An all-timer lit up Studio 8H on December 6. Melissa McCarthy returned to host Saturday Night Live for her sixth time, in the first episode she’s headlined in eight years (though she’s made cameos as recently as Season 50).
Like so many famous cast alums from Will Ferrell to Maya Rudolph, McCarthy honed her comedy skills onstage with the Groundlings in Los Angeles, where she came up alongside Mikey Day. And as an actress, she always brings the full commitment that earned her two Academy Award nominations, imbuing characters like her grateful shopper in “Free Sample” with fascinating pathos. McCarthy also shared her musical side during her monologue, taking the mic to deliver some classic … mouth horn.
“Thank you, don’t get up. Don’t get up,” the Unspeakable actress deadpanned, after treating them to a mouth horn version of “Carol of the Bells.” She later engaged in a piano push-and-shove with cast member Marcello Hernández, dressed as an elf before lending her instrument to a cast rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”
Consider us in the holiday spirit. Watch Melissa McCarthy’s SNL Sketches below, plus Colin Jost’s return as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in the cold open.
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Watch Melissa McCarthy’s SNL sketches and monologue from December 6
“Pentagon Press Conference Cold Open”
It’s always fun when Colin Jost steps away from the Weekend Update desk to turn the “aggro” dial up to 11 for his Pete Hegseth impression.
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Melissa McCarthy’s SNL monologue
Watch above.
The mouth horn + a mountain of fake snow = Christmas magic.
“Free Sample”
Watching McCarthy work with new cast member Jeremy Culhane is an absolute delight in a sketch where she plays a weirdo up there with her “Pizza Business” character Barb Kellner.
“UPS Delivery Driver”
Melissa McCarthy remains the physical comedy GOAT, and this sketch full of her Nest cam hijinks is a real treat. Her brief scuffle with fellow physical comedy genius Mikey “A Guy Who Just Walked into a Spiderweb” Day (who very nearly breaks at one point) is the cherry on top.
“A Helping Hand”
The first week in December is already delivering fresh Christmas sketches! “A Helping Hand” is the touching slightly unnerving story of a grandmotherly neighbor who’ll truly go the extra mile to support a little boy who’s taunted by his peers.
“Truth or Dare”
A suburban truth or dare game gets experimental fast.
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“Sunday Supper”
All Mark (Andrew Dismukes) wants is a weekly Sunday supper with his friends, and no he’s NOT crying but he is running away.
“Cousin Planet”
Jane Wickline and Veronika Slowikowska wonder, where do cousins go when it’s not the holiday season?
Christopher and Guillaume
Give this eccentric Yonkers couple their own local TV show (and where can we get that Minions nativity scene?).