SNL Tackles Epstein Files,Powell’s Hosting Debut Marks Season high
Saturday Night Live’s latest episode largely abandoned conventional Thanksgiving-themed humor,rather focusing sharply on the recent release of Jeffrey Epstein‘s flight logs and the implications for former President Donald Trump. Combined with a strong hosting performance by Glen Powell and the return of fan-favorite character MacGruber, the show delivered what many critics are calling the best episode of the young season.
The episode opened with a direct assault on the week’s most prominent news, satirizing the White House’s response to the revelations. Ashley Padilla‘s character also echoed former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly‘s controversial assertion that Epstein was not a pedophile,stating,”Terrific thing to just say out of nowhere,great job,Megyn.”
Beyond the opening sketch, Powell proved a charismatic and engaging host.The actor, currently promoting both a television series (Chad Powers) and a film (The Running Man), playfully acknowledged his ubiquity in recent media, quipping, “while many people are tired of seeing my face, one person isn’t: ‘Your mom.'” His monologue detailed his journey to SNL, including a previously unsuccessful audition four years prior and a heartwarming story about tracking down a random UPS driver, Mitch, with whom his family had taken a celebratory selfie. Powell brought Mitch onstage,recreating the photo to a delighted audience.
The episode’s sketches were a mixed bag. A segment featuring an AI-powered app bringing old family photos to life offered a darkly humorous take on the technology’s limitations, though some felt it could have leaned further into the unsettling possibilities. The “I Miss My Ex’s Dad” musical number, featuring Powell and Kenan Thompson, proved a highlight, with Powell’s over-the-top dinner table freakout garnering meaningful laughs. A sketch involving a bachelor party and an impersonation of comedian Sebastian Maniscalco by Marcello Hernández was praised for its accuracy, while Chloe Fineman‘s portrayal of Jennifer Coolidge received a more lukewarm reception.
The return of will Forte as MacGruber proved a popular draw, with a new sketch centered around the character discovering his own name within the Epstein files. The sketch, true to MacGruber’s chaotic style, culminated in an explosive finale. However, a sketch featuring a flamboyant army division, dubbed the “Slay Division,” drew criticism for its perceived reliance on TikTok trends and “annoying theater kid energy.”
Weekend Update predictably addressed the Epstein revelations, with Colin Jost noting that the claim trump “knew about the girls” was “bombshell news that legal experts are calling ‘duh.'” Michael Che speculated on the identity of “Bubba” mentioned in the released emails, suggesting former president Bill Clinton.
A recurring theme throughout the night was the sheer weight of the epstein story, with the show acknowledging that satire felt inadequate in the face of such serious allegations. The episode concluded with a final MacGruber sketch, revealing the character’s extensive involvement with Epstein’s operation and ending, as always, in a spectacular explosion.
While initially billed as a Thanksgiving special,the episode ultimately served as a pointed commentary on current events. The combination of timely satire, a charming host in Glen Powell, and the return of beloved characters made this installment the strongest of the season thus far, despite a misstep with the divisive military sketch.
