The 3rd Episode of Season 51 of Saturday Night Live aired on October 18, 2025. The host was Sabrina Carpenter, and the musical guest was Sabrina Carpenter.
Even excellently-choreographed and staged musical numbers by host Sabrina Carpenter couldn’t save this episode. Carpenter deserved better: but the writer’s room failed her in her first hosting appearance. Previously, Carpenter had been a musical guest in Season 49 in Episode 20.
Someone thought it was a good idea to open the show with a Domingo sketch. The premise has already grown tiresome according to most ardent fans of the show. In this installment, Marcello Hernandez returns to sing in another contrived and rather un-funny situation, joined by Carpenter, Sarah Sherman, Veronika Slowikowska, and Chloe Fineman. Another low point was the appearance of The Movie Guy (Hernandez) on Weekend Update. The character relies heavily on tired and borderline racist tropes about Latin people. The sooner it’s put to rest, the better.
Positive parts of the show was a sketch called “Snack Homiez” featuring Carpenter, Fineman, Jane Wickline, and Slowikowska as teenage boys on a podcast. That sketch idea needs some more fleshing out, but it has promise. In a later sketch called “Surprise,” Ashley Padilla shined.
Sabrina Carpenter SNL Season 51 Cold Open
Domingo sketch: A group of friends (Sabrina Carpenter, Sarah Sherman, Ashley Padilla, Veronika Slowikowska) perform for a birthday. Starring Marcello Hernandez as Domingo.
