See Ariana Grande’s ‘SNL’ Return: Epic Bowen Yang Kiss, Hilarious Impressions & More
She’s back! After eight long years, Ariana Grande returned to Studio 8H, and she did not disappoint. From epic impressions to wild charades, Ariana showed us once again why she’s a comedy queen in the making. Her episode was so flawless, it might just be the best one of the season! Every sketch brought something special, but we’ve rounded up the seven most iconic moments from her latest stint as SNL host. Let’s dive in!
1. The Kiss Heard ‘Round the Studio
One of the most talked-about moments of the night was a seriously unexpected kiss between Ariana and SNL star Bowen Yang. During a charades skit, Ari played a feisty, over-competitive mom meeting her son’s (Michael Longfellow) new boyfriend (Bowen Yang). Things got heated pretty quickly, with Ariana’s character, Diane, throwing out insults like “You got a tiny pecker or something?” (Yes, she actually said that!) But the best part? After a back-and-forth of witty banter, tension, and a whole lot of sass, Diane ended up planting a big ol’ kiss on Bowen’s character! The audience went wild, and Twitter… well, it had a field day. Honestly, it was the perfect mix of shocking and hilarious, and we’re still not over it.
2. Ariana Nails Celine!
Ariana reminded us why her impressions are pure gold. She kicked things off with a mashup of iconic celebs, including Britney Spears, Céline Dion, and Jennifer Coolidge. The real standout? Her Céline impression, where she passionately crooned about UFC fights. Yep, you read that right. It was absurd, and we loved every second of it. How does she nail these voices every single time?
3. Maybelline with a Twist
In a skit that had everyone in stitches, Ariana joined Chloe Fineman to showcase their spot-on Jennifer Coolidge impressions. But the fun didn’t stop there—Dana Carvey popped in as a third Coolidge, and chaos ensued. Despite some minor tech hiccups, the trio committed to the bit, making it one of the night’s most memorable sketches. The only thing missing was a cameo from Coolidge herself!
4. “Espresso” Serenade
Imagine Ariana Grande singing badly. It seems impossible, right? Well, she pulled it off in the “Espresso” sketch, where she played a bridesmaid hilariously butchering Sabrina Carpenter’s song during a bachelorette karaoke sesh. The off-key vocals and absurd lyrics had us cringing and laughing at the same time. Props to Ari for managing to sound so off-key—it’s an art form!
5. A Warm and Witty Opening Monlogue
Ariana kicked off the night with a pitch-perfect monologue that set the tone for the entire episode. She jokingly addressed her previous hosting stint in 2016 and playfully poked fun at her own career, saying, “I’m not here to sing… okay, maybe a little.” She teased fans about her role in Wicked but promised to keep the night low-key, no big musical numbers—just a lot of fun. The best part? She slid in a quick impersonation of Britney Spears, earning a huge cheer from the audience. It was a confident and lighthearted start that had us all saying, “Yes, queen!”
6. Italian Renaissance Meets “Twist and Shout”
The Italian Renaissance was a period of artistic and intellectual resurgence, but nobody was ready for this wild sketch set in that era. Ariana Grande played Antonio, the pale and tragically sickly son of Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg, who had undergone a “minor” procedure—being castrated to preserve his heavenly singing voice. Yes, you read that right. This bizarrely hilarious setup had the parents proudly boasting about their decision to the local royalty (Andrew Dismukes), while Antonio (Grande) stood there looking absolutely dead inside, despite their gushing.
And let’s talk about those star-studded cameos: Maya, Andy, and Dana Carvey weren’t just drop-ins; they were real cast members in this Avengers Unite moment for SNL50. They’re here to play, and it showed. But the best part? Ariana belting out “Twist and Shout” in her delicate, high-pitched castrati voice—proving once again that the show just can’t resist leaning on her vocal talents. It was weird, it was dark, and it was so funny.
7. Hotel Detective: A Noir Farewell
The show wrapped up with a classic film noir parody, “Hotel Detective.” Ariana played a femme fatale engaging in a convoluted tête-à-tête with the titular detective (James Austin Johnson) and another investigator (Andrew Dismukes). The three of them nailed the rapid-fire dialogue, even when the cue cards drifted into frame at one point (hey, it’s live TV!). The sketch ended with a twist revealing it was all part of a Twilight Zone episode, which was maybe one twist too many, but it was still a delightful bit of silliness to cap off the night. Ari proved once again that she can bring the drama—and the laughs.
Ariana Grande brought her A-game and then some. From perfect impressions to unpredictable skits, she proved she can hold her own as a comedy star just as well as she can hit those high notes. With moments like that kiss and the perfect Céline Dion impression, it’s no wonder people are calling this one of the best SNL episodes of the season.
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