If Sabrina Carpenter hadn’t sung on “SNL” last night, there would have been nothing to watch. The show, which Carpenter both hosted and performed as the musical guest, was otherwise dreadful. To make matters worse, it began 15 minutes late due to a college football game.
The quality of the episode is perhaps best illustrated by its unusually long, two-minute-and-thirty-second closing. In this segment, Kenan Thompson isn’t even in the picture, Colin Jost stands off to the side out of frame, while Mikey Day just makes faces on the left. This lackluster ending felt emblematic of the night’s overall shortcomings.
The new writers simply aren’t delivering the laughs. They seem to be neglecting the veteran cast members like Kenan Thompson and Mikey Day, as well as giving very little material to Chloe Fineman. One bright spot was James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump impression, albeit awkwardly inserted in the middle of the show amid a poor sketch with “children.” Aside from his cameo, the episode had almost no politics, which removed a key source of the show’s traditional edge.
The sketches themselves lacked bite—they were dull and overly polished, lacking the sharpness viewers expect. It’s clear the new writers are focusing their efforts on the newer cast members, seemingly at the expense of veterans. This shift leaves much to be missed from players like Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim.
Sabrina Carpenter, in spite of being a bright light on the show, struggled to shine as a host. Considering her status as a hugely popular singer with massive hits, there was surprisingly no buzz or excitement in the air. Additionally, this episode marked the first time in over two years that “SNL” featured no cameos from outside stars or former cast members. Rumors of a Taylor Swift appearance proved false, leaving fans disappointed.
Going forward, the writing must improve, especially the cold opening, which should deliver a political jolt to set the tone for the entire episode. Last night’s opening sketch was so bad that it felt like we had joined the program in the middle of the show.
As for that extended closing—when a show has to vamp for two and a half minutes at the end, you know things are not going well. Hopefully, “SNL” can recapture its sharp humor and regain its footing soon.
https://www.showbiz411.com/2025/10/19/dreadful-saturday-night-live-starts-late-because-of-college-football-avoids-politics-almost-completely-snubs-veteran-players
