Saturday Night Live hit a major milestone with its 1,000th regular episode, and the show didn’t hold back on surprise appearances and pointed political commentary.
Former cast member Pete Davidson made his return to tackle one of the country’s most controversial topics.
The cold open addressed the chaotic situation unfolding in Minneapolis with biting satire.
And Davidson’s portrayal of White House Border Czar Tom Homan revealed just how confused the current immigration enforcement climate has become.
Davidson Returns as Tom Homan in Scathing Cold Open
Davidson jumped straight into character as Homan, sent to Minneapolis “in response to the chaotic situation in Minnesota” to meet with ICE unit commanders. His mission? Clarifying objectives that seemed completely lost on the agents.
My name is Tom Homan. Now I’m sure a lot of you are wondering why Greg Bovino, the last guy, was dismissed. I wanna stress that it wasn’t because he did a bad job or publicly lied about the shooting of an American citizen or even, oh, dressed like a Nazi. It was that he was filmed doing these things.
The sketch immediately established its sharp tone, pointing out that public perception—not actual misconduct—drives consequences.
ICE Agents Can’t Answer Basic Questions
When Davidson’s Homan asked why they were in Minneapolis, the responses revealed complete disarray. One agent simply said “Pass,” while another guessed “Army.”
That’s close. We’re here to detain and deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.
One agent responded with brutal honesty: “That is literally the first I’m hearing of that.”
Davidson attempted to redirect: “Forget everything you were told before. We’re not here to intimidate, racially profile or violate anyone’s rights. So again, what are we looking for?”
Another agent’s answer? “Epstein files.”
Nope, we actually just released those to distract from this, you know, which is ironic because we did this to distract from those.
The sketch perfectly captured the circular chaos of contemporary political news cycles.
Davidson’s SNL Legacy Continues
Davidson served as an SNL cast member from 2014 to 2022, becoming one of the show’s most recognizable faces. Since departing, he’s returned multiple times as both host and surprise guest.
This marked his second appearance in season 51. He previously joined “Weekend Update” during the November 8 show, where he and Colin Jost traded jokes about the ferry they purchased together years ago—a running gag that continues to entertain fans.
Alexander Skarsgård Makes Hosting Debut
Alexander Skarsgård hosted the milestone 1,000th episode for the first time, bringing Swedish charm and self-deprecating humor to Studio 8H.
During his monologue, the Pillion actor joked about his heritage and childhood memories of watching SNL.
Now, when I was a kid, I loved watching this show from my igloo back in Stockholm.
But during these monologues, I would never focus on the host. I was more interested in the band back there in the background, sometimes laughing, more often than not.
Alexander then surprised the audience by joining the SNL band to play saxophone—a memorable moment that showcased his versatility.
Stellan Skarsgård Makes Double Cameo
Alexander’s father, Oscar nominee Stellan Skarsgård, appeared in not one but two separate sketches throughout the night.
The first featured Stellan and Chloe Fineman as Swedish siblings filming a dramatic family scene. Between takes, they laughed at their character’s problems before meeting their on-screen father—played by Stellan himself—in a bathtub, ready to die.
Stellan returned for a new iteration of SNL’s “Immigrant Dad Talk Show” sketch. He was joined by Cardi B, who played Marcello Hernández’s character’s wife, adding another layer of surprise to the episode.
Cardi B Returns as Musical Guest
Cardi B made her second SNL musical appearance, having previously performed on the April 7, 2018 episode alongside late actor Chadwick Boseman.
The “Up” rapper didn’t just perform—she actively participated in sketches, demonstrating her growing comfort with comedy.
Looking Ahead and Honoring the Past
After Stellan’s first sketch appearance, SNL announced Connor Storrie from Heated Rivalry will host the February 28 episode, with Mumford & Sons as musical guest.
The show closed with a tribute to Catherine O’Hara, honoring one of comedy’s most beloved figures.
Episode 1,000 delivered everything fans expected: sharp political satire, surprise celebrity appearances, musical performances, and moments that reminded viewers why SNL remains culturally relevant after nearly five decades.
Davidson’s return proved particularly timely, addressing immigration enforcement chaos with the same fearless comedy that made him an SNL standout.