SNL: Chris Rock surprises in season finale with host Anya Taylor-Joy and musical guest Lil Nas X

Saturday Night Live viewers got a double dose of star power for the season 46 finale when Chris Rock made an unexpected appearance during the show’s opening sketch.

The 56-year-old comedian joined the cast to celebrate finishing off a season amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and having its first full-capacity audience of fully vaccinated guests.

Taking care of hosting duties was The Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy, 25, who referenced her critically acclaimed Netflix series in her opening monologue, as well as rapper Lil Nas X, who performed two songs from his upcoming album Montero.

Debut: Anya Taylor-Joy, 25, hosted the season finale of Saturday Night Live and marked the first episode since the pandemic started with a full (and fully vaccinated audience)

Back for seconds: Chris Rock made a surprise appearance after hosting the season opener in October

Back for seconds: Chris Rock made a surprise appearance after hosting the season opener in October

The episode opened with the entire cast assembled in small groups on various parts of the stage as they recited ‘what I remember about this year.’ 

Bowen Yang summed it up: ‘We went from doing very weird shows at home to terrifying shows in person.’

The cast shared behind-the-scenes photos of how they had to do distanced rehearsals for the show while wearing masks the entire time.

Kate McKinnon joked that the only ways she could show affection was to take someone into a dark closet to hug them so the ‘authorities’ wouldn’t find out, ‘which led to a lot of confusion.’

Learning moment: The episode opened with the entire cast assembled in small groups on various parts of the stage as they recited 'what I remember about this year'

Learning moment: The episode opened with the entire cast assembled in small groups on various parts of the stage as they recited ‘what I remember about this year’

Pete Davidson mocked his ladies-man status and his history of risky behaviors.

‘I can’t believe I made it an entire season without testing positive… for Covid,’ he said with a pregnant pause.

Chris Redd recounted his embarrassment at finding himself getting a nasal swab test next to Adele and saying, ‘It’s a living!’

Beck Bennett recounted how people slowly gave up on pandemic traditions, like banging pots for first responders at 7:00 in New York City.

‘I remember how we slowly stopped doing that until it was just one weird guy for two weeks,’ he joked.

The cast also poked fun at how its early audiences this season were all made up of doctors and first responders who weren’t always interested, before sharing a photo from an earlier show in which someone was reading a medical textbook in the middle of the broadcast.

When Cecily Strong cued up some highlights from the season she was left flummoxed when the only thing that played was slowed-down footage of former host Elon Musk dancing as Wario.

Whoops: Their early audiences were filled with doctors and first responders, which led to one person reading a medical textbook in the middle of the show

Whoops: Their early audiences were filled with doctors and first responders, which led to one person reading a medical textbook in the middle of the show

Old news: Chris Rock joked about how how he had wanted to have Kanye West as the musical guest in October, but they couldn't get Kanye because he was running a doomed presidential campagin

Old news: Chris Rock joked about how how he had wanted to have Kanye West as the musical guest in October, but they couldn’t get Kanye because he was running a doomed presidential campagin

The cast also mocked the show’s own choice to book country singer Morgan Wallen, then uninvite him when he broke Covid-19 protocols and invite him again afterward, all for him to be ‘canceled’ for saying the N-word.

But Kyle Mooney seemed to think things went pretty well.

‘Was every sketch perfect? Yeah, pretty much, we crushed it. Every sketch was a 10, no notes,’ he joked in a perfect deadpan.

Chris Rock appeared to cap off the segment and joked about how much had changed and how he had wanted to have Kanye West as the musical guest for the season opener he hosted in October, but they couldn’t get Kanye because he was busy running a doomed campaign for president.

He also referenced that that episode came just as former President Donald Trump came down with Covid-19 himself after months of downplaying the severity of the virus that has now killed more than 589,000 Americans.

Fooled ya: Pete Davidson got the final laugh, as it was revealed he was speaking in front of a green screen, with the cast asking if he'd been recording from home this whole time while they were risking their health to be there in person

Fooled ya: Pete Davidson got the final laugh, as it was revealed he was speaking in front of a green screen, with the cast asking if he’d been recording from home this whole time while they were risking their health to be there in person

Globe trotter: Anya looked angelic in a pale pink slip with a feathered shoulder when she arrived to do her monologue, which referenced her Miami birth, upbringing in London and Argentina and her first language, Spanish

Globe trotter: Anya looked angelic in a pale pink slip with a feathered shoulder when she arrived to do her monologue, which referenced her Miami birth, upbringing in London and Argentina and her first language, Spanish

Pete Davidson got the final laugh, as it was revealed he was speaking in front of a green screen, with the cast asking if he’d been recording from home this whole time while they were risking their health to be there in person.

Anya looked angelic in a pale pink slip with a feathered shoulder when she arrived to do her monologue, in which she referenced her globe-trotting story.

‘Now that you’re hearing my accent you might be surprised to know that I was born in Miami, raised between Argentina and London, and my first language is Spanish. So legally my ethnicity is fashion week,’ she joked.

She referenced her hit series The Queen’s Gambit, based on the classic novel of the same name about a young female chess prodigy. 

‘Millions of people bought chess sets because of it and dozens of them learned how to play,’ she said.

Before handing off the show, she did a quick introduction for Lil Nas X and the rest of the evening in her ‘first language,’ Spanish.

Old school: The first proper sketch of the show was styled after a throwback broadcast of a 1998 Hollywood Squares episode

Old school: The first proper sketch of the show was styled after a throwback broadcast of a 1998 Hollywood Squares episode

Vintage: Beck Bennett played Tom Bergeron and Aidy Bryant and Chris Redd played contestants

Vintage: Beck Bennett played Tom Bergeron and Aidy Bryant and Chris Redd played contestants

The first proper sketch of the show was styled after a throwback broadcast of a 1998 Hollywood Squares episode, with Beck Bennett playing Tom Bergeron and Aidy Bryant and Chris Redd playing contestants.

Anya showed off her facility with accents and her platinum locks to play Emma ‘Baby Spice’ Bunton, but the episode poked fun at how many celebrities have been canceled in recent years.

Bill Cosby, Matt Lauer, Jared Fogle and Jeff Dunham and some racist puppets were all featured, but the broadcast had large chunks that were edited out.

‘In light of recent revelations concerning Bill Cosby, King World Productions has chosen to omit him from this rebroadcast,’ read one on-screen announcement.

Of course, the contestants from 1998 didn’t know that, so they had a great time with Cosby and didn’t get the sinister undertones when Fogle joked that the Olsen twins could fit in his oversized pants. 

Spot on: Anya showed off her facility with accents and her platinum locks to play Emma ‘Baby Spice’ Bunton

Spot on: Anya showed off her facility with accents and her platinum locks to play Emma ‘Baby Spice’ Bunton

Bad taste: Bill Cosby and criminals and canceled people like Jared Fogle and Jeff Dunham were featured, so the episode was edited down to barely anything

Bad taste: Bill Cosby and criminals and canceled people like Jared Fogle and Jeff Dunham were featured, so the episode was edited down to barely anything

Heidi Gardner and Andrew Dismukes played teens on their way to prom in the first pre-taped sketch of the night, while Aidy and Beck played their parents trying to take pictures.

Beck thought it would be fun to take a sexist photo of himself holding a shotgun next to the couple, only to accidentally shoot himself in the groin. 

Once they were at the hospital, Aidy wanted to know what was so funny about holding a gun in the photo.

‘Cause I don’t want them to have sex!’ Beck said in agony.

Growing up: Heidi Gardner and Andrew Dismukes played teens on their way to prom in the first pre-taped sketch of the night, while Aidy and Beck played their parents trying to take pictures

Growing up: Heidi Gardner and Andrew Dismukes played teens on their way to prom in the first pre-taped sketch of the night, while Aidy and Beck played their parents trying to take pictures

Whoops: Beck thought it would be fun to take a sexist photo of himself holding a shotgun next to the couple, only to accidentally shoot himself in the groin

Whoops: Beck thought it would be fun to take a sexist photo of himself holding a shotgun next to the couple, only to accidentally shoot himself in the groin

‘They’ve been dating for three years, they’ve had sex!’ she shouted back.

After the doctor (played by Anya) saw the bloody purée in a cooler that used to be Beck’s genitals, she announced that they couldn’t be reattached.

Before going into surgery, the delirious dad begged his daughter and her date not to have sex that night out of respect for what happened, but they wouldn’t promise that.

No use: After the doctor (played by Anya) saw the bloody purée in a cooler that used to be Beck's genitals, she announced that they couldn't be reattached

No use: After the doctor (played by Anya) saw the bloody purée in a cooler that used to be Beck’s genitals, she announced that they couldn’t be reattached

No dice: Before going into surgery, the delirious dad begged his daughter and her date not to have sex that night out of respect for what happened, but they wouldn't promise that

No dice: Before going into surgery, the delirious dad begged his daughter and her date not to have sex that night out of respect for what happened, but they wouldn’t promise that

The jokes turned celestial in the next sketch as Mikey Day led most the male cast members as angels designing the prototypical human man.

They settled on a hirsute cave man and were awaiting feedback, though there were still some kinks to work out, like him only have one massive toe instead of five.

Anya led the team of angels designing women, who gave some notes on the man.

‘You still want to put hair in the butt crack?’ she asked Mikey’s angel.

Taking notes: The jokes turned celestial in the next sketch as Mikey Day led most the male cast members as angels designing the prototypical human man

Taking notes: The jokes turned celestial in the next sketch as Mikey Day led most the male cast members as angels designing the prototypical human man

Close enough: They settled on a hirsute cave man and were awaiting feedback, though there were still some kinks to work out, like him only have one massive toe instead of five

Close enough: They settled on a hirsute cave man and were awaiting feedback, though there were still some kinks to work out, like him only have one massive toe instead of five

‘We’d like to try it, yeah,’ he said officiously.

The women mentioned that their design had breasts, but they were tentatively referring to them as ‘squeezies.’

Kyle Mooney ended the segment by making an unexpected appearance as Jesus, who had a laid-back stoner vibe and just wanted to hang out. 

Guest appearance: Kyle Mooney ended the segment by making an unexpected appearance as Jesus, who had a laid-back stoner vibe and just wanted to hang out

Guest appearance: Kyle Mooney ended the segment by making an unexpected appearance as Jesus, who had a laid-back stoner vibe and just wanted to hang out

Pride time: After the break, Anya was back again in another pre-taped sketch, this time a musical poking fun at the first pride celebrations as the pandemic abates

Pride time: After the break, Anya was back again in another pre-taped sketch, this time a musical poking fun at the first pride celebrations as the pandemic abates

After the break, Anya was back again in another pre-taped sketch, this time a musical poking fun at the first pride celebrations as the pandemic abates.

She was joined by Kate McKinnon and Punkie Johnson, while Bowen Yang interrupted his song by having a breakdown because he didn’t see his crush on the dance floor.

Anya and Kate were playing lesbians who were going to break up as soon as Pride was over because they moved in together too fast over the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Punkie’s character complained about not being able to find a date because all the women at the party were straight.

Lonely: Bowen Yang interrupted his song by having a breakdown because he didn't see his crush on the dance floor

Lonely: Bowen Yang interrupted his song by having a breakdown because he didn’t see his crush on the dance floor

Arleady over: Anya and Kate were playing lesbians who were going to break up as soon as Pride was over because they moved in together too fast over the pandemic

Arleady over: Anya and Kate were playing lesbians who were going to break up as soon as Pride was over because they moved in together too fast over the pandemic

‘When did all these straight girls start dressing lesbian?’ she joked, before they all sang ‘Gender is just clothes.’

The sketch also included a guest rap break from Lil Nas X, who joked that people should ‘show hole on main’ in celebration of Pride. 

They poked fun at online disagreements when Bowen wanted to eat Chick-fil-A, which devolved into a disagreement about whether he reads queer theory or not.

But it didn’t really matter, as they realized at the end of the sketch that they had been dancing atop the Deutsche Bank float.

Disappointed: Meanwhile, Punkie's character complained about not being able to find a date because all the women at the party were straight

Disappointed: Meanwhile, Punkie’s character complained about not being able to find a date because all the women at the party were straight

Having a laugh: 'When did all these straight girls start dressing lesbian?' she joked, before they all sang 'Gender is just clothes'

Having a laugh: ‘When did all these straight girls start dressing lesbian?’ she joked, before they all sang ‘Gender is just clothes’

The Split star continued her domination of the show in another sketch poking fun at the Celtic Woman ensemble of Irish singers and performers.

‘Witness the cultural event your godmother described as perfect,’ the announcer said, though there were some hiccups in the performances, with the performers seeming unprepared.

Chris Redd played an audience member who thought he was getting tickets to the Boston Celtics.

True to life: The Split star continued her domination of the show in another sketch poking fun at the Celtic Woman ensemble of Irish singers and performers

True to life: The Split star continued her domination of the show in another sketch poking fun at the Celtic Woman ensemble of Irish singers and performers

Mixup: Chris Redd played an audience member who thought he was getting tickets to the Boston Celtics

Mixup: Chris Redd played an audience member who thought he was getting tickets to the Boston Celtics

Afterward, Lil Nas X made his first official appearance to perform his hit song Montero (Call Me By Your Name).

The setup mirrored the music video, with him performing in a red-tinged fiery setting designed to look like a playful hell, with demons flying in the background.

He wore flame-streaked leather pants and a super-high long-sleeve crop top that showed off his abs, but when he attempted to pole dance his pants ripped at the crotch, forcing him to cancel the moves and finish the song with one hand covering his crotch.

Fiery: Afterward, Lil Nas X made his first official appearance to perform his hit song Montero (Call Me By Your Name) on a hell-like set mimicking his music video

Fiery: Afterward, Lil Nas X made his first official appearance to perform his hit song Montero (Call Me By Your Name) on a hell-like set mimicking his music video

Too vigorous: One dancer licked his face, but Nas had to cut the dancing short after accidentally ripping his pants

Too vigorous: One dancer licked his face, but Nas had to cut the dancing short after accidentally ripping his pants

Pete Davidson made a guest appearance on Weekend Update to talk about Mental Health Awareness month, while joking about Chrissy Teigen’s departure from Twitter after messages she allegedly wrote bullying Courtney Stodden and others were revealed.

‘If there’s one good thing about the pandemic besides getting Chrissy Teigen out of our lives —’ he said, before the audience’s uproar drowned him out. ‘I’m relieved!’ he added.

He talked about how he was too anxious before the pandemic started to allow himself to worry any extra amount about the coronavirus.

Stolen ID: Pete Davidson made a guest appearance on Weekend Update to talk about Mental Health Awareness month. He joked that he got a new name and credit card for take out, but it was just Colin's credit card

Stolen ID: Pete Davidson made a guest appearance on Weekend Update to talk about Mental Health Awareness month. He joked that he got a new name and credit card for take out, but it was just Colin’s credit card

Splash zone: Cecily Strong also appeared as Fox News host Judge Jeannine Pirro, who was mocked for being obviously drunk and carrying a massive wine glass that she repeatedly splashed all over herself and Colin

Splash zone: Cecily Strong also appeared as Fox News host Judge Jeannine Pirro, who was mocked for being obviously drunk and carrying a massive wine glass that she repeatedly splashed all over herself and Colin

He also revealed he got a fake name and credit card to order takeout from so driver’s wouldn’t manhandle his food, but it turned out to just be Colin Jost’s credit card.

Cecily Strong also appeared as Fox News host Judge Jeannine Pirro, who was mocked for being obviously drunk and carrying a massive wine glass that she repeatedly splashed all over herself and Colin.

She mentioned having been to Mar-a-Lago recently. ‘It’s like being on a cruise ship that’s permanently docked between two classy strip clubs. You know, where the gals wear ball gowns!’

She concluded the segment by singing My Way while stepping into a person-sized glass case full of wine and completely submerging herself.

Soaked: She concluded the segment by singing My Way while stepping into a person-sized glass case full of wine and completely submerging herself

Soaked: She concluded the segment by singing My Way while stepping into a person-sized glass case full of wine and completely submerging herself

Anya was back with Aidy Bryant afterward for a faux commercial for the Brawr Barn, a store that exclusively sells bras to well-endowed women.

Both women had their hair styled to be huge and tall.

Heidi Gardner interrupted them to ask for a fitting, but instead of using measures, Aidy just grabbed her chest and eyeballed it.

Chloe Fineman also came in looking for a bra, but they joked that she just need a tank top instead of a bra.

For discerning customers: Anya was back with Aidy Bryant afterward for a faux commercial for the Brawr Barn, a store that exclusively sells bras to well-endowed women

For discerning customers: Anya was back with Aidy Bryant afterward for a faux commercial for the Brawr Barn, a store that exclusively sells bras to well-endowed women

Close enough: Heidi Gardner interrupted them to ask for a fitting, but instead of using measures, Aidy just grabbed her chest and eyeballed it

Close enough: Heidi Gardner interrupted them to ask for a fitting, but instead of using measures, Aidy just grabbed her chest and eyeballed it

Both actresses were back after the break for a sketch poking fun of Q&As at New York University’s film department.

They were the dual blond moderators of a session with the cast of the fictional HBO series called Roommates In The City.

Pete Davidson played a heartthrob, and all the audience questions for him were softballs, while Bowen Yang and Ego Nwodim got heavy and often offensive questions about being gay or being a Black woman.

Awkward: Both actresses were back after the break for a sketch poking fun of Q&As at New York University's film department. They were the dual blond moderators of a session with the cast of the fictional HBO series called Roommates In The City

Awkward: Both actresses were back after the break for a sketch poking fun of Q&As at New York University’s film department. They were the dual blond moderators of a session with the cast of the fictional HBO series called Roommates In The City

Yikes: Pete Davidson played a heartthrob, and all the audience questions for him were softballs, while Bowen Yang and Ego Nwodim got heavy and often offensive questions about being gay or being a Black woman

Yikes: Pete Davidson played a heartthrob, and all the audience questions for him were softballs, while Bowen Yang and Ego Nwodim got heavy and often offensive questions about being gay or being a Black woman

Afterward, Nas did his second performance of the night with his somber song Sun Goes Down from his upcoming Montero album.

He wore a piercing white suit that was marred by two bloody bullet holes.

The song referenced some of his past suicidal thoughts, though it took an upbeat turn.

Slowing down: Afterward, Nas did his second performance of the night with his somber song Sun Goes Down from his upcoming Montero album

Slowing down: Afterward, Nas did his second performance of the night with his somber song Sun Goes Down from his upcoming Montero album

Man in white: He wore a piercing white suit that was marred by two bloody bullet holes. The song referenced some of his past suicidal thoughts, though it took an upbeat turn

Man in white: He wore a piercing white suit that was marred by two bloody bullet holes. The song referenced some of his past suicidal thoughts, though it took an upbeat turn

The final sketch of the night featured Beck Bennet with a bald cap made up to be Vin Diesel as he filmed a promo for AMC Theaters to get people to return to the movies.

‘There’s nothing like it — the popcorn, the previews, the pretzels — don’t forget, the movies,’ he said in a deep baritone.

But then he started listing random things and the annoyances of poorly maintained theaters, like, ‘When the movie’s not loud enough,’ or ‘When the movies a little too loud.’ 

‘I guess you could say there’s something for everybody. Only at the movies,’ he said, before Anya interrupted him as a theater employee and told him he still needed to wear his mask in the theater, which made him decide to watch a move at home instead.

He's ready: The final sketch of the night featured Beck Bennet with a bald cap made up to be Vin Diesel as he filmed a promo for AMC Theaters to get people to return to the movies

He’s ready: The final sketch of the night featured Beck Bennet with a bald cap made up to be Vin Diesel as he filmed a promo for AMC Theaters to get people to return to the movies

Not inspiring: 'There's nothing like it — the popcorn, the previews, the pretzels — don’t forget, the movies,' he said, before he started to list inconveniences of poorly maintained theaters

Not inspiring: ‘There’s nothing like it — the popcorn, the previews, the pretzels — don’t forget, the movies,’ he said, before he started to list inconveniences of poorly maintained theaters

Caught: 'I guess you could say there’s something for everybody. Only at the movies,' he said, before Anya interrupted him as a theater employee and told him he still needed to wear his mask

Caught: ‘I guess you could say there’s something for everybody. Only at the movies,’ he said, before Anya interrupted him as a theater employee and told him he still needed to wear his mask

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