“Saturday Night Live” recap: Kate McKinnon heads 'home' for Christmas as a first-time host

The alum was joined by fellow former "SNL" stars Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig for a holiday monologue.

Seasons greetings Conehead nation – it’s SNL in Review, subbing for Tarzan, Tonto and Frankenstein. (If you like, cue up "I Wish It Was Christmas Today" as you read tonight's column.)

That’s right, it’s the annual Saturday Night Live holiday episode, the last show of 2023. Holiday comedy is one of SNL’s favorite subgenres, the basis for many of the show’s classic sketches. For tonight’s episode, I spoke with an expert: former cast member Ana Gasteyer. Her holiday bona fides go way beyond SNL - check out A Clüsterfünke Christmas, or her role in the live version of A Christmas Story from a few years back!

And her jazzy “Sugar & Booze” album celebrates the best parts of the holidays with covers of several of the best winter standards. Recently, Gasteyer’s fantastic hybrid act with Keith Lockhart stole the show at Symphony Hall. It’s an interactive and playful embrace of throwback shows of ole that never feels stodgy, a top notch way to celebrate the holiday spirit. In other words, she’s the perfect person to ask about live comedy and musical performance for an episode like this! And that’s not even considering the many holiday shows she did while a cast member at 8H.

She says: “The Christmas show was always my favorite show, because all these great things happened. Martha Stewart’s Topless Christmas was the first real breakout that I had - I guess it wasn’t technically Christmas but we reaired it. Schweddy Balls also. They were always just fun, festive and sparkly [shows]. It's always an extraordinary event and a particularly magical night.”

Tonight is particularly special, as it is the return of one of SNL’s modern legends: Kate McKinnon. Pete Davidson opened season 49, supposedly last week nearly promised a Cecily Strong cameo in the cold open - now it is McKinnon’s turn! Reflecting on McKinnon’s legacy at SNL, Gasteyer shares: “I think she’s a super talented, grounded, smart performer. We met during the 40th, we did a film shoot together, where they paired us, which I thought was highest praise. She’s a lovely person.” Noting there’s been a throughline from her era to hers -with “the Tina, Maya, Amy and Rachel era, then the hand off to Wiig, then Kate” carrying the baton), Gasteyer reflects that McKinnon “brought what many girls now bring to the show, which was intelligence, competence and really strong presence on their own – there’s lots of [cast members] like that now, which is delightful. We were early adopters and it’s nice to see the road is much easier for women.” Absolutely!

Cold Open

It’s the 95th Annual Christmas Awards! Two people from the E! Network are hosting - Tina Cabrini (Heidi Gardner) and Tony Parker Lee (Bowen Yang). They are giving out awards for Most Disappointing Awards.

Gamgam (Chloe Fineman) wins for buying her grandson clothes. Holidays are performative - Mikey Day appears to demonstrate his feigned love for his son’s gift. Chloe Troast is again given an opportunity to sing - is this like, her thing? Marcello Hernández plays Mario Lopez, while Andrew Dismukes is high.

The Most Uninvited Guest category is hilarious - seeing Sarah Sherman say “Auntie” and talk about her experience with a new culture. Devon Walker is embarrassed.

Look, this is solid. A little overstuffed but funny. And, folks, it’s not last week’s political cold open.

Monologue

“My name is Kate. Hi. I used to work here.” She does not like doing a monologue in her own voice - she’s developing a human personality still.

McKinnon shows a few images from previous monologues, and some awkward pics from her past.

She sings the voicemail she left for Lorne after he asked her to host, a SNL version of "I'll Be Home for Christmas". (In perhaps a nod to last week’s Adam Driver monologue, she pretends to use a mini piano.)

Two legends show up to support her: Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig! They joke about fake information they read about themselves on Wikipedia. 38,000 sketches seems like a lot, Kristen. Maya confuses her page with Beyonce’s. This has vibes, but it’s mostly coasting on seeing three Hall of Fame alum interact.

Former cast member Siobhan Fallon Hogan, whose new movie Shelter in Solitude just came out on VOD (Amazon, etc.) and released its soundtrack, comments that: “Kate is brilliant! Her characters are hilarious, Barbara DeDrew is genius.”

North Pole News

It’s a Killer Whale attack. Kirby Gigglemittens (Day) is on the side.

Kate is good here as “very shaken, very Scottish” one who lived, but I don’t love seeing this premise again. The jokes about the Easter Bunny giving a canned ‘thoughts and prayers’ message, as well as statements from the Grinch and Rudolph is cute. Ends abruptly.

A Pongo Christmas

Your kids want a dog for Christmas - it’s a problem every year. Until year! Introducing Pongo - the world’s first perfect pet. No mess, no bark, no bite. Pongo doesn’t do anything – no holes. He barely does tricks, he just is (he isn’t truly alive or dead).

Sarah Sherman is pretty funny in this as Diane, the mom who gets unnerved by Pongo. I like the dark turn, with her family turning on her.

Abba Christmas

The Fleetwood Mac of cold weather, Abba, has a new winter-themed project out. Kate gets to perform alongside Kristen and Maya here - and Bowen Yang. That’s it: holiday songs set to Abba songs.

I mean, this is silly. The bad Swedish accents are a bit offensive to me.

Gifts From Mom

A couple of daughters are home for the holidays, and their parents (Johnson, McKinnon) appreciate having them back - and bringing their boyfriends. “I take up space and I hurt people,” says the self-deprecating, overly honest and sacrificial mom. She is being so hard on herself, preemptively apologizing for every gift. She hates her gifts – and maybe herself even more.

Tampon Farm

Maya Rudolph has her eyes on the horizon in this music video. Kristen Wiig is wearing a bandana. I spy Paula Pell, Billie EIlish, Greta Gerwig.

This is a total banger. Great song, well done.

Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For?

Greta Gerwig and Kate introduce this headlining song from Barbie. It should be a big Oscar contender. The performance befits the song’s melancholy tone – Billie with a simple piano in front of a sign of her name (in the Barbie font). Old footage and photos from the case are displayed - Punkie, Maya. Very moving.

Ana Gasteyer noted that tonight’s performance continues a SNL holiday tradition of “great music. And it’s always a variety of music, different kinds of artists. We had Vanessa Williams with the Philadelphia Boys Choir now all the way to Billie.”

Weekend Update

Topics: Rudy Giulani, whole milk, Steve Urkel. There is a nationwide shortage of “skanks.” Oh boy... buckle up!

Rich Auntie with No Kids (Ego Nwodim) talks about the push off method, and how she is able to enjoy the holidays. Nice Ego showcase! Auntie’s favorite movie is Django Unchained. “Careful baby I am about to steal her job!” Hm! I like this - will we see it again?

It’s the return of joke swap! As always this is savage barb after savage barb - Che makes Jost read his jokes in front of peace activist Haddy Davis! (The best jokes might be Jost’s digs at Black Widow.) Fun as always!

Yankee Swap

Office mates are sharing fun trinkets - Boogie Woogie Santa, goofy stuff like that. Things get serious: Brenda (McKinnon) hands Winston (Kenan Thompson) an envelope… she has arranged a cure for sickle cell anemia.This is funny, watch it! I won’t spoil it for you.

Billie Eilish - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

This holiday standard debuted in the classic film Meet Me In St. Louis and was sung by Judy Garland. Billie has sung this live in some of her past shows FYI.

The snow fall is a nice touch.

Cinema Classics

Oh boy, the return of Reese De’What. Speaking of Meet Me In St. Louis: a movie about white people getting happier. For a key scene, the director Vincent Minneli told the child actor Tootie that her dog died. We last saw this in season 47 with Will Forte. It debuted in season 39! This is the 12th appearance overall. I guess Kate is a fan of this concept, and it’s a good role for Kenan, but no thanks.

Chloe Troast sings again. Are they pigeonholing her enough?

“F you Judy Garland - Wizard of Oz was mid.” Yikes! No mas.

Whiskers R We

Another returning character! Middle-aged cat-lover Barbara DeDrew (McKinnon) showcases the cats that are ready to be adopted at Whiskers R We animal shelter. This time Barbara has an intern, played by Billie Eilish. But is there a family relation?! Ridiculous names and backstories.

This also debuted in season 39! I know Siobhan Fallon Hogan is a fan of this one! If she wasn’t going to do any of her political impressions, this is peak Kate.

Final thoughts

— Thank you to Ana Gasteyer for her thoughts on Kate, her legacy on the show (especially hanging the baton to the likes of Maya and Kristen, who appeared tonight), and what it is like working at 8H during Christmas Time – go see her live show ASAP! It’s a dynamite way to get in the holiday spirit. Here is her tour schedule.

— Also huge thanks to Siobhan Fallon Hogan!

— What did you think?! Vote here! Fair amount of cameos no? But a fun show.

THE “SNL in Review” Experience on X: "What did *you* think of the Kate McKinnon SNL?"

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Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.