Melissa McCarthy hosts for 6th time with musical guest Dijon

Welcome one and all, it’s SNL in Review. We’re in December, and tonight’s show is hosted by the mega-talented Melissa McCarthy. Two-time Oscar nominee, one of the few genuine comedy superstars today, and of course… Sookie.

Aside from tonight, McCarthy has already hosted the show five times between 2011 and 2017, earning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2017. That distinction makes her one of only four women to host at least 5 times, tying her with Drew Barrymore, Tina Fey, and Scarlett Johansson. Beyond hosting, McCarthy delivered several additional unforgettable moments: her portrayal of Matt Foley during the SNL 40 anniversary special and her widely acclaimed run as Sean Spicer in 2017. Most recently, she frankly stole the show nearly a year ago as part of Martin Short’s Christmas episode last season.

I am joined tonight with words from the great Melanie Hutsell, who was a cast member from 1991-1994 (and was also in Bridesmaids alongside tonight’s host). She says: “I am very much enjoying SNL so far this season, both the cast and writing are rock solid. Bowen Yang kills me every time. Something about him playing JD Vance was very satisfying. And all of the women are super strong. My favorite sketch so far was hands down, Snack Homies. Chloe, Sabrina, Jane, and Veronika were all brilliant playing young boys who review food on a podcast. Jane Wickline delivered my favorite line, which was, ‘Yeah, um… I’ve never had a vegetable lowkey.’ My kids, well, they’re not really kids anymore, Carly and Leo, are obsessed with it.”

Well put! The season has been very entertaining. I hope they keep it up. (It’s like they’re syncing at just the right moment after last season’s cast departures.) And McCarthy is a great host. Ellicott City’s Dijon is the musical guest. Scroll down and read for more!

Cold Open

C-SPAN wants Netflix to know: we’re for sale too! Funny opening line… so it is unfortunate we almost immediately return to Colin Jost’s bro impression of Pete Hegseth. Okay, having Jost quote Animaniacs during a press conference is funny.

Jost’s Hegseth is all juvenile bluster. He claims President Trump has his back… we cut to the president (James Austin Johnson), who is nodding off. Johnson takes over the press conference before falling asleep again. So, your standard 2025 cold open.

Monologue

It’s the holidays, and McCarthy wants to set the mood. Most people don’t know McCarthy is a musician: she plays the mouth horn. She gives us a little bit of Christmas chortling into a microphone. “Soak it up,” she says — a pile of snow dumps on her.

Marcello appears dressed as an elf to deliver a piano, as does “Santa Kenan.” Just Kenan is fine, he tells her. A number of cast members join her to sing Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” (No reference is made to this – bummer!)

Melanie Hutsell tells me, “In my very humble opinion, Melissa McCarthy is one of the best SNL Guest Hosts of all time.” She adds she’s “so excited they are bringing her back for I believe the 6th time?! I hope they bring back the Taste Test sketch. The first time I saw it, I snort-laughed, which only happens once every few years.”