The season 51 Christmas episode also marks Bowen Yang’s final appearance as a cast member.

*Saturday Night Live *recap: Ariana Grande and Cher lend their diva power to year-end episode

The season 51 Christmas episode also marks Bowen Yang's final appearance as a cast member.

By Andy Hoglund

Andy Hoglund

Andy Hoglund is a writer at **. He has worked at EW since 2019.

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on December 20, 2025 11:55 p.m. ET

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'SNL' musical guest Cher, host Ariana Grande, and cast member Bowen Yang. Credit:

Rosalind O’Connor/NBC

Welcome dear reader to *SNL in Review*: holiday edition. That’s right, our favorite late night network comedy is back with its annual holiday show… which means it should be special. The host and musical guest are primed for fun: Ariana Grande is back hosting for a third time. She’s always great. Very funny, talented… an excellent impressionist. And the musical guest is none other than Cher! Outside *SNL50*, this is her first time appearing as *Saturday Night Live*'s musical guest since season 13! It’s an exciting lineup… I can’t think of a better fit to end 2025.

This week has been shocking, for many reasons. Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found murdered in their home – in addition to directing classic films like *This is Spinal Tap*, Reiner hosted *SNL *way back in season one. Also in that episode was future cast member Denny Dillon. Reiner introduced her alongside Mark Hampton in their comedy act “Talent Night in the Convent.” She tells us she recalls him as making “some suggestions” and just being “kind, friendly, relaxed and supportive” throughout the week. “It is heartbreaking.”

In other (wildly different but still surprising) news: Bowen Yang announced he is leaving the show! Denny Dillon says: “What a huge loss. Such a talent… he was so gracious to me and Gail Matthius at the 50th reunion, then mentioned us on the red carpet. We were both so charmed by him and his respect and generosity of spirit.”

Bowen Yang and Ariana Grande on 'Saturday Night Live' on Dec. 20, 2025.

Yang’s departure announcement has become national news. In hindsight, it makes sense. He’s provided some continuity during a transition period for the cast, and now gets his own Cecily Strong-style send-off. It’s wild to think, but he quickly outgrew the show in a short amount of time. Good luck to him. We are officially in the Ashley Padilla era!?**

*Check back for live updates throughout the show!*

“We love tree!” President Trump (James Austin Johnson) is giving a holiday message from the White House. He wants to ramble about his administration’s achievements. They have added his name to so many buildings, because they had to take it off so many Epstein documents. He name drops the *Hunger Games, Jeopardy *and Indigo Girls. “With regard to files, we’re being very transparent,” he claims.

This was a bit abbreviated. I am joined by former cast member Patrick Weathers tonight. He disagrees: “Too long. Too much Epstein, yesterday’s news.”**

Grande jokes about making unnecessary sequels – not the new *Wicked *(with Bowen!) but *Meet the Parents 4*. She sings a fun spoof of Mariah Carey’s "All I Want for Christmas Is You" about getting the people she barely knows gifts like her cousin’s boyfriend. Weathers says: “She, of course, has an incredible voice.”****Bowen Yang comes out and the crowd erupts. They sing. A few other cast members join. Bowen sounds like Elton John (whom he's portrayed on the show before)!****(Kind of clunky start to the show. Weathers quips: "Is this the Carol Burnett Show?" He also asks: “Montage is insane. How many cast members?”)**

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

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Source: “EW SNL”