Last night wasn’t just the start of December on Saturday Night Live — it was the official kickoff to Melissa McCarthy’s reign as the Queen of Holiday Chaos.
Returning for her sixth time hosting, the two-time Oscar nominee strutted onto the Studio 8H stage for her monologue looking flawless in a black velvet jumpsuit from none other than English fashion designer Nadine Merabi. Retailing at $535, the stunning Giselle Black Jumpsuit is a shoulder-padded, starburst-embellished dream that instantly set the tone: this wasn’t just an episode… it was a sleigh-bell-studded serve. Even SNL icon Kenan Thompson clocked the moment on air, praising the look as Melissa delivered one of the most charmingly unhinged monologues of the season.
Melissa opened the night by declaring how “great” it was to be back and celebrating the “special time of the year.” Cue holiday music, cue nostalgia — and then cue Melissa revealing her deepest secret: she is, in fact, a musician.
Her instrument of choice? “The mouth horn.”
From humming “Carol of the Bells” to blasting out “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” using nothing but pure mouth-powered passion, Melissa proved she might just be the Mariah Carey of alternative holiday instruments.
But in true SNL fashion, the “Christmas magic” quickly went rogue. What began as a soft flurry turned into a full-on Studio 8H blizzard as Melissa yelled, “This is SNL — don’t be stingy with the snow!”
Seconds later, she was swallowed in a faux snowstorm so dramatic it could’ve qualified as the episode’s first stunt. “Okay, that was way too much,” she sputtered, spitting out faux snow while the audience absolutely lost it.
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And because one physical comedy disaster is never enough, enter Marcello Hernandez — dressed as an elf — rolling a piano onstage for a “duet” that rapidly devolved into chaos. He accidentally pushed her out of frame, mashed her hands on the keys, and left Melissa groaning, “Now I’ve ruined Christmas!”
Thankfully, Kenan swooped in like the guardian angel he is: “Oh, nonsense, Melissa McCarthy. Everyone here loves you.”
A few horn-blown notes later, Melissa had officially kicked the holidays into high gear.
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Between the snow, the horn, and the physical comedy, Melissa showcased exactly why she’s one of SNL’s favorite returning hosts. And while she crushed sketches as a UPS driver with rage issues, a Southern mom mid–truth-or-dare, and a Yonkers Christmas village fanatic… it was that decadent Nadine Merabi jumpsuit in her opening monologue that tied the whole night together. It was the holiday fashion moment that we didn’t know we needed, and now we’re adding the entire look to our carts to wear during the most wonderful time of the year.
McCarthy passes the hosting baton to Josh O’Connor next week (December 13) and Ariana Grande right before Christmas on December 20 — with none other than CHER closing out 2025 as musical guest. But Melissa’s festive takeover? That’s the one we’ll be replaying all season.
