‘Saturday Night Live’ Last Night Cold Opening Live Recap: Check Who Hosted the Show and All Highlights

Published 10/12/2025, 11:11 AM EDT

The screen lights up, the caffeine kicks in, and Saturday night drags viewers into the glitter-strewn circus that only Saturday Night Live can call home. It is a legendary beast of satire and sketches that never sleeps and never forgives. Season 51 has returned, and with it, the ghosts of comedic past and the glitter of guest stars, all swirling in a tornado of punchlines. Last night’s episode hinted at surprises, nostalgia, and a little edge that only Saturday Night Live dares to deliver.

While the couch scrolls and popcorn crunches collide in living rooms nationwide, Saturday Night Live reminds everyone why television is not just watched, it is survived, celebrated, and dissected in memes.

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Last night’s Saturday Night Live kicked off season 51 with Amy Poehler back in full comedic force. Known for razor-sharp wit, she embodied US Attorney General Pam Bondi in a cold open, skewering Senate hearings mercilessly. Surprise appearances from Tina Fey as Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem and Seth Meyers added sparkle, while Poehler’s monologue threw playful jabs at AI-generated actors. It was nostalgia, chaos, and futuristic humor all in one, proving Poehler’s return was less a cameo and more a comedic takeover.

Role Model made his Saturday Night Live debut, performing 'Sally, When The Wine Runs Out' and 'Some Protector,' the first unexpectedly joined by Charli XCX. Poehler’s psychic talk show, Aubrey Plaza’s The Hunting Wives parody, and a chaotic work birth sketch transformed the night into a punchline kaleidoscope. Weekend Update became a joke-off with Poehler, Fey, and Meyers tackling everything from a 13-pound Tennessee baby to political controversies, proving that Saturday Night Live’s cocktail of pop culture, absurdity, and chaos is still impossible to ignore.

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As musical chaos and sketch madness collide, Saturday Night Live’s shadow of controversy looms, reminding everyone that comedy and public outrage are eternally on a collision course.

Saturday Night Live’s old habit of poking the bear never gets old

Amy Poehler’s laughs do not erase Saturday Night Live’s flirtations with controversy. Earlier this year, a sketch mocking Donald Trump with religious themes sparked outrage, as James Austin Johnson likened the stock market to Jesus’s resurrection. Critics called itdisgusting and crude,” prompting boycott calls from Christian viewers. Saturday Night Live has always danced between humor and offense, proving that poking the bear is part of its DNA. Controversy is not a bug; it is the nightly seasoning of satire.

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Despite backlash, Saturday Night Live thrives on unpredictability. Poehler as Pam Bondi, Charli XCX joining Role Model, and Tina Fey’s surprise cameo highlight its mastery of chaos. Parodies of politics, pop culture, and personal quirks prove the show remains a cultural touchstone, fearless in stirring debates while making audiences laugh. Controversial or comedic, Saturday Night Live’s pulse beats with society’s absurdities, contradictions, and chaos, reminding viewers that even after 50 seasons, it is the crown jewel of late-night irreverence.

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What are your thoughts on last night’s Saturday Night Live cold opening and all the sketches that stole the show? Let us know in the comments below.

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Shraddha Priyadarshi

1064 articles

Shraddha is a content chameleon with 3 years of experience, expertly juggling entertainment and non-entertainment writing, from scriptwriting to reporting. Having a portfolio of over 2,000 articles, she has covered everything from Hollywood’s glitzy drama to the latest pop culture trends. With a knack for telling stories that keep readers hooked, Shraddha thrives on dissecting celebrity scandals and cultural moments.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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