Sabrina Carpenter pulled double duty as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live this week, delivering a comedic performance that steered clear of political themes. The episode, delayed by 12 minutes due to an NFL overrun, focused on lighter sketches including a sequel to the viral 'Domingo' sketch from last season.
Carpenter, known for her hit song 'Espresso,' opened the show with a continuation of the Domingo storyline, where she and the cast sang about infidelity to tunes by Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift. Despite rumors, Swift did not make a cameo appearance. Carpenter's monologue included jokes about her hypersexualized lyrics and controversial album cover, with Kenan Thompson eventually wrapping up the segment.
The episode featured a sketch parodying podcast culture, with female cast members impersonating pre-teen boys. James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump impression made a surprise appearance, discussing candy and philosophy. Another sketch, a horror movie parody about making plans, starred Carpenter and Ben Marshall, who was promoted to feature player this season.
A recurring sketch combined elements of classic SNL bits 'Wake Up and Smile' and 'Schweddy Balls,' with Carpenter selling a travel pillow that resembled female anatomy. The episode maintained a non-political tone, with no cold open addressing current events.
