Studio 8H feels different when the air is actually cold outside and the holiday tinsel is finally in the trash. Saturday Night Live just kicked off its 2026 run, and honestly, the stakes were weirdly high for a mid-January show. We aren’t just talking about a new year. This was the first time in seven seasons that we didn't see Bowen Yang’s name in the opening credits, and the "Bowen-sized hole" in the cast was the elephant in the room all night.
Finn Wolfhard took the stage as the host for the January 17 episode, and if you were expecting a nervous kid, you haven't been paying attention to his career. The Stranger Things star basically grew up in front of us, but seeing him under the 30 Rockefeller Plaza lights felt like a "he’s finally here" moment. He’s the first of the younger Hawkins crew to host, beating out Millie Bobby Brown and the rest of the gang to the punch.
The Finn Wolfhard SNL Debut: A Stranger Return
Wolfhard’s monologue didn't waste much time. He’s 23 now, but he’s still got that lanky, slightly awkward energy that makes him perfect for sketch comedy. He joked about the Stranger Things series finale—which, let’s be real, people are still arguing about on Reddit after it dropped on New Year’s Eve. It was a solid start. He looked comfortable. Most first-time hosts look like they’re waiting for a jump scare, but Finn leaned into it.
The night really leaned into his "alt-rock kid" persona. He’s a Vancouverite through and through, even giving a subtle shout-out to his hometown during a sketch where he played a hyper-specific barista. You could tell he wasn't just there to read cue cards; he actually wanted to do the work.
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Why the January 17 Episode Felt Like a Reset
This wasn't just another episode of Season 51. It felt like the beginning of a new era because the "old guard" is shifting. With Bowen Yang gone, the oxygen in the room moved toward the featured players. Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline are clearly being groomed for "star" status. Padilla, specifically, has been the breakout of the fall, and she dominated several sketches tonight with that high-intensity weirdness that used to be Bowen's trademark.
The show also had to address the elephant in the room: the absence of a Black female performer since Ego Nwodim’s departure before the season started. They didn't "fix" it with a new hire tonight—which some fans were predicting—but the writers seemed to be playing with different cast pairings to see what sticks. Jeremy Culhane and Ben Marshall (the Please Don't Destroy alum) were everywhere. Culhane is basically becoming the new utility player, the guy who can play a nervous dad or a sentient piece of toast with equal conviction.
Highlights and Lowlights: What Landed
Not everything was a home run. Comedy is subjective, but some of the writing felt like it was still shaking off the New Year's Eve hangover.
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- The "Vecnar" Promo Callback: Before the show even aired, the promo of Finn wandering the halls of NBC until things turned red and "Vecnar" appeared was top-tier. In the actual show, they did a meta-sequel to it where Finn kept thinking he was in the Upside Down, but he was actually just in a poorly lit breakroom with Kenan Thompson.
- The Barista Sketch: Wolfhard played a guy who refuses to make a latte because "the beans aren't feeling the vibe." It was a bit long, but his commitment to the bit saved it.
- Weekend Update: Colin Jost and Michael Che are still there, thank god. They tackled the week's news with the usual "we're tired of each other" chemistry. The standout, though, was a guest appearance by Sarah Sherman as a deranged New Year’s Resolution. It was loud, it was gross, and it was exactly what Update needed.
Honestly, the musical guest A$AP Rocky brought a level of cinematic energy that usually doesn't happen on that tiny stage. Performing tracks from Don’t Be Dumb—which literally dropped the day before the show—he turned Studio 8H into a fever dream. The production value on his second set was insane; it felt more like a short film than a live performance.
The Missing Pieces
There’s a lot of chatter about the pacing. Without Bowen, some of the high-concept, "theatrical" sketches felt a bit thinner. SNL is a machine, and when you remove a gear that's been spinning for seven years, it takes a second for the other parts to catch up.
We also saw a lot more of the newer writers' voices coming through. The sketches felt a bit more "Internet-brained"—lots of fast cuts and niche references to things like AI-generated art and TikTok subcultures. It’s a gamble. It works for the Gen Z audience, but you have to wonder if the legacy viewers are wondering what the hell a "Sigma" is.
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The Verdict on Season 51, Episode 10
If you missed it, you should probably catch the highlights on YouTube or Peacock, specifically A$AP Rocky’s sets and Finn’s "Stranger Things" meta-sketch. It wasn't the "best episode ever," but it was a confident return from the break. Wolfhard proved he has the chops to come back and maybe even join the Five-Timers club in a decade or two.
What to watch next:
Keep an eye on the January 24 episode. Teyana Taylor is hosting with Geese as the musical guest. Taylor is coming off a Golden Globe nomination, and she’s a powerhouse performer, so expect the energy to be dialed up to eleven. After that, we’ve got Alexander Skarsgård on the 31st with Cardi B.
If you're a fan of the show's "changing of the guard," pay attention to how much screen time Ashley Padilla gets in the coming weeks. She’s the one to watch. The show is clearly leaning on her to lead the next generation, and so far, she’s not dropping the ball.
Next Steps for SNL Fans:
- Check out the full "Vecnar" digital short on NBC's social channels if you want the best laugh of the week.
- Stream A$AP Rocky's new album Don't Be Dumb to see how the live versions compare to the studio tracks.
- Mark your calendars for the Teyana Taylor episode; the promos usually drop on Wednesday or Thursday.