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 |
