The season finale of Saturday Night Live delivered a heavy dose of nostalgia, chaos, and classic rock energy last night as Paul McCartney returned as musical guest for the fifth time in his legendary career. Backed by a stacked lineup of musicians and surrounded by a night full of memorable cameos, the former Beatle reminded viewers exactly why he remains one of music’s most enduring performers.
McCartney performed “Days We Left Behind,” a new track from his upcoming album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, before diving into the timeless Band on the Run — the beloved 1973 hit from Wings that instantly electrified Studio 8H.
One of the night’s biggest talking points came from behind the drum kit. Filling in for longtime McCartney drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. was none other than Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame. The casting worked perfectly alongside host Will Ferrell, thanks to the pair’s famously uncanny resemblance.
The joke kicked off during Ferrell’s opening monologue when Smith casually walked onto the stage pretending to be the host. Moments later, an outraged Ferrell stormed out claiming, “He pushed me down backstage, and I fell hard!” before mockingly throwing Smith offstage. The bit escalated when Ferrell took a question from “the cute one” in the audience — who turned out to be McCartney himself. A delightfully confused Sir Paul then joined the sketch, helping deliver even more jokes about Smith and Ferrell’s long-running lookalike status.
The episode’s cold open leaned heavily into political satire, with Ferrell portraying the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein while Aziz Ansari reprised his role as FBI director Kash Patel. Ferrell’s Epstein teamed up with James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump for a bizarre duet of Just the Two of Us by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr..
Longtime SNL fans also got a surprise reunion when Molly Shannon returned for a sketch centered around casting a high school musical — a continuation of a fan-favorite cut-for-time segment from Ferrell’s previous hosting appearance in 2019.
McCartney wasn’t limited to musical performances either. He appeared in a sketch as Nigel, an overly British mechanic working at a chaotic body shop, proving once again that he’s more than willing to lean into absurd comedy when the occasion calls for it.
Meanwhile, “Weekend Update” kept the sharp one-liners coming. Michael Che landed one of the night’s biggest laughs with a joke about the recently announced World Cup Halftime Show lineup featuring Madonna, Shakira, and BTS, describing it as “something for everyone… to dislike.”
McCartney’s backing band also featured Ingrid Michaelson, who later shared her excitement online, praising the music legend and his crew for being “even lovelier” than she imagined.
The night closed on a perfect nostalgic note. After the official broadcast ended, Ferrell returned to the stage alongside McCartney for a spirited rendition of Coming Up, complete with a Cavern Club-inspired backdrop that paid tribute to The Beatles’ early days in Liverpool.
And for the lucky audience members who stayed after the credits rolled, McCartney delivered two final Beatles classics: Help! and Drive My Car — a fitting end to one of the season’s most memorable episodes.