Charli XCX hosts SNL for the first time and starred in nine sketches on Saturday night (November 16) in an episode that indulged the pop star brat vibes.
Pulling double duty on Saturday night as host and musical guest, Charli hit it off with a monologue explaining how her career began (“I played at my first rave when I was 15 — my parents actually drove me there”), how he's gotten where he is (“Today, I consider myself a triple threat, which in England means I sing, drink and smoke”) and what it really means to be a “dumb.”
“So many people have asked me, 'What is 'brat'?' And honestly, it's just an attitude. It's a vibe. For example, the new Martha Stewart documentary: When Martha Gets Angry About an Old Magazine Article she's glad the journalist who wrote it is dead, that he's a badass. And on Friday, when that very reporter responded and said, “Hey, I'm alive, b—-!” — that he's extremely brave,” Charli said in front of the live audience at Studio 8H.
In addition to a dose of dry wit, the three-time music guest brought her late night to the stage on Saturday with Brat tracks “360” and “Sympathy Is a Knife” (the original album versions, not her Brat and it's totally different but still brat collaborations).
The episode had one SNL The cast member portrays Charli in a skit — so Charli stars opposite, touring Troye Sivan. (Sivan's response: changing his profile picture to Charli's version.)
Charlie's impersonation skills were also put to the test in performances by Adele and Victoria Beckham and were part of a group rendition of 'Hot to Go!' of Chappell Roan. which welcomed recurring character Domingo, the guy who crashed a wedding reception on Ariana Grande's episode last month.
The best sketch, which had Charlie's humor to match SNL the trio's comedy, was the one that was essentially cut for time during the live broadcast. Luckily, it found its way onto the internet.
Here's a ranking of every sketch Charli XCX was on Saturday night when SNLNovember 16 episode aired. Check out all nine sketches below.
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“Banger Boys”
The sheer idiocy of this podcast will make you shake your head.
Charli tops the bro comedy with her reading as the hot girl who delivers messages from sponsors, which include crowd-sourced brands like Cargo Condoms and Warm Plunges.
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“Babymoon”
The creepiness of besties putting on a song and dance for a friend's celebration is back — as is Domingo, who you might remember from Ariana Grande and Co.'s ill-sung wedding performance earlier in the season. Marcello Hernández's Domingo wasn't a one-off: He's officially a recurring character in the life plot of Kelsey (Chloe Fineman), who has now moved on from marriage to fatherhood.
Charli takes Ariana's place here as one of the girls in this group, pulling off a solid American accent as the ladies present something “a little artsy and a little random” instead of a gift for the mom-to-be. Their fun girl trip/babymoon rendition of “Hot to Go!” of Chappell Roan. it starts off innocently enough — “Kelsey couldn't fly, so we drove to Miami” — and then reveals that their friend spent the holidays learning Spanish on Duolingo and sending nudes to Domingo, who is… not her husband yet .
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“It Girl Thanksgiving Special”
Thanksgiving dinner with the Olsen twins, Victoria Beckham and Naomi Campbell among the select few on an exclusive guest list goes… just how you might imagine? No one knows how to cook a turkey, but there's crock pot, La Mer creamed spinach, and “the gist.” Bowen Young as Marc Jacobs sets the tone for the “it girl” gathering as the host, while Chef Cher (Heidi Gardner) sings through the searing of the main course.
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“Acting Teacher”
Anyone who auditions for commercials and has seen the cheat courses advertised to young actors should find this scam frighteningly relevant. Marcello Hernández's physical comedy and mannerisms bring to mind Martin Short in this performance. He shines as the so-called acting teacher, and Charli is a perfect match for her stage partner's design.
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“Here I Go”
Andy Samberg leads a previously taped musical about being the neighborhood scoundrel whose love language with his wife, played by Charlie, is “call the cops instead of sex.”
“Does it help to know that the one I grabbed was white?” she sings. His calls are anonymous, but he will appear until the court date. And he'll be eating popcorn from the gallery.
Charli's most memorable line: “I literally dare you to park within two inches of my driveway, b—-.”
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“Shrek: The Musical”
New York singles in their early 30s find some action at a show Shrek: The Musical. Hi, it's an alternative to apps.
Charli's “at least 31” character, known for “doing the number three” in the bathroom and, in this scene, shamelessly standing outside the theater with her mouth painted green, is the one teased about her hookup, but there's a funny reveal when you find out who else the famous green dragon has already 'hit'.
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“Bad Hearings”
SNL joins the chatter about who else might have auditioned Badstarring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Somehow they got their hands on the screen tests!
The sketch shows Charli's perfect impressions of Adele and Troye Sivan and brings back Bowen Yang's impression of Charli. Tryouts from Bad Bunny, JoJo Siwa, Sydney Sweeney and more are part of the inside look at the casting process in this spoof.
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“2024 Thanksgiving Baking Championship”
The anticipation of seeing Thanksgiving-themed cakes that will be awful and embarrassing sets up the comedy before any cakes are revealed. Charlie's candid warning about her baking competition entry – “We Brits don't do Thanksgiving, so this might get a little hairy” – can be taken literally. See and you shall see.
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“Mean Cute With Charli XCX”
Please Don't Destroy's Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy fall in love at first sight with Charli in 30 Rock, in random encounters straight out of a rom-com.
“Hey, this might be crazy, but,” Charlie sweetly asks Marshall, just before letting go of the twist, “Would you ever like to see where you're going?”
Clever insults are being peddled. A rat is pulled by Charli's hair.
Charlie nails the comedic delivery and timing, particularly after she trolls the trio when they say her music sucks. “At least you know who I am. I've never heard of you,” he says. “We are in SNLsweety,” the kids reply, to which Charlie says, “Once every…six episodes?”
