Nikki Glaser SNL Recap
Pete Davidson brings the antics in his surprise return to Studio 8H.
Saturday Night Live’s Nov 8 episode brought comedian Nikki Glaser to Studio 8H as the host for the first time, joined by Grammy®-nominated musical guest sombr. The episode balanced sharp topical commentary with over-the-top moments — from an Oval Office press conference gone viral to a mechanical bull time-warp. Glaser’s stand-up roots showed throughout the night, as she anchored sketch after sketch with her signature brazen style, while sombrprovided a dynamic musical bookend that brought a fresh energy to the show.
Here are the highlights of Glaser’s episode of SNL.
Oval Office Press Conference Cold Open
The episode opened in the Oval Office, where chaos unfolded during a mock White House press conference. The scene featured James Austin Johnson reprising his fan-favorite impression of President Donald Trump, joined by Mikey Day and Marcello Hernández as aides. In the middle of Trump’s rambling remarks, a pharmaceutical executive dramatically collapsed — a moment that spun into absurd comedy.
Watch Oval Office Press Conference Cold Open here.
Spirit Tunnel Anxiety
In this sketch, SNL spoofed daytime talk shows — specifically Jennifer Hudson’s “Spirit Tunnel” dance intro segment. The sketch took the form of a commercial advertising “Hudsacillin,” a fictional drug meant to help celebrities avoid appearing on Hudson’s show by making them sick.
Watch Spirit Tunnel Anxiety here.
Nikki Glaser Stand-Up Monologue
In her monologue, Glaser leaned into her stand-up roots, riffing on beauty standards, spray tans, and the uncomfortable truths surrounding modern celebrity culture. Her delivery was quick, sharp, and self-aware — classic Glaser. She tackled taboo subjects like pedophilia and double standards in entertainment with an honesty that made the live audience laugh and squirm.
Watch Nikki Glaser Stand-Up Monologue here.
Karaoke Night
The “Karaoke Night” sketch delivered peak awkward humor as Glaser and Andrew Dismukes played siblings performing “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls and “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men — songs that, when sung together, created an unsettlingly intimate dynamic. Kenan Thompson as DJ Freakalicious watched in disbelief, as did the bar crowd, whose reactions made the cringe factor even funnier.
Watch Karaoke Night here.
Weekend Update
The Weekend Update segment, anchored by Colin Jost and Michael Che, kept the laughs coming with topical jokes about election results, celebrity scandals, and pop culture headlines. A surprise appearance by former SNL cast member Pete Davidson brought extra energy, as he joined the desk for a bit of self-deprecating humor about his chaotic public image.
Watch Weekend Update here.
Beauty and Mr. Beast
Glaser channels her inner Belle, who is an influencer trapped in a relationship with a YouTuber version of the Beast. The sketch hilariously fused Disney fairytale tropes with internet culture, featuring Mr. Beast (played by Michael Longfellow) turning every romantic gesture into a viral challenge
Watch Beauty and Mr. Beast here.
American Girl Doll XL
Turning childhood nostalgia into weird adult comedy, this parody commercial introduces oversized dolls marketed for adult collectors. Glaser anchors the piece with deadpan reactions as the cast amplifies the surreal premise.
Watch American Girl Doll XL here.
Mechanical Bull
A bachelorette party takes a wild turn when the mechanical bull goes “Bon Voyage” mode and sends two drunken friends (Glaser and Sarah Sherman) into a time-warping misadventure.
Watch Mechanical Bull here.
Pilot Announcement
A pitch-perfect parody of airline announcements — Johnson stars as an overly chatty pilot who overshares personal details mid-flight, from divorce updates to life reflections. The rambling monologue, mixed with the passengers’ growing discomfort and the flight attendant’s (Glaser) intercom announcements, give this sketch its hilarious tension.
Watch Pilot Announcement here.
sombr Musical Performances
sombr took to the stage with two standout songs, “12 to 12” and “back to friends.” His “12 to 12” performance fused ’80s synth-pop grooves with slick funk undertones, complete with dynamic vocal runs and high-energy dance moves. He returned with “back to friends,” an intimate, emotionally raw track with rich harmonies and a live band that brought depth to the stage.
Watch sombr’s performances of “12 to 12” here and “back to friends” here.
Pinwheel
In the whimsical, fairytale-inspired sketch, Glaser plays a character named Anna, who returns to a magical forest and presents a pinwheel to odd woodland creatures (Day and Jeremy Culhane) — only to uncover weirdness beneath the surface.
Watch Pinwheel here.
Brad and His Dad
Brad (Day) and his dad (Streeter Seidell) spend the afternoon together. This animated sketch follows a divorced dad trying to connect with his introverted son via a video game obsession and cringey bonding attempts.
Watch Brad and His Dad here.
Sorority Meeting
A frat guy in a hyper-realistic mask infiltrates a sorority meeting, leading to escalating tension, misidentification, and a bizarre reveal. Glaser plays one of the sorority sisters trying to maintain order.
Watch Sorority Meeting here.
Watch Saturday Night Live on Peacock and NBC, live coast-to-coast, Saturdays at 11:30p ET. Stream every episode now on Peacock.
