“Saturday Night Live” just delivered a holiday-themed parody that hit all the right notes for comedy fans and seasonal entertainment lovers alike.
The December 13 episode featured a clever spin on Variety’s prestigious “Actors on Actors” series, reimagined as “Characters on Characters.”
Instead of A-list celebrities discussing their craft, iconic holiday characters sat down for surprisingly deep conversations about their seasonal performances.
The sketch perfectly captured the self-serious tone of awards season interviews while injecting absurdist holiday humor that had viewers laughing throughout.
Holiday Icons Get Real About Their Craft
The parody featured four distinct pairings of beloved holiday characters, each engaging in earnest discussions about their work. Host Josh O’Connor played Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, while Bowen Yang took on the role of A Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Their conversation touched on Rudolph’s lack of formal training before being thrust into the spotlight of pulling Santa’s sleigh. Yang’s Partridge discussed finding “chosen family” among the other gifts from the Twelve Days of Christmas, adding unexpected emotional depth to what could have been simple comedic material.
Classic Villains Share Screen Time
Mikey Day’s Grinch sat across from James Austin Johnson’s Scrooge in another pairing that explored the methodology behind playing iconic holiday antagonists.
The Grinch discussed shooting on location in Whoville, bringing authenticity to his performance. Scrooge made sure viewers understood he didn’t improvise his famous lines written by Charles Dickens, treating the literary classic with appropriate reverence while maintaining the sketch’s satirical edge.
Musical Performances and Tragic Grandmas
Kenan Thompson appeared as Little Drummer Boy opposite Marcello Hernández’s Tiny Tim. Thompson’s character reflected on delivering his iconic line with the depth of a seasoned method actor breaking down a complex monologue.
Pa rum pum pum pum.
The final pairing brought together Chloe Fineman as Mrs. Claus and Ashley Padilla as The Grandma from “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” Their conversation took a darker comedic turn, with Mrs. Claus expressing genuine concern about whether Grandma had actually died in the infamous reindeer incident.
Why This Parody Works So Well
The brilliance of “Characters on Characters” lies in its spot-on recreation of awards season interview conventions. The sketch nailed every detail, from intimate lighting to thoughtful pauses between responses.
It poked fun at the sometimes overly serious nature of actor interviews without being mean-spirited. Instead, the humor came from applying that seriousness to characters who exist in children’s songs and holiday specials.
The timing couldn’t have been better, as Variety’s actual “Actors on Actors” series recently launched its 23rd season with genuine Hollywood heavyweights.
Real “Actors on Actors” Gets New Home
While SNL spoofed the format, the legitimate series continues thriving with impressive pairings. This season features conversations between stars like Ariana Grande and Adam Sandler, Julia Roberts and Sean Penn, and Dwayne Johnson and Brendan Fraser.
Variety recently partnered with CNN for the series’ distribution, with episodes now premiering exclusively on CNN’s streaming platform before appearing on Variety’s YouTube channel. The move represents a significant shift in how entertainment industry content reaches audiences.
Josh O’Connor’s Hosting Debut
The “Characters on Characters” sketch highlighted O’Connor’s versatility as the December 13 episode’s host. The British actor, known for dramatic roles, demonstrated strong comedic timing playing the world’s most famous reindeer.
Musical guest Lily Allen rounded out the episode, bringing her distinctive style to Studio 8H. O’Connor’s willingness to fully commit to the absurdity of playing Rudolph discussing his craft with complete sincerity elevated the entire sketch.
Holiday Comedy Tradition Continues
SNL has built a reputation for holiday-themed sketches that become seasonal favorites. “Characters on Characters” fits perfectly into this tradition by combining timely satire of Hollywood culture with universal holiday references.
The sketch works on multiple levels—casual viewers appreciate the silly premise of holiday characters taking themselves seriously, while industry insiders recognize the specific mannerisms and conventions being parodied.
This layered approach to comedy demonstrates why SNL remains culturally relevant after nearly five decades on air. By blending awards season commentary with holiday nostalgia, the show created something that felt both fresh and familiar.
As audiences navigate December’s barrage of holiday content and awards campaign interviews, “Characters on Characters” offered perfect comedic relief that acknowledged both phenomena simultaneously.