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UPDATED True US

Saturday Night Live Season 51 Premiere: Trump’s FCC Warning and Star-Studded Lineup

Trump Warns Comedy Show Cast to Behave

During the season 51 premiere, Trump cautions the cast against mean jokes, referencing past criticisms of late-night shows and suggesting there will be consequences if they misbehave.

  • Trump warns cast to behave
  • Addresses new FCC rules
  • Comments on military presentation
  • References Epstein letter controversy
  • Boasts about golf and travels
  • Makes jokes about ongoing wars

Saturday Night Live returned to Studio 8H on October 4, 2025, with a cold open lampooning former President Donald Trump’s attempt to police late-night satire through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Hosted by Bad Bunny with musical guest Doja Cat, the episode introduced 17 new cast members and delivered sketches on AI, college scandals, and summer headlines.

Cold Open Parodies Trump’s FCC Ultimatum

The sketch opened with Colin Jost as “Secretary of Defense” Pete Hegseth delivering a mock briefing:

“No fatties, no facial hair, no body hair—just hot, shredded, hairless men who are definitely not gay”. James Austin Johnson’s Trump burst in, declaring, “Late-night TV! I’m here to keep an eye on SNL so they don’t go too far. They better watch it—I know late-night like the back of my hand”. Brandishing a mismatched, makeup-covered hand, he warned the cast to “answer to my attack dog at the FCC, Brendan Carr.” When Mikey Day’s Carr corrected, “It’s actually ‘Brendan,’ sir,” Trump quipped, “It’s crazy you think I care”.[1][2]

Weekend Update and Riyadh Festival Jabs

Johnson’s Trump then mocked Colin Jost’s Weekend Update role:

“We all knew they couldn’t let him do it solo.” He teased Jost for performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival despite Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, joking, “That’s the kind of thing that would kill over there,” referencing executions by the kingdom.[3][2][1]

Epstein Letter and Mock Poem

The cold open referenced a Wall Street Journal report on a 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein allegedly signed by Trump—an assertion he disputes. Johnson’s Trump offered a mock poetic defense:

“May every day be another wonderful secret. That was a quote from a poem I wrote to a horrible man I’ve never met before”.[4][2]

Host and Musical Guest Highlights

Bad Bunny hosted SNL for the second time, marking the first back-to-back hosting appearance in the show’s history. He embodied multiple characters—from a game-show contestant to a parody of Quico from El Chavo del Ocho—and delivered a monologue that referenced his upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show and acting roles.[5][6][7][3]

Doja Cat made her debut as musical guest, performing “Aaahh Men!” and “Gorgeous” from her album Vie (released September 26, 2025) with elaborate staging and choreography. Her rendition of “Gorgeous” featured a rose-shaped throne and cascading petals on a black-and-white checkered floor.[8][9]

New Cast and Recurring Sketches

The season premiere introduced 17 new cast members, including TikTok star Veronika Slowikowska and comedian Kam Patterson. The episode revisited popular segments such as AI in the workplace, a college admissions scandal parody, and a retrospective Weekend Update rounding up the summer’s biggest stories.[7][10][11]

Table of Key Episode Elements

Segment Performer(s) Description
Cold Open James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost Trump’s FCC warning parody
Monologue Bad Bunny References to Super Bowl, film roles, family anecdotes
Sketch “El Chavo del Ocho” Bad Bunny, Marcello Hernandez Parody of 1970s Mexican kids’ show
Sketch “ChatGPTío” Marcello Hernandez, Bad Bunny AI chatbot parody
Weekend Update Colin Jost, Michael Che Summer headlines roundup
Musical Performance “Aaahh Men!” Doja Cat High-energy pop performance
Musical Performance “Gorgeous” Doja Cat Atmospheric ballad with rose motif staging
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Sophia Clarke is a senior international journalist with nine years of experience covering global politics, human rights, and international diplomacy. She earned her M.A. in International Relations and Journalism from the University of Oxford (2016), where she specialized in global governance, conflict reporting, and cross-cultural communication. Sophia began her career as a foreign correspondent for BBC World Service and later joined The Guardian, where her insightful analyses and on-the-ground reporting from Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America earned her recognition for accuracy and integrity. Now based in Paris, France, Sophia contributes to Faharas NET, providing comprehensive coverage of diplomatic affairs, humanitarian issues, and policy developments shaping the international landscape. Her storytelling combines investigative depth, journalistic ethics, and a strong commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices in global dialogue.

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Editorial Timeline

Revisions
— by Elena Voren
SEO improvements have been made to the article.
— by Kamar Mahmoud
A featured image has been added to the article.
— by Howayda Sayed
Added verified secondary and recent news sources.
— by Howayda Sayed
Updated and clarified the article.
— by Howayda Sayed
Initial publication.

Correction Record

Accountability
— by Howayda Sayed
  1. Impersonations should be explicitly labeled (e.g., Colin Jost as Pete Hegseth) to prevent misinterpretation.
  2. Verify Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show announcement with official NFL sources.
  3. Cite Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International when referencing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
  4. Summarize and link to the Wall Street Journal article on the Epstein letter for full context.
  5. Include byline, publication and last updated dates, and an editor’s note to adhere to Google News transparency standards.
  6. Attribute all controversial claims with neutral language (e.g., “alleged birthday letter”).
  7. Incorporate SEO keywords: “SNL cold open,” “Trump FCC warning,” “Bad Bunny host,” “Doja Cat SNL,” “James Austin Johnson Trump.”
  8. Maintain short sentences and clear headings for readability and AI parsing.

FAQ

What specific warnings did Trump give the cast?

He warned them to avoid mean jokes or face consequences.

What did he say about military rules?

He joked about absurd standards in military appearances.

What was Trump's stance on ongoing wars?

He claimed he ended every war except two.