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# ‘SNL’ cut the Ashley Padilla/Will Ferrell sketch we all wanted
- URL: https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-cold-open-snl-will-ferrell-ashley-padilla/
- Published: 2026-05-18T20:28:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-27T13:49:45.000Z
- Description: ‘Your son is gigantic. Way too big. He looks like Will Ferrell in a kid wig.’
- Author: Bill Kuchman
- Tags: The Cold Open • Extras, The Cold Open, SNL, Ashley Padilla, Will Ferrell

When *SNL* announced that **Will Ferrell** would host the show’s Season 51 finale, it looked like we were on a collision course between Ferrell, one of *SNL*’s all-timers, and **Ashley Padilla**, the show’s current breakout star. 

Over the course of this season, we’ve watched Padilla run away with entire episodes. And we’ve watched [her make magic with **Ryan Gosling**](https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-cold-open-snl-review-ryan-gosling/), *SNL*’s current force of chaos. What would happen when Ferrell and Padilla had a shot to perform together?

Unfortunately, we never got to see that duo unleash its full potential last weekend. While Ferrell and Padilla appeared in sketches together, the closest we got was probably “Post-Op.”

But then *SNL* released “Dad’s Birthday” on Monday, revealing that we were robbed of the Ferrell/Padilla sketch we all wanted.

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I’m screaming inside right now. Screaming. Padilla as a dad. Ferrell as an adult-sized, belligerent son. We were so close to glory.

There’s a move in “Dad’s Birthday” that absolutely got me. After Ferrell pushes Padilla back to the couch a final time, there’s a look on her face that makes me think that he improvised that final push. We saw a similar reaction from Padilla in “Cyclops” when she almost broke character pleading with Gosling to stay back.

[*Check out the complete list of SNL Season 51 hosts, musical guests and reviews.*](https://www.theomnicosm.com/who-is-hosting-snl/)

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The Cold Open is a publication of **The Omnicosm**.

Issue No. 72

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**The Cold Open** is written and produced by **Bill Kuchman**.  
Copyediting by **Tim Kuchman**.

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