Quick Read
- Miles Teller hosted SNL for the second time, ahead of his new film ‘Eternity’.
- The cold open was a satirical New York mayoral debate featuring Teller, Ramy Youssef, and Shane Gillis.
- Teller played both Property Brothers in a White House renovation parody.
- Musical guest Brandi Carlile performed ‘Church & State’ and ‘Human’.
- Teller’s monologue revealed he lost his home in the Pacific Palisades fire.
Miles Teller Returns: A Host Who Embraces the SNL Challenge
When Miles Teller stepped onto the legendary Studio 8H stage for his second stint as host of Saturday Night Live, there was a sense of anticipation in the air. Fans remembered his previous turn, where he kicked off season 48 riding high on the success of Top Gun: Maverick. This time, he was here ahead of his new romantic fantasy film, Eternity, set to premiere later in November. But what set this episode apart was Teller’s full-throttle commitment to the show’s madcap energy, appearing in nearly every sketch and bringing a nuanced touch to each role.
Cold Open: New York Mayoral Debate Gets the SNL Treatment
The episode launched with a cold open that showcased SNL’s knack for lampooning current events. The setting: a fictionalized New York City mayoral debate on Spectrum NY1, the region’s “number five news station.” Miles Teller portrayed the embattled former governor Andrew Cuomo—a classic SNL archetype—while Ramy Youssef and Shane Gillis embodied Zohran Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa, respectively. The sketch played out as a satirical cross-section of New York politics, poking fun at everything from TikTok campaigning to bagel preferences.
As the candidates exchanged barbs and awkward one-liners, Kenan Thompson anchored the debate as moderator Errol Louis, self-deprecatingly referencing his own relative anonymity. The audience was treated to sharp moments—Youssef’s Mamdani joking about the physical pain of forced smiles, and Gillis’ Sliwa recounting wild stories that could only happen in New York. But as with many SNL cold opens, the real show-stealer was James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump, who crashed the debate with his trademark bravado and even closed out the segment with a tongue-in-cheek rendition from Phantom of the Opera (The Hollywood Reporter, EW).
Monologue: Teller Gets Personal
The monologue offered a rare glimpse into Teller’s off-screen life. He reminisced about dressing up as SNL characters with his siblings—“Night at the Roxbury” style—and how moving frequently as a child made the SNL stage feel like a second home. With candid vulnerability, Teller shared how he and his wife lost their house in the Pacific Palisades fire earlier in the year. Yet, the tone remained light; he quipped about fire exits in the studio, reminding everyone to laugh even in the face of adversity (EW, Hollywood Reporter).
Sketch Highlights: From Hungover Game Shows to White House Renovations
The night’s sketches saw Teller flexing his comedic muscles. First up was the “Hungover Halloween Game Show,” where contestants struggled to recall their actions from the previous night, with Kenan Thompson presiding over the chaos. Teller’s game face—and his willingness to look ridiculous—earned genuine laughs.
But the standout was undoubtedly the Property Brothers parody. Teller played both Drew and Jonathan Scott, twins tasked with renovating the White House’s East Wing for President Trump and Melania (Chloe Fineman). The absurdity soared: Halloween decorations doubled as Christmas ornaments, a renovation budget stretching “from $350 million to infinity,” and Trump’s quip about calling ICE on the Canadian hosts. The sketch balanced political satire with pop culture parody, and Teller’s dual role performance was a technical and comedic feat (Los Angeles Times, Hollywood Reporter).
Other memorable moments included a hockey PSA with Teller as a well-meaning but awkward Nashville Predator, a Netflix true crime spoof about husbands who “lost” their wives (who just went to the bathroom), and a newsroom segment where serious reporting collided with background worker shenanigans.
Weekend Update: George Santos Steals the Show
Colin Jost and Michael Che continued their tradition of sharp, topical humor during Weekend Update. Bowen Yang reprised his role as George Santos, the disgraced congressman, weaving outrageous fabrications—from running the marathon to stealing jewels from the Louvre—into the segment. The interplay between Yang’s Santos and Jost was a comedic highlight, blending real-life scandal with SNL’s unique absurdity (Los Angeles Times).
Meanwhile, Andrew Dismukes and Ashley Padilla played a couple unable to keep their hands off each other long enough to discuss the government shutdown—a clever nod to workplace romance and the chaos behind the scenes.
Brandi Carlile’s Performances: Soulful Interludes
Musical guest Brandi Carlile returned for her fourth SNL appearance, delivering two powerful performances. “Church & State” burned with political passion, written on election day and described by Carlile as “a primal cry for self-preservation.” Later, she sang “Human,” co-produced by Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon, offering a heartfelt counterpoint to the episode’s comedic energy (EW).
Final Thoughts: Teller’s SNL Impact
Throughout the episode, Teller’s versatility shone—whether playing a disgraced politician, twin renovators, or an Italian waiter in Nebraska. His ease with accents, physical comedy, and willingness to dive into the show’s unpredictable rhythm marked him as a host who truly “embraced the challenge.” And while the sketches ranged from sharp political commentary to slapstick parody, the personal note in Teller’s monologue lingered: the reminder that even on SNL’s iconic stage, home is where you make it, and laughter is often born from resilience.
Teller’s second SNL hosting proved that authenticity—whether in personal storytelling or fearless comedic performance—remains the backbone of great live television. By blending sharp satire, pop culture parody, and honest vulnerability, he reasserted SNL’s role as both a cultural mirror and a space for genuine human connection.