Quick Read
- Finn Wolfhard hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ for the first time on January 17, 2026.
- His ‘Stranger Things’ co-stars Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo made surprise appearances during his monologue.
- An ‘SNL’ sketch spoofed ‘Stranger Things’ finale conspiracy theories and imagined various spinoffs.
- A$AP Rocky was the musical guest, performing tracks from his new album, ‘Don’t Be Dumb.’
- James Austin Johnson opened the show as President Trump, introducing new cast impressions.
Finn Wolfhard, widely recognized for his role as Mike Wheeler in Netflix’s hit series ‘Stranger Things,’ made his highly anticipated hosting debut on NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ on January 17, 2026. The episode served as a pivotal moment for the young actor, allowing him to publicly navigate his transition from child star to adult performer, a theme he candidly explored alongside surprise appearances from his ‘Stranger Things’ co-stars Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo, as reported by Entertainment Weekly and USA Today.
Wolfhard, now 23, opened his monologue by reflecting on the unique experience of growing up in the public eye, noting that ‘400 million people got to watch me go through puberty’ over the past decade. He humorously pointed out his ‘very meager facial hair’ as a symbol of his newfound adulthood. The crowd erupted in cheers when McLaughlin and Matarazzo joined him on stage, echoing his sentiment with a synchronized declaration: ‘And neither are we!’ They playfully quipped about the often-treacherous path of ‘former child stars,’ with Matarazzo remarking, ‘any time you read ‘former child star’ in a headline, it can only mean good things.’ McLaughlin added a sarcastic thank you to fans who commented on their ‘changing faces and bodies’ online. Despite the playful jabs, Wolfhard adopted a sincere tone, telling his co-stars, ‘although we’re now men, you’ll always be my boys,’ solidifying the emotional bond forged over their shared formative years on the iconic show.
Spoofing the ‘Stranger Things’ Phenomenon and Fan Theories
A significant portion of the night’s humor revolved around the recently concluded ‘Stranger Things’ series, which aired its finale on December 31. The show took particular aim at the fervent fan theories and the phenomenon of Netflix’s expansive content strategy. A pre-recorded sketch, widely highlighted by USA Today, presented a faux advertisement for an array of outlandish ‘Stranger Things’ sequels, prequels, and spinoffs, including a gritty Steve Harrington series titled ‘Strangerous Minds’ and a 90s investigative show featuring Nancy Wheeler called ‘The Wheeler Report.’ Wolfhard’s own character, Mike, was imagined in a ‘Sex and the City’-style spinoff, ‘Mike in Manhattan,’ pursuing a writing career.
The sketch culminated in a direct jab at a prevalent fan conspiracy theory that posited a secret ninth episode of ‘Stranger Things’ existed, revealing the true ending as an illusion created by the villain Vecna. The spoof humorously ‘confirmed’ this theory, showing Wolfhard, McLaughlin, and Matarazzo as their characters arriving in Iceland, with Mike declaring, ‘Everything we thought happened was an illusion that was planted by Vecna. He’s still out there!’ The trio was then reunited with an unexpected Eleven, played by SNL veteran Kenan Thompson. This sketch deftly capitalized on the audience’s familiarity with the show’s lore and the often-intense speculation surrounding its conclusion, providing a cathartic, humorous send-off.
A Night of Diverse Sketches and Cameos
Beyond the ‘Stranger Things’ focus, the episode featured a variety of sketches showcasing Wolfhard’s comedic range and SNL’s current cast. The cold open saw James Austin Johnson return as President Trump, delivering an address that caught up on timely topics and introduced new cast impressions, including Marcello Hernández as Marco Rubio and Jeremy Culhane as JD Vance. Colin Jost also made an appearance as ‘Secretary of War’ Pete Hegseth, further expanding Trump’s ‘rogue gallery,’ as noted by Entertainment Weekly.
One of the night’s standout sketches was the return of the popular ‘Boys Podcast’ segment, titled ‘Snackhomiez.’ This time, Wolfhard played Chloe Fineman’s cousin Micah, an expert in internet-speak like ‘sigma status’ and ‘max mogging.’ Musical guest A$AP Rocky made a surprise, unannounced cameo, plugging ‘Rap Snacks.’ The sketch, praised for its modern podcast format and use of contemporary online lingo, also featured a return by Sabrina Carpenter, prompting speculation about her continued involvement.
Another memorable sketch, ‘Heated Wizardry,’ cleverly mashed up HBO’s upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ adaptation with the popular gay-themed hockey show ‘Heated Rivalry.’ Wolfhard starred as Harry, with Ben Marshall as Ron, and a cameo by Jason Momoa as a ‘queen’ Hagrid, delighting the audience with its spot-on casting and absurd premise. The ‘Boy Band’ sketch was also a hit, featuring James Austin Johnson as a former pop star dad who disapproves of his son’s indie band aspirations, instead wanting him to follow in his pop idol footsteps. The sketch cleverly parodied 90s boy band aesthetics and dynamics, with aging members flirting with the son’s mother.
Musical Performances and Weekend Update Highlights
The musical guest for the evening was A$AP Rocky, who delivered two dynamic performances from his recently released album, ‘Don’t Be Dumb.’ He first performed ‘Punk Rocky,’ the album’s lead single, followed by a medley of ‘Don’t Be Dumb/Helicopter.’ The ‘Punk Rocky’ performance notably featured a shirtless Danny Elfman on drums, a cool nod to Elfman’s collaboration on A$AP Rocky’s album, as Entertainment Weekly highlighted. Wolfhard’s own musical background as a former lead vocalist for Calpurnia and a member of The Aubreys was also mentioned, drawing a connection to the episode’s musicality.
Weekend Update, anchored by Colin Jost and Michael Che, covered a range of current events, from President Trump’s ongoing political presence to the Nobel Peace Prize and controversies surrounding Diddy. The segment featured guest appearances by Kam Patterson as an intense Michael Irvin, providing sports commentary, and Jane Wickline as Tamara, who introduced the ‘365 buttons’ meme – the ‘first big meme of 2026’ – which became an empowering mantra about not having to do everything. Che also landed a daring joke about Trump’s continued existence, adding to the segment’s sharp humor.
Other sketches included ‘Space Emperor,’ a gritty sci-fi parody where Wolfhard played an alien emperor negotiating intergalactic genocide while being fed ‘delights’ by his snack man (Mikey Day), and ‘Guy’s Girl,’ featuring Veronika Slowikowska as Michelle, a girlfriend trying to fit in with her boyfriend’s male friends by being ‘one of the guys,’ often to comedic extremes. The episode also included ‘Skyscraper Climb,’ another spoof of Netflix’s content machine, parodying extreme sports documentaries like ‘Free Solo’ with Mikey Day and Kenan Thompson.
Finn Wolfhard’s SNL hosting debut effectively leveraged his public transition from a beloved child star to an emerging adult actor, providing both a comedic farewell to ‘Stranger Things’ and a showcase for his versatility, while also allowing SNL to satirize contemporary media trends and fan culture.