Ariana Grande took the New York 30 Rock stage at “Saturday Night Live” for the third time as host and found herself in familiar circumstances.
“The last time I hosted was in 2016, and we were right on the verge of electing our first female president,” the 31-year-old singer and actor said in her monologue. “So, I guess, second time’s the charm?"
Grande, who first hosted in 2014, was doing it for the first time without also serving as musical guest — a role that fell to Stevie Nicks — and promised not to sing, before breaking into a song.
The theme continued as she vowed during the tune not to do her signature impressions of Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Gwen Stefani, before throwing out a bit of each. She would do a much longer version of Celine Dion in a sketch later in the show.
Grande hosted in promotion of her movie musical “Wicked,” the “Wizard of Oz” prequel set to be released next month.
She said playing the good witch Glinda as she does in the film is the dream of every theater kid like her, after “losing their virginity.”
Grande's episode comes amid a ratings spike for the sketch institution, likely brought on by its 50th season, and election season. Last month's season premiere brought in the most viewers since 2020.
Just as in the first two episodes of the new season, Maya Rudolph played Vice President Kamala Harris in the night's cold open, leading a group of former cast members returning as guest stars, including Andy Samberg as Harris' husband Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden.
They teamed up for an election edition of “The Family Feud," taking on team Trump.
Kenan Thompson, the longest-tenured cast member in the show's history who began in 2003, reprised his long-running role as “Feud” host Steve Harvey and asked Rudolph-as-Harris about her recent media blitz.
“It’s been a hell of a week," she said. "I went on Howard Stern to reach the horny cab drivers, I went on ‘The View’ for the horny moms, and I also went on the podcast ‘Call Her Daddy’ because I have a message for young women: You need to go to the ballot box if you want the government out of your ballot box.”
Current cast member James Austin Johnson returned as Donald Trump, saying his opponent is "going to be horrible at this game. She’s a very low IQ person. The whole world is laughing at her because they don’t respect her.”
The 76-year-old Nicks was the “SNL” musical guest for the first time in more than 40 years. She opened with her brand new single, “The Lighthouse,” but the look of the performance was classic Stevie, with an abundance of rings and scarves and the singer draped in black. For her second song, she reached back with “Edge of Seventeen” from 1981.
Michael Keaton is set to host next week with musical guest Billie Eilish. John Mulaney and Chappell Roan are set for the following Saturday.
The onset of season 50 already has brought reflection and nostalgia in many forms, including “Saturday Night,” a movie comedy dramatizing the minutes before the first episode of the Lorne Michaels-helmed sketch institution on Oct. 11, 1975.
A three-hour primetime special on Feb. 16 is set to serve as the official 50th season celebration.
This image released by NBC shows cast member Bowen Yang, from left, host Ariana Grande, and musical guest Stevie Nicks during promos for the upcoming "Saturday Night Live" broadcast in New York on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (Rosalind O'Connor/NBC via AP)
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Isac Lundestrom’s goal midway through the third period broke a scoreless tie and sent the Anaheim Ducks on their way to a 2-0 season-opening victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
Lundestrom connected on a wrist shot from the slot after taking a centering pass from Brock McGinn with nine minutes remaining.
Trevor Zegras added an empty-net goal with 1:35 left to seal the win.
Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal made 30 saves for the shutout, and Sharks goalie Vitek Vanecek turned back 28 shots.
The Sharks put persistent pressure on Dostal but were unable to score. They clearly missed touted rookie Macklin Celebrini, the 18-year-old 2024 first overall draft pick who was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day.
The 24-year-old Dostal shined in his first career opening-night start.
Sharks forward Fabian Zetterlund’s power-play goal early in the first period was overturned following a coach’s challenge after officials ruled he was offside, setting the tone for an extended stretch of scoreless hockey that extended past the midway point of the third period.
It took 51 minutes for either team to get on the scoreboard.
The Ducks play at Vegas on Sunday night, and San Jose opens a three-game trip Tuesday against Dallas.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund (64) skates toward the puck against Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) celebrates with goaltender Lukas Dostal after the Ducks defeated the San Jose Sharks in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Anaheim Ducks head coach Greg Cronin, middle, stands behind players on the bench during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek, bottom, is knocked over by defenseman Cody Ceci (4) as Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, top, watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky, standing middle, gestures toward players during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, left, defends a shot next to San Jose Sharks defenseman Jake Walman (96) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (11) is congratulated by teammates after scoring an empty net goal against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund, front right, looks for the puck next to Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom (21) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom, right, is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom, right, celebrates with left wing Brock McGinn (26) after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom (21) scores a goal past San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
