He was visibly shaking during the monologue. You could see it if you looked at his hands. For a guy who spends his professional life staring down charging rhinos in the Roman Colosseum or weeping in sun-drenched Italian villas, Paul Mescal looked genuinely terrified to be standing on the Studio 8H stage.
But honestly? That’s what made the Paul Mescal Saturday Night Live debut work.
The December 7, 2024, episode was a weird, high-stakes collision of high-brow drama and the absolute absurdity that only SNL can pull off. We’re talking about a man who was literally just nominated for a second Oscar—this time for his gut-wrenching turn in Hamnet—spending his Saturday night dressed as a pirate stripper and a singing Roman gladiator in a witch hat.
It was a lot.
The Gladiator Musical: "There’s No Place Like Rome"
The highlight of the night, at least for anyone who survived the "Barbenheimer" era, was the "Gladiator II: The Musical" pre-tape. The premise was simple: Gladiator II lost the box office battle to Wicked, so the producers decided to lean into the musical theater craze.
Watching Mescal reprise his role as Lucius Verus, only to break into a parody of "Defying Gravity," was the kind of fever dream only Season 50 could provide. He actually has a great voice, which shouldn't be a surprise if you know his theater background, but seeing him fly over the Colosseum on a broomstick while belting "There's no place like Rome" was... a choice. A hilarious one, but definitely a choice.
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Why the Irish "Short Shorts" Monologue Went Viral
Before the sketches even started, Mescal had to address the elephant in the room: his legs.
Specifically, the "short shorts" that have become his unofficial uniform in paparazzi shots. He used his monologue to clear up some Irish stereotypes, mostly by having Marcello Hernandez crash the stage in a pair of cobalt blue Adidas shorts that were, frankly, dangerously short.
"The shorter the shorts, the taller you look," Marcello joked.
"I don't think it's working, bud," Mescal shot back.
It was a small moment, but it set the tone for the night. Mescal wasn't there to be the "serious actor." He was there to be the guy who gets it. He’s the Internet’s "Daddy" (a title the Please Don’t Destroy boys leaned into hard during their sketch), and he was more than happy to lean into the bit.
The Sketches That Actually Landed (and One That Didn't)
Not every sketch was a home run. That’s just the reality of SNL. But the ones that hit, hit hard because of Mescal’s commitment to the bit.
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- The Earring Sketch: This was probably the most relatable 11:40 p.m. sketch in years. Mescal plays a college kid coming home for the holidays with a single gold hoop earring. His parents (Heidi Gardner and Emil Wakim) react as if he’s joined a death cult. The heightening was perfect—Gardner is a master at that "panicked Midwestern mom" energy.
- The Italian Restaurant Commercial: This was a bit of a mess, but a fun one. Mescal and Ashley Padilla play actors who keep going off-script during a pasta ad, much to the chagrin of Kenan Thompson. It felt like a classic "ten-to-one" sketch that got moved up in the lineup.
- Spotify Wrapped: Now, this was polarizing. Some people loved the Bowen Yang-centric absurdity, while others felt it was a "niche-reference-overload." Mescal played one of the friends who discovers his Wrapped is dominated by a deeply strange artist. It also featured a cameo from Trisha Paytas, which basically broke the "chronically online" side of Twitter.
"SNL felt super old-school and fun," Mescal later told Collider in early 2026. "I distinctly remember just ripping cigarettes in the changing room between dress and air. It’s a feat of endurance."
The "Irish Americans" Cut Sketch
Interestingly, one of the best bits of the night didn't even make it to air. The "Irish Americans" sketch, which NBC later dropped on YouTube, featured Mescal as a bartender in a local Irish pub.
Instead of the usual "St. Paddy’s Day" tropes, the sketch flipped the script. It mocked the earnestness of Irish Americans who show up in Dublin claiming they’re "a quarter Irish" because their great-great-grandmother was an O'Connor. Mescal’s character treats the American tourist like a returning king, shouting, "A son of the soil has returned to us!" It was sharp, meta, and probably too specific for a general American audience, but the Irish loved it.
The Shaboozey Effect
You can't talk about this episode without mentioning Shaboozey. The musical guest brought a massive amount of energy to the stage, performing "Good News" and, of course, the chart-topping "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."
The crowd was so loud during "Tipsy" that you could barely hear the opening chords. It gave the whole episode a "party" vibe that helped mask some of the thinner writing in the later sketches, like the court case bit with Andrew Dismukes.
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What We Learned About Mescal's Comedy
If there’s a takeaway from Paul Mescal Saturday Night Live, it’s that the guy is a world-class "straight man."
In comedy, everyone wants to be the person wearing the funny wig and doing the accent. But a sketch only works if there’s someone grounded for the absurdity to bounce off of. Mescal is incredible at that. Whether he was playing a confused lawyer's client or a boyfriend bewildered by a pirate-themed bachelorette party, his timing was surprisingly sharp for someone who usually spends his days on film sets.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Since that SNL stint, Mescal’s career hasn't slowed down. With Hamnet garnering massive awards buzz this January and his upcoming role in the Beatles biopics (he's playing Paul McCartney), that week at 30 Rock feels like a pivotal moment where he transitioned from "indie darling" to "household name."
If you’re looking to revisit the episode, here’s what you should do:
- Watch the "Irish Americans" cut-for-time sketch first. It’s arguably better than three of the sketches that actually made the broadcast.
- Pay attention to the "A Complete Unknown" red carpet sketch. James Austin Johnson’s Bob Dylan impression is eerie, and Mescal’s Bono is a hilarious, subtle dig at the U2 frontman.
- Don't skip the monologue. Even if you aren't into "short shorts," the chemistry between Mescal and Marcello Hernandez is genuine.
The episode might not have been the highest-rated of the season, but it proved that Mescal has more than just dramatic range—he’s got the "live from New York" spark. Just don't ask him to wear long pants anytime soon.