Josh O’Connor brought British charm and “soft boy” energy to Studio 8H, proving that sometimes playing it straight can be just as effective as going big.
The Challengers star made his hosting debut on Saturday Night Live, fresh off a whirlwind year that included the new Knives Out film and three other movie releases.
While expectations ran high for the charismatic Brit, the show took an interesting approach—casting him primarily as the straight man while breakout star Ashley Padilla and veteran Bowen Yang stole scene after scene.
The result? A solid episode that showcased O’Connor’s versatility, even if it left viewers wanting more of his comedic range.
Playing It Straight (Mostly)
O’Connor’s monologue set the tone with self-aware humor about his distinctive appearance. He joked about being mistaken for “the mouse from Flushed Away” and addressed a bizarre rumor about wanting to star in a live-action Ratatouille.
For those of you that know my face, but maybe can’t quite place me, no, I am not the mouse from Flushed Away.
The British actor leaned into his “soft boy” reputation throughout the night, particularly in sketches that played with his physical appearance and romantic screen presence. His role as the grounded observer allowed cast members to bounce their heightened characters off him—a classic SNL hosting strategy that works when executed well.
O’Connor demonstrated range beyond his typical casting, playing a reindeer in an Actors on Actors parody and the Tin Man in a Wizard of Oz deleted scenes sketch. In “College Class,” he matched Bowen Yang’s frenzied energy as a student who unexpectedly explodes at his mother.
The Breakout Performances
Ashley Padilla Commands Attention
Padilla earned significantly more screen time this episode, and she made every second count. Her ability to create finely detailed characters shone through, playing two distinct elderly women in separate sketches without any overlap.
In “Let’s Find Love,” Padilla’s 84-year-old dating show contestant became an instant classic character. Ramming around on a motorized scooter with wild eyes, she delivered lines with uncanny timing and frenetic energy.
I got a joke. My sister’s a bitch.
Her character’s indignant response to attending a wedding without cake—screaming “Why should I go?” at full volume—captured both absurdity and genuine frustration. The sketch became one of the night’s highlights, with Padilla’s performance elevating every punchline.
Bowen Yang Anchors The Show
Coming straight from Wicked press obligations, Yang proved he’s become essential to SNL’s current roster. His Law Roach-inspired Doctor Please returned in “Teaching Hospital,” creating comedy gold alongside O’Connor’s uncertain intern.
The sketch featured delightfully dark exchanges, including one where Padilla’s nurse announces the doctor’s five o’clock appointment.
Doctor, your five o’clock—is dead? No. Is ugly. Then kill him.
In “College Class,” Yang played a twelve-year-old prodigy named Simon whose mother keeps embarrassing him during finals prep. His desperate, shrieking delivery of “HEATHERRRRR!” became an instant catchphrase, demonstrating his gift for creating memorable vocal choices.
Top Sketch Moments
Bachelorette Party Strippers Goes Viral
O’Connor and Ben Marshall played softboy strippers discovered on a “Sally Rooney message board,” hired for Sarah Sherman’s friend’s bachelorette party. The sketch’s escalation delivered perfectly, with the strippers removing cardigans to reveal more cardigans underneath.
When Padilla’s feral bride witnesses a lap dance and “will-they-won’t-they” tension, she literally shatters her wine glass. The unexpected violence when the softboys beat up the fiancé and throw his body out the door added shock value, sealed with O’Connor and Marshall’s kiss.
The sketch brought O’Connor’s on-screen kiss count to two for the night—a running theme that played into audience expectations about his romantic screen presence.
Lily Allen Musical Brunch
The episode closed with friends at brunch singing their inner monologues in Lily Allen’s confessional style. Veronika Slowikowska’s impression particularly stood out, capturing Allen’s distinctive vocal quality.
Allen herself made a charming cameo appearance, while a live ferret provided unexpected comedy. Jane Wickline’s joke about her ferret getting an IUD landed perfectly, and the surprise ferret appearance at sketch’s end delighted viewers.
Notable Moments Throughout
Dakota Johnson made a sultry surprise appearance as “Madeline” in the Lily Allen sketch, grabbing the singer’s shoulders in a move that went mostly unnoticed until the reveal.
James Austin Johnson’s Trump impression in the cold open delivered solid lines, including references to “doing pirate now” and calling something “a medical lasagna, mamma mia!”
Weekend Update featured a SantaCon joke that earned huge laughs from the studio audience—likely because SantaCon had occurred that very day in New York City. The trauma of navigating tinsel-covered, vomit-dodging streets clearly resonated.
Sarah Sherman’s pronunciation of “courage” as “cooo-raaahj” during the Wizard of Oz sketch became an unexpected highlight, demonstrating how small character choices elevate material.
Room For Growth
While O’Connor proved himself capable in supporting roles, the episode left questions about what he could do with more heightened characters. Comedy veterans like Jon Hamm have shown how dramatic actors can excel at playing absurd, over-the-top roles on SNL.
O’Connor’s natural charm and timing suggest he could handle broader comedy, but writers chose to play it safer. His monologue ended somewhat abruptly, raising speculation about whether material—possibly Challengers-related content—was cut for time.
Marcello Hernández took a back seat this episode, though his Weekend Update appearance as himself reminded viewers of his standup background. His growth as a sketch performer has been remarkable enough that seeing him do standup felt almost surprising.
The Verdict
O’Connor delivered a solid hosting debut that showcased his professionalism and likability, even if it didn’t push his comedic boundaries. His willingness to play straight man allowed Padilla and Yang to shine, which speaks to his generosity as a performer.
The episode demonstrated SNL’s current ensemble strength, with newer cast members like Padilla stepping confidently into spotlight moments while veterans like Yang anchor sketches with assured performances.
For O’Connor, the appearance accomplished its goal—introducing him to American audiences as charming, game for anything, and capable of holding his own alongside comedy professionals. Whether he could have done more remains an open question, but what he delivered worked.
British actors may indeed be on another level, or perhaps it’s just the accent lending automatic credibility. Either way, O’Connor proved that being hot doesn’t hurt when navigating live television—insights that would make anyone an excellent casting director.