> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.theomnicosm.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The 10 best ‘SNL’ sketches of Season 51. (So far.) - URL: https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-10-best-snl-sketches-of-season-51-so-far/ - Published: 2026-01-10T14:00:55.000Z - Updated: 2026-02-03T03:05:33.000Z - Description: While we wait for the show to return in 2026, here are the top moments from the first nine episodes. - Author: Bill Kuchman - Tags: The Cold Open • Extras, The Cold Open, SNL, Miles Teller, Bad Bunny, Ashley Padilla, James Austin Johnson, Amy Poehler, Andrew Dismukes, Melissa McCarthy, Ariana Grande, Colin Jost, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Michael Che, Will Forte [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2026/02/the-cold-open-logo-square-3.png)](https://www.theomnicosm.com/deep-snl-thoughts-is-now-the-cold-open) ****Deep SNL Thoughts** is now **The Cold Open**. New name. Same extensive **SNL* coverage. [Read more ](https://www.theomnicosm.com/deep-snl-thoughts-is-now-the-cold-open) *SNL* is off until [*Stranger Things* star **Finn Wolfhard** hosts on Jan. 17](https://www.theomnicosm.com/finn-wolfhard-to-host-snl/). The winter break is the perfect moment to look back at the first nine episodes of Season 51. While we can debate just how much *SNL* really changed after **Lorne Michaels**’ promised a seismic shift after Season 50 (a conversation I actually did have [while recently on the *Not Ready for Primetime SNL Podcast*](https://www.theomnicosm.com/talking-bowen-yang-ariana-grande-and-ashley-padilla-with-the-not-ready-for-primetime-snl-podcast/)), it would be hard to mistake the vibe of Season 51 for how last season felt. Besides losing **Heidi Gardner** and **Ego Nwodim**, this season of *SNL* hasn’t been burdened with [the weight of *SNL50*](https://www.theomnicosm.com/fifty-years-of-the-best-times-of-our-lives-the-snl-family-looks-back-for-snl50-2/). Free of the task of somehow existing in the present while also honoring the previous 49 seasons of television (and giving **Dana Carvey** something to do week after week), Season 51 has been forced to and blessed with the chance to carve out its own identity. We saw a similar thing happen back in 2020 when *SNL* abruptly jettisoned **Alec Baldwin** and **Jim Carrey** after the presidential election. The big difference between the post-2020 election period and Season 51 is [the emergence of **Ashley Padilla** as *SNL*’s star](https://www.theomnicosm.com/3-episodes-3-storylines-for-snl-season-51/). When diving through the season’s sketches to pick the top ten best ones (so far), it was wild to see how dominant Padilla has been. Even wilder is that she’s achieved this level of dominance without creating a recurring character or landing a breakout political portrayal. (Her take on White House press secretary **Karoline Leavitt** is fantastic, but *SNL* often sidelines it for more of **James Austin Johnson**’s **Donald Trump**.) But let’s get to those sketches. Here are the — definitive, indisputable, set in stone — top ten sketches of Season 51\. So far. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2025/11/deep-snl-thoughts-logo-square.png)](#/portal/signup) Love reading ****Deep SNL Thoughts**? Become a subscriber to receive every edition in your inbox. [Subscribe ](#/portal/signup) ### Honorable mention: Last Stop Christmas Shop ###### Episode: [Ariana Grande](https://www.theomnicosm.com/this-is-my-last-shift-bowen-yang-says-farewell-to-snl-as-ariana-grande-hosts/) I’m sneaking an 11th sketch into this list, giving “Last Stop Christmas Shop” from **Ariana Grande**’s episode an honorable mention. This sketch was cut for time, but it was absolutely better than at least one sketch during the episode (looking at you, “Love Is Blind Reunion”), but since “Last Stop Christmas Shop” didn’t include **Bowen Yang**, it couldn’t be part of Yang’s farewell episode, I guess. ### 10\. Parent Teacher Conference ###### Episode: [Bad Bunny](https://www.theomnicosm.com/shouldve-called-it-at-50-right-bad-bunny-kicks-off-snl-season-51/) **Bad Bunny** has hosted *SNL* twice, and [the show hasn’t shied away](https://www.theomnicosm.com/deep-snl-thoughts-bad-bunny-is-so/) from building sketches around the superstar’s attractiveness. Coming toward the end of the first episode of Season 51, “Parent Teacher Conference” took that conceit to another level, with Ashley Padilla’s teacher repeatedly making excuses for the threatening drawings made by **Marcello Hernandez**’s character in order to win the favor of the incredibly sexy dad played by Bad Bunny. ### 9\. MacGruber: Epstein Files ###### Episode: [Glen Powell](https://www.theomnicosm.com/glen-powell-leads-slay-division-macgruber-ashley-padilla-and-update-tackle-the-epstein-files/) There were a bunch of very solid sketches during **Glen Powell**’s hosting debut, but it was **Will Forte**’s return as MacGruber that stole the show. The beloved *SNL* character was back — and doing his best to destroy any evidence that he was in the Epstein files. ### 8\. White House Makeover ###### Episode: [Miles Teller](https://www.theomnicosm.com/property-brothers-unleash-white-house-makeover-as-miles-teller-hosts-snl/) James Austin Johnson’s portrayal of Donald Trump is the best take we’ve gotten from *SNL*, but I’m so tired of seeing it during the cold open. (Especially when it’s just him breaking the fourth wall again.) “White House Makeover” broke out of that mold, with Johnson’s Trump getting to exist outside of the formula of the cold open. ### 7\. Weekend Update: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Colin Jost & Michael Che ###### Episode: [Amy Poehler](https://www.theomnicosm.com/amy-poehler-tina-fey-and-seth-meyers-challenge-colin-jost-and-michael-to-a-joke-off/) It’s bad when *SNL* keeps bringing back previous cast members to take key roles that could’ve gone to the folks actually on the show. This *Weekend Update* sketch from **Amy Poehler**’s episode is not that kind of moment. Poehler reunited with her two *Update* co-hosts — “my first wife and my second wife” — to challenge **Colin Jost** and **Michael Che** to a joke-off. Tina Fey popping by *SNL*, whether it’s as a host or a cameo, happens on a fairly regular basis, but **Seth Meyers** returning to the show is always a special moment. ### 6\. Sunday Supper ###### Episode: [Melissa McCarthy](https://www.theomnicosm.com/snl-gives-us-melissa-mccarthy-as-host-for-her-6th-time-takes-us-to-cousin-planet/) **Andrew Dismukes** has used Season 51 to remind us all that he is the show’s male lead. While he hasn’t had a sketch that’s [on the level of “Jumanji”](https://www.theomnicosm.com/kristen-wiig-joins-snls-five-timers-club-with-the-help-of-a-wave-of-cameos/) this season, “Sunday Supper” was an excellent display of the creeping desperation that we’ve come to expect from the best Dismukes characters. ### 5\. Home Alone ###### Episode: [Ariana Grande](https://www.theomnicosm.com/this-is-my-last-shift-bowen-yang-says-farewell-to-snl-as-ariana-grande-hosts/) “Home Alone” was just about as perfect of an *SNL* parody as the show could give us. Ariana Grande as Kevin, Ashley Padilla as his mom, Colin Jost as Buzz — the show nailed every role in this pretaped sketch. “Home Alone” brought [the spirit of sketches like “Farewell Mr. Bunting”](https://youtu.be/Ie6LpKOJVf0?si=koEBQ-xIylwIapRf&ref=theomnicosm.com) to the holiday season. ### 4\. Experienced Lawyers ###### Episode: [Amy Poehler](https://www.theomnicosm.com/amy-poehler-tina-fey-and-seth-meyers-challenge-colin-jost-and-michael-to-a-joke-off/) I loved the escalating absurdity of “Experienced Lawyers.” Just a bunch of zany *SNL* characters playing off each other, with each new wave being more ridiculous than the last. [Who can resist “The Falconer” vibes too?](https://youtu.be/51Xgxid%5FZHQ?si=cijJWivbmErkfvFx&ref=theomnicosm.com) ### 3\. Non-Alcoholic Beer ###### Episode: [Amy Poehler](https://www.theomnicosm.com/amy-poehler-tina-fey-and-seth-meyers-challenge-colin-jost-and-michael-to-a-joke-off/) Andrew Dismukes pitching a nonalcoholic beer (it’s 96% ABV!) that’ll still get you drunk? That sketch writes itself. “Non-Alcoholic Beer” is the best of Dismukes distilled down into 100 seconds. (Bonus points for Dismukes’ “and you’ve gained a few ... looks like we’re two things” dig at Ashley as his wife.) In a year when **Benicio del Toro**’s “a few small beers” took the world by storm, let’s not forget Dismukes telling a cop “just my Nons, of course” when asked if he had been drinking and driving. ### 2\. Weekend Update: Two People Who Just Hooked Up Discuss the Government Shutdown ###### Episode: [Miles Teller](https://www.theomnicosm.com/property-brothers-unleash-white-house-makeover-as-miles-teller-hosts-snl/) Why has Ashley Padilla only been on *Weekend Update* twice during her time on *SNL*? And why aren’t we getting *Update* sketches featuring her and Andrew Dismukes all the time? ### 1\. Surprise ###### Episode: [Sabrina Carpenter](https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-universe-finally-lets-sabrina-carpenter-host-snl-and-she-brings-domingo-with-her/) Was “Surprise” the moment when it was crystal clear that Ashley Padilla had taken over? Padilla took over [the **Josh O’Connor** episode](https://www.theomnicosm.com/josh-oconnor-hosted-snl-but-ashley-padilla-ran-away-with-the-episode/) (which didn’t land a sketch on this list), but this sketch a few episodes earlier in the season put her skills on full display. Also, an extended fart joke is never not funny. ****Deep SNL Thoughts** is written and produced by ****Bill Kuchman**. Copyediting by ****Tim Kuchman**. 💰 Like what you’re reading on ****Deep SNL Thoughts**? 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