The 50th season finale of “Saturday Night live” took a more introspective turn, opting for reflection over outright festivity.

Scarlett johansson,marking her record-setting seventh appearance as host for a woman,spearheaded a memorable opening.

A Musical Monologue

Johansson, joined by a large portion of the current cast, delivered a song set to the melody of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” The performance served as a retrospective on the season’s highlights,including:

• The recent election
• the epic anniversary special
• A star-studded concert

The lyrics, sung by Johansson, Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim, Mikey Day, Heidi Gardner, and others, encapsulated the season’s journey: Sing us a song, it’s your monologue, the 50th season is through.It’s lasting forever, we did it together, and we got to spend it with you.

Jokes and jabs

Johansson playfully hinted at a surprise guest appearance, only to retract it with a humorous twist. Ladies and gentlemen, Billy Joel! she exclaimed, quickly adding, wrote this song.

While no cast departures were formally announced, the musical number included a lighthearted jab at Sarah Sherman. It’s been a great season and Sarah is leaving, we’re all gonna miss you next year! the cast sang, prompting a bewildered Sherman to respond, Wait, what? Did you guys hear something?

Weekend Update and Jost’s Future

colin Jost, Johansson’s husband and a writer and “Weekend Update” anchor on the show, participated in the annual season-finale tradition with co-anchor Michael Che. This involves the pair writing and delivering deliberately outrageous jokes for each other.

this year, many of Che’s jokes targeted Johansson. Jost retaliated by forcing Che to apologize for a past joke comparing part of her body to Costco roast beef.

The show’s 50th season has sparked media discussion about potential successors to creator Lorne Michaels. Jost’s name has been mentioned, and Che used the opportunity to make Jost address the rumors through a joke: It’s SNL’s 50th season, so I want to take a moment to say something to our boss. Lorne, retire, bitch! let me run the show.

Behind-the-Scenes Shenanigans

Jost also featured in a pre-taped segment where Johansson’s character has a torrid affair with Yang after confessing her crush to Nwodim and Gardner. She discovers that Yang has been feigning homosexuality for the clout. Johansson’s character is then heartbroken to learn that Yang has also been involved with Nwodim, Gardner, and guest star Emily Ratajkowski.

another digital short, created by comedy group Please Don’t Destroy, depicted Johansson treating the trio to a first-class flight that transforms into a lavish hip-hop video. The mood shifts when they realize they are landing at Newark, New Jersey’s troubled airport.

Musical guest Bad Bunny made a cameo as an air traffic controller on his first day.

Trump’s Take

James Austin Johnson reprised his impression of President Donald Trump in the cold open, portraying him finding love with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Johnson’s Trump broke the fourth wall, addressing the audience directly: It’s the ‘SNL’ finale, season 50 – worst one yet! He concluded with a wry observation: See you again in the fall if we still have a country. It’s a coin toss.