“Saturday Night Live ”recap: Melissa McCarthy gets blasted by snow as she returns to host for 6th time
- - “Saturday Night Live ”recap: Melissa McCarthy gets blasted by snow as she returns to host for 6th time
Andy HoglundDecember 7, 2025 at 5:50 AM
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Rosalind O'Connor/NBC
Melissa McCarthy hosts 'Saturday Night Live'
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. Several 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."
"Free Sample"
Jeremy Culhane is Jonathan, a grocery store worker giving out free samples of Maine goat cheese. His supposed generosity so moves a maladjusted customer (McCarthy) that she returns to repay his kindness. She requests a hug. It's unnecessary, he's just doing his job.
It leads to a sudden kiss and a happy ending.
"A Helping Hand"
A young boy witnesses his elderly neighbor (McCarthy) shoveling her walkway alone and decides to help. His gesture moves her, and later, after seeing him bullied by Marcello, she takes revenge on his behalf. Things escalate — after seeing a girl reject him, she hires hookers played by Fineman and Sherman. (Hutsell tells me: "It's so hard to believe that Chloe Fineman and Sarah Sherman are the seniors now — both so great.”)
As you might guess, the neighbor is absolutely insane… not especially funny, more clever with its purposefully over-the-top, sweet tone.
"UPS Delivery Driver"
A driver, Donna (McCarthy), visits some HR managers (Padilla, Day) about a complaint they received over a delivery she recently made to a home. Donna says it’s impossible, but they show a ring-cam video. Then another. She pretends to faint, then chews up an affidavit. Each video is an escalation, showing a lot of hostility and disdain toward the homeowners. Silly, tonight’s sketches to date are giving McCarthy a lot of latitude to make magic.
Dijon performs "Higher!"
"Higher!" is a track off Baby; it's pretty experimental and reverb-heavy.
Dijon is a collaborator of a few SNL musical faces, including Mk.gee; he has also been recognized for his work with Charli XCX, Justin Bieber, and Bon Iver. In fact, "Higher!" was co-written by Justin Vernon.
"Weekend Update"
Che shares a funny clip manipulating Trump's Home Alone 2 scene to mention Jeffrey Epstein. Jost makes a joke about TikTok and says: "DERP!" Tonight is a major leap in his ambition as a performer.
A short trip to a warmer climate can stop seasonal depression. Lance, a redhead who just went on vacation (Ben Marshall), comes out to comment; he's covered in sunburn and needs a hospital. Here's the crazy part: he got this on the plane… on the way to Ireland! The burn goes everywhere, even his body… and he finally worked up the courage to wear a two-piece. The Ginger Singers, a redheaded children's choir, come out to accompany him.
A Virginia liquor store has released new surveillance video of a raccoon that broke in and drank a variety of alcoholic beverages over the weekend. The drunk raccoon (Sherman) comes out to defend herself and talk about the positive representation of her species in the media. "Quiet piggy," she admonishes Jost, quoting the president. He assures the raccoon she is not nearly as hairy as Sarah Sherman. I like the night cam footage. (If you haven't, check out this piece about Sherman and her interest in body horror comedy…. Do more of that on the show, please!)
"Truth or Dare"
A group of moms is hanging out while their daughters start a sleepover. They wonder what the girls are up to, and one mom confides she’s never played truth or dare… so they decide to play. First, the southern ladies are very surface — the questions centered on cars and movies. Suddenly, a dare: Ashley Padilla and McCarthy go to the bathroom and kiss. It gets more explicit. Sherman takes McCarthy to the yard and chokes her… sexually. Oh my. No husbands allowed.
"Sunday Supper"
"Dinner… us?! Sunday supper!" Dismukes in his moment, for sure. Mark (Dismukes) is excited about having his friends come over every Sunday for dinner. They demur; that's a lot, logistically, for parents. It's just too much of a commitment. No one else wants to do it. He gets embarrassed and decides he will run away. "I don't believe in the world, sugar," he intones to his wife, before referencing Of Mice & Men and Old Yeller. I liked this a lot. You should watch.
Dijon performs "Baby/Another Baby!"
This has more than a little Prince influence in it.
"Cousin Planet"
Early internet randomness to this song. Finally, a worthy showcase for Slowikowska, even if it evokes early Lonely Island. I love the wacky, silly breakdown of what cousins even are and where they go after the holidays are over. There’s something here for sure. Watch it!
Melanie Hutsell shared, “It’s been nice to see Jane Wickline coming into her own on the show — love her Update songs, and I think both [Ashley] Padilla and Veronika Slowikowska are awesome additions to the show.“
"Christopher and Guillaume"
Christopher and Guillaume are doing the biggest Christmas village in Yonkers. Spectrum News NY1. Very specific New York references. Eh.
Final thoughts... -
Thoughts? Vote here!
What did *you* think of the Melissa McCarthy SNL?
— the legendary “SNL in Review” experience (@SNLinReview) December 7, 2025
Thank you to Melanie Hutsell! She was just announced as joining the SF Sketchfest tribute, Women of SNL. Check it out! Amazing lineup, hosted by Dan Pasternack!
A nice moment for Craig Kellem before the goodnights — he just passed away. RIP.
SNL obsessives will recall it was recently the 45th anniversary of the show's famed sixth season. One of the best podcasts on SNL history, the Not Ready for Primetime Project, spoke with Patrick Weathers about his time as a cast member. It's a fascinating conversation (especially regarding the possible news Mike Binder tried out that year). "It was a pivotal moment at Saturday Night Live," recalls Weathers. "There's a lot of information out there, particularly about that season — and there's a lot more information that should be heard. It was not always as it's been portrayed."
Speaking of the Not Ready for Primetime podcast, they just had another captivating guest on the show… me! But this time, I joined to discuss an episode from season 5, a total misfire hosted by Chevy Chase. A genuine train wreck… give it a listen!
Also RIP Dan McGrath. Did they miss that one on air?
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