Paul McCartney headlines 'SNL' Season 51 finale with third performance
Will Ferrell, achieving elite Saturday Night Live alumni status as six-time host tonight, shared spotlight with musical guest Paul McCartney, who stole the show
Will Ferrell achieved the prestigious Saturday Night Live alumnus rank by hosting for the sixth time this evening, but it was musical guest Paul McCartney who truly stole the spotlight, wrapping up the show — and Season 51 as a whole — with an unexpected third musical piece.
During the cast's farewell moments — just as attentive viewers might have noticed Weekend Update co-anchor and Pete Hegseth lookalike Colin Jost making an appearance on stage, donned in a bald cap — McCartney returned to the band, swiftly organising the musicians for one last encore, delivering a performance of “Coming Up,” the initial track from his 1980 album McCartney II.
As the broadcast, which frequently concludes during the farewell segment due to time constraints, extended beyond its typical duration, the cast was observed enjoying themselves and dancing in the forefront.
Visible in the backdrop and having shared the stage with McCartney as drummer was Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ very own Chad Smith, who made an earlier appearance in the evening by interrupting Ferrell’s monologue, masquerading as the Elf actor and initiating his introductory remarks. McCartney also made an appearance during the opener, as the “cute one” Ferrell called out when responding to audience queries.
The former Beatle also appeared in a subsequent sketch, alongside Ferrell, Marcello Hernández, Mikey Day and Ashley Padilla, called “what it feels like talking to a mechanic.”
The skit revolved around the car mechanics’ (Ferrell, Hernández and McCartney) increasingly bizarre language, which included lyrics from Flo Rida’s hit “Low” and peculiar sounds of moaning, groaning and screeching. “At some point, you’ll need a new transperson,” Ferrell remarked.
McCartney portrayed chief mechanic Nigel, who informed the couple (Day and Padilla): “Your tipsy-wipsy’s all dangly-doodly, and the spiggly-wiggly’s gone crumpet. The entire vehicle is wrecked.”
“Plus, the steering wheel’s on the wrong bloody side,” added the iconic musician.
