> ## 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 7 John Mulaney ‘SNL’ musical sketches you gotta watch before he hosts again - URL: https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-cold-open-snl-john-mulaney-musical-sketches/ - Published: 2026-11-14T15:24:49.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-14T15:24:49.000Z - Description: Beginning with ‘Diner Lobster,’ these musical sketches have become a hallmark of a Mulaney-hosted episode of ‘SNL.’ - Author: Bill Kuchman - Tags: The Cold Open • Extras, The Cold Open, SNL, John Mulaney **John Mulaney** returns to host *SNL* for his seventh time tonight. A former writer on the show, Mulaney has turned into a prolific host. He flew through his first five times hosting *SNL*, [joining the Five-Timers Club in under four years](https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-cold-open-snl-five-timers-club/). The hallmark of a Mulaney-hosted episode has become an increasingly complex musical sketch. This trend began when Mulaney hosted for the first time during Season 43, with “Diner Lobster” kicking things off. Between Mulaney’s previous six times hosting *SNL* plus [the *SNL50* special](https://www.theomnicosm.com/fifty-years-of-the-best-times-of-our-lives-the-snl-family-looks-back-for-snl50-2/), the world has been gifted with seven musical sketches. Will we see an eighth when Mulaney returns tonight? ## Sign up for The Cold Open Love reading about **Saturday Night Live*? Get ****The Open** newsletter in your inbox. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ## The 7 John Mulaney musical sketches #### Diner Lobster *April 14, 2018* The musical sketch that started it all. “Diner Lobster” [was originally written for **Zach Galifianakis**’s Season 35 episode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3Eyd2xbdkE&ref=theomnicosm.com), and when Mulaney finally got to host *SNL* himself for the first time, it made it to air. “Diner Lobster” clocked in at under five minutes and didn’t feature any cameos. #### Bodega Bathroom *March 2, 2019* Mulaney returned to host *SNL* less than a year later, and “Bodega Bathroom” turned a one-off sketch into a recurring bit. “Bodega Bathroom” ticked past the 6-minute mark, but still no guest stars. #### Airport Sushi *February 29, 2020* Mulaney was racking up hosting gigs at a rapid pace, returning to host *SNL* for his third time less than a year after his second time. “Airport Sushi” came just as the early hints of the pandemic were creeping into the news, which makes this musical sketch a surreal one to watch years later. “Airport Sushi” was the first of Mulaney’s musical sketches to crack the 8-minute mark in addition to being the first to feature a guest star thanks to **Jake Gyllenhaal** flying around and **David Byrne**. #### New York Musical *October 31, 2020* Different season, same year. Mulaney returned to host *SNL* for his fourth time as the show — and the world — tried to return to normalcy. With **Maya Rudolph** around thanks to her first stint of playing **Kamala Harris**, she popped into “New York Musical.” #### Subway Churro *February 26, 2022* “Subway Churro” was the first time **Pete Davidson** wasn’t part of a Mulaney musical sketch. Davidson had left at the end of the previous season, so **Andrew Dismukes** got paired up with **Chris Redd**. [Mulaney joined the Five-Timers Club](https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-cold-open-snl-five-timers-club/) with this episode, but “Subway Churro” didn’t feature any guest stars despite **Steve Martin**, **Candice Bergen**, **Tina Fey**, **Elliot Gould** and **Conan O’Brien** all appearing in the cold open. #### Port Authority Duane Reade *November 2, 2024* “Port Authority Duane Reade” saw Davidson return to the recurring bit, replacing Redd. We also got a cameo from **Andy Samberg**, who was heavily featured in Season 50 thanks to **Lorne Michaels** bringing him on to play **Doug Emhoff**. One of the most fascinating bits of trivia from “Port Authority Duane Reade” is that **Ashley Padilla** isn’t in this musical despite it coming [during her freshman season of *SNL*](https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-7-biggest-snl-sketches-from-ashley-padillas-first-season/). #### New York 50th Musical *February 16, 2025 (SNL50)* *SNL50* gave us the longest Mulaney musical yet, appropriately returning to New York with a musical that ran over 10 minutes. With “New York 50th Musical” coming during the primetime special, it was filled with not only current cast members but also a wave of celebs and former cast members: Davidson was paired up with **David Spade** (who eventually opted out of the sketch to take a seat), Rudolph, **Adam Driver**, **Nathan Lane**, **Jason Sudeikis**, **Will Forte**, **Kristin Wiig**, **Kate McKinnon**, **Lin-Manuel Miranda**, **Kyle Mooney**, **Beck Bennett**, **Scarlett Johansson**, **Paul Rudd**, **Cecily Strong**, **Nick Jonas**, **Taran Killam** and **Ana Gasteyer**. And most importantly, **Kenan Thompson**’s Diner Lobster was back. Everything you need to know about Season 52 Check out the complete list of **SNL* Season 52 hosts, musical guests and reviews. 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