"Saturday Night Live" is bidding Season 51 farewell withWill Ferrellas Jeffrey Epstein's ghost.
The sketch show's season finale on May 16 opened with a "Christmas Carol"-style sketch, in whichPresident Donald Trump(played byJames Austin Johnson) took a nap in the Oval Office and imagined himself being visited by a ghostly Epstein, played by host and former cast member Ferrell.
"Don't worry, Donald: It's me, your best friend, Jeffrey Epstein!" he said.
After the pair did some catching up, Ferrell's Epstein said he and Trump had "some fun times together." He then showed Trump a few visions of the future, starting withKristi Noem(Ashley Padilla) at her new job: selling vacuum cleaners on HSN.
"It's the best way to clean up that mess your dog made, besides a gun," she said.
Next up was a vision ofPete Hegseth(Colin Jost) hosting a podcast with FBI DirectorKash Patel(Aziz Ansari), while Patel was drinking from a giant beer bong. Epstein also informed Trump that six months in the future, the war in Iran is over, and "we came in second."
"Just remember, no matter how many wars you start, or how bad you tank the economy as a distraction, people will always associate you with me. And that, my dear, close friend, is a beautiful thing," Ferrell's Epstein said, leading them to launch into a performance of "Just the Two of Us."
The sketch marked a comeback for Johnson's impression of Trump, who, in an unusual move for the show, had not been featured in the last two "SNL" episodes. The May 9 cold open focused onMatt Damon as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who bonded at a bar with Jost's Hegseth and Ansari's Kash Patel. Ansari, in a surprise appearance,debuted his impressionof the FBI director on the previous week's "SNL."
Ferrellhosted the "SNL" season finale with musical guestPaul McCartney. The "Anchorman" star began his monologue with a bit where Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers came out and pretended to be him, only for Ferrell to take over and act like he was totally thrown off.
McCartney ultimately joined Ferrell on stage, but extended the bit by acting like he still thought Ferrell was Smith. "I have a question: What do you think you're doing, Chad?" the Beatles legend asked from the audience.
The May 16 finale tied a bow on the 51st season of "SNL." Coming off a milestone anniversary season, and after a summer shakeup to its cast, the show this year brought in a mix of reliable, returning hosts likeAriana GrandeandMelissa McCarthyand first-timers likeSabrina CarpenterandFinn Wolfhard.
Highlights from the season includedAmy Poehler and Tina Feyreuniting to play Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem, respectively;Jack Black being inducted into the five-timers club; andBowen Yang saying goodbye on his final showwith a tearful, meta sketch about leaving a job.
But Season 51 may be remembered as the season ofAshley Padilla. In her second year on "SNL," Padilla racked up one memorable sketch after another, fromone about a womanwith a terrible haircut to another about an annoying coworker who keeps awkwardly butting in during lunch. The comedian, who has also played Karoline Leavitt on the show, is widely considered the breakout star among the show's recent additions, and in April, former "SNL" writer Robert Smigel praised heron Xas "a miracle."
"SNL" will return for Season 52 in the fall.
