SNL Season – Will Ferrell hosted the final episode of “Saturday Night Live” Season 51 on May 16, with Paul McCartney as musical guest. The night included a cold open where Ferrell played the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein, McCartney delivered three musical performances, and Chad
“Saturday Night Live” returned for its Season 51 finale on Saturday, May 16, and Will Ferrell set the tone immediately—leading one of the best cold opens of the season as the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein.
In the opening, Ferrell’s Epstein visited Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, treating the moment like a reunion. “We had some fun times together, didn’t we Donny?” Ferrell said. “We should’ve taken more pictures.”
The sketch then shifted into an homage to “A Christmas Carol. ” with the ghost showing Trump a future vision of his cabinet.. Kristi Noem, played by Ashley Padilla, appeared hawking products on a Home Shopping Network-style setup.. Pete Hegseth appeared as well. played by Colin Jost. along with Kash Patel. portrayed by Aziz Ansari. with both pushing their own products: Poland Sprung hard water and a signature cologne called Incompetence.
After that cold open, Ferrell’s doppelganger—Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith—stepped out for the opening monologue.. Early in the episode. Ferrell was joined by his “SNL” castmate Molly Shannon for a sketch. adding to the sense that the finale was built around returning faces and recognizable rhythms.
The episode’s musical block belonged to Paul McCartney. who was “working overtime despite turning 84 next month. ” with McCartney appearing in both the monologue and later sketched roles.. He popped up in the monologue and later played a British mechanic in a late-in-the-show sketch. before performing three musical numbers.
With Chad Smith joining on drums. McCartney led off with “Days We Left Behind. ” a track from his upcoming album “The Boys of Dungeon Lane.” He then performed “Band on the Run. ” a song he also performed on the show in 2010.. After the goodnights at 1 a.m.. McCartney came back again. performing “Coming Up” as the cast danced onstage and the credits rolled.
The finale also included multiple cameos beyond the cast circle, with Ansari appearing in the cabinet-sketch product shilling alongside the appearances by Padilla and Jost. In addition, McCartney’s presence was threaded throughout the night rather than confined to the music spot.
The pattern held together across the episode’s big moments: a rapid cold-open setup involving Ferrell and major political figures led into celebrity stand-ins—Chad Smith in the monologue and Molly Shannon in an early sketch—then returned to the spotlight for McCartney. whose performances moved from the mid-episode musical set to a closing “Coming Up” finish after the goodnights at 1 a.m.
“Saturday Night Live” did not post the “Coming Up” video on its YouTube channel, but the episode note says it could be streamed on Peacock.
Highlights from the Season 51 finale included Ferrell’s opening monologue. Paul McCartney’s performances. and multiple “Weekend Update” clips featuring characters visiting the desk.. Videos from the finale were shared for the “Saturday Night Live” Cold Open. Will Ferrell Monologue. “SNL” Weekend Update Clips. Paul McCartney Musical Performances. and “Some of the Best ‘SNL’ Sketches.”
Saturday Night Live SNL Will Ferrell Paul McCartney Season 51 finale Jeffrey Epstein ghost sketch Chad Smith Molly Shannon Weekend Update