pretape, alas, did not justify the joke of Ferrell singing about switching sides in the middle of a Orc battle. (Score: 5 out of 10)
Cast List — Will Ferrell plays a high school drama teacher taunting the kids over the cast list, but it’s Molly Shannon who almost saves the skit. C+ skits are not the way I wanted the season to end (this skit is also reportedly a sequel to previous Will Ferrell skit cut for time). (Watch Here) (Score: 4.5 out of 10)
Weekend Update — If this is their final “Update,” well, the regular portion was decent, they brought on Mr. On Blast again (I think that I’m in the minority in that I don’t love Mr. On Blast), and they ended the season with another joke swap that may have been more racist than the Kevin Hart Roast, but at least, a Black guy was writing the racist jokes for the white guy. But the Kanye joke was gold. (Score: 7 out of 10)
Mechanics — “This is what it feels like talking to a mechanic” is basically Ferrell, Marcello Hernandez, and Paul McCartney saying a lot of nonsense words and making weird noises. And the kicker is that Mikey Day pays in ass. Ooof. (Watch Here) (Score: 4 out of 10)
The Nudemans — A semi-amusing sketch in which a woman brings her boyfriend to meet her parents, all of whom have portions of their clothes cut out to reveal their nudity. Mat skit of the week?
Finally, the Goodbyes features no indication of anyone leaving, but did feature a third Paul McCartney number. There is a crazy unfounded Internet rumor that Lorne Michaels might retire after the season, which is almost certainly not true. But if he were, going out with maybe the all-time best cast member and a close friend and legend playing three songs might be the way to go. It didn’t actually make for a particularly great episode, though. Lots of respect for McCartney and all, but I had no interest in three musical numbers from him.
Anyway, a fairly anticlimactic season finale, especially after great episodes from Matt Damon and Olivia Rodrigo.
Overall assessment of the season, however, is that after a slow start, the cast really began to gel and the back half of the season was genuinely great. After so much turnover last season, despite my predictions about who might leave, I would actually be happy if the entire cast returned for season 52, although I really do it’s time for Che and Jost to move on.
