Sabrina Carpenter made her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live this week, pulling double duty as both host and musical guest for the third episode of the 51st season. The episode, which aired 50 years to the day after Paul Simon first hosted and performed on the show, leaned into lighter material, avoiding heavy political themes aside from a brief appearance by James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump.
Carpenter, known for her pop hits and acting roles such as in Girl Meets World, opened the show with a sequel to the popular 'Domingo' sketch from last season. In the sketch, Carpenter and friends sang about infidelity to tunes like Lady Gaga's 'Abracadabra' and Taylor Swift's 'The Fate of Ophelia,' though Swift did not make a cameo as rumoured. Carpenter also delivered a monologue poking fun at her hyper-sexualised lyrics and controversial album cover, joking that Bowen Yang was pulling her hair in the image.
Other sketches included a parody of pre-teen boys obsessed with snacks, featuring Carpenter and female cast members doing impressions, and a horror-themed bit where Carpenter and Ben Marshall played a couple panicking over making social plans. Marshall, a member of Please Don't Destroy recently promoted to feature player, appeared multiple times throughout the night.
The episode also revived a sketch reminiscent of 'Wake Up and Smile' and 'Schweddy Balls,' with Carpenter selling a travel pillow that resembled a woman's private parts. Despite a 12-minute delay due to football overrun, Carpenter's performance was well-received, showcasing her comedic timing alongside a refreshed cast.
