Saturday Night Live‘s 51st season opened with two episodes that came preloaded with expectations—first a buzzy premiere, then a 50th anniversary milestone that loomed large over Studio 8H. They were statement shows, each in their own way.
This week, SNL shifts gears with its first double-duty outing of the season. Sabrina Carpenter steps into both roles as host and musical guest, offering a different kind of test of how the show is settling into the year.
Here are five storylines we’ll be watching this Saturday night:
A Running Start
First-time hosts are always a gamble for SNL. While some rookies knock it out of the park (see: Nate Bargatze in 2023), others struggle to find their footing. Where will Sabrina Carpenter land? Like many double-duty hosts before her, she has the advantage of experience—she’s already performed as a musical guest and has appeared in several sketches: the Scooby-Doo pretape, “Domingo: Vow Renewal” at the SNL50 anniversary special, and a cameo in Quinta Brunson’s monologue last season.
Bowen in the Spotlight
If you’re heading to Vegas this week to bet on which cast member will have a standout night, the smart money is on Bowen Yang. He’s got a strong track record with musically inclined hosts. When Ariana Grande took over last year, he went toe-to-toe with his Wicked co-star in several sketches, including “Charades with Mom.” He also dominated the Charli XCX episode, leading “It Girl Thanksgiving” and appearing as Charli herself in “Wicked Screen Tests.” Expect another showcase weekend for Bowen.
Editor’s Note (10/18/25): Or not. Yang announced early Saturday that he will be missing tonight’s SNL so that he can be Los Angeles to honored by the Motion Picture Academy.
Ashley Ascending
The legend of Ashley Padilla keeps growing. Last week, she became only the fourth featured player in SNL history to appear in eight sketches in a single episode—joining Kyle Mooney (2015), Taran Killam (2012), and Kenan Thompson (2005). Add in her star turn in the “Parent Teacher Conference” sketch from the premiere, and the question now is: can she keep up the momentum, or will someone else steal the spotlight this week?
All Together Now
After a premiere that leaned heavily on veterans and left newer cast members sidelined, SNL seemed intent on spreading the wealth last week. We got the season’s first full-cast sketch—minus Jost and Che—with everyone pitching in on “Experienced Lawyers.” Combined, we got 40 total sketch appearances from the show’s seven featured players , the largest featured player total in a single episode in the history of the show (beating out the previous record of 30 in 1992). Will we see more of the same this week?
Swift Watch
It’s been a solid season for cameos so far, with surprise appearances from the KPop Demon Hunters singers, Benicio del Toro, Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Charli XCX, and Aubrey Plaza. Still no Taylor Swift, though. Despite persistent rumors and after popping up on NBC’s other late-night shows, she has yet to appear on SNL this season. With Carpenter featuring on the title track of Swift’s Life of a Showgirl could this be the week?
Saturday Night Live airs Oct. 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock. Join us at LateNighter.com immediately after for the Saturday Night Network’s live after-show, where SNL experts and superfans weigh in on the night’s best and worst moments.
“Saturday Night Live‘s 51st season opened with two episodes that came preloaded with expectations… They were statement shows, each in their own way.”
Yes and the statements were that Bad Bunny is a horrible host and the writing is so bad that not even Poehler can save it.
“First-time hosts are always a gamble for SNL.”
With a weak bloated cast and weak writing in a down era, SNL should steer clear of too many first time hosts. But, so far, they’re not doing that.
Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, Sabrina Carpenter, Miles Teller, Nikki Glaser and Glen Powell?
That’s the best they can do? The only one I can imagine being excited to work with and write sketches for is Poehler.
Who gives a shit about Teller and Powell? Teller sucked the last time he hosted and Powell is not going to be a big “star” no matter how much his agent and PR people try.
Is it just me, or was SNL particularly horrible tonight? it absolutely didn’t make sense and had nothing pointed about today’s politics. Very dusappointing and obtuse.