“Saturday Night Live” recap: Alexander Skarsgård heats up the 1,000th episode as host
- - “Saturday Night Live” recap: Alexander Skarsgård heats up the 1,000th episode as host
Andy HoglundJanuary 31, 2026 at 11:52 PM
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'Saturday Night Live' musical guest Cardi B and host Alexander Skarsgard promote Jan. 31 episode
Congrats, everyone out there in SNL in Review land! We made it! It’s the 1,000th episode of Saturday Night Live!
While some are perhaps fatigued by the constant coronation around the show and its longevity, it’s still noteworthy. Few TV programs in U.S. broadcast history have ever gotten to this part. Not Gunsmoke, not The Simpsons. Essentially, just talk shows and soap operas. Given the new normal with the decline of traditional network TV, few may ever match what SNL continues to do, simply by existing.
I am joined tonight by former SNL cast member Gary Kroeger, who has thoughts on today’s illustrious milestone.
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"When I was on the show, I thought of it as an 'old' show already. The original cast had changed the medium, and there had already been a couple of incarnations to follow. But I started in only season 8! There had only been about 140 or so shows!”
He says he never would have foreseen another 860 episodes, adding: “At the same time, why not? SNL has transcended into an institution and more than just a weekly dose of entertainment. An industry has grown alongside it, so why not go... forever? Or until nuclear holocaust. In which case, I hope some kind of show is around in some form to bring a little humor to the event.”
Catherine O'Hara on 'SNL' as Veronika Goethe during 'Sprockets' skit on April 13, 1991
Alan Singer/NBC
Of course, the comedy world — or really, anyone with even a passing interest in pop culture and Hollywood — is reeling from the sudden loss of SCTV legend and two-time SNL host Catherine O’Hara.
Kroeger shared with me that O’Hara "paid me the best compliment I’ve ever received. I, like everyone, revered her as an actress and comedienne, and she was a close friend of Robin Duke, so she’d occasionally visit at SNL. I had done a filmed piece called '4 Minutes To Live,' and when I passed Catherine in the hall, she said, ‘You know you are a very good actor in that.' High praise from a legend, and I’ve carried that memory with me for 42 years.”
Anyway, tonight’s host is Alexander Skarsgård with musical guest Cardi B. Scroll down, enjoy the history in the making!
Cold Open
In response to the chaotic situation in Minnesota, President Trump has deployed border czar Tom Homan to the ground. Stunt casting alert: Pete Davidson plays Homan. He holds a Q&A with ICE to clarify their mission.
“What have we learned today?” he asks, rhetorically. The men are angry, poorly trained, not especially bright. Mikey Day’s agent has a funny answer, for those who remember Day’s origin story: “Wildin’ out.”
Last week’s cold open was divisive among many in the fanbase. I liked it a lot, but others found it tone deaf, given the tragedies unfolding in Minnesota. Gary Kroeger opines: “SNL has a fundamental responsibility, and that is to make people laugh. The show has always had an intelligence about it, however, and so it quickly evolved into satirical humor. Satire demands being topical, and the most topical arena is politics, and so I think, yes, SNL has a demand placed upon it to look at political and social events and the personalities involved, critically with humor. To miss any opportunity to shed light onto the political maelstrom known as the Donald Trump administration would be an opportunity missed and regretted. I do think there is a place for a solemn tribute, but that can be as simple as a dedication. In the case of 9/11, it seemed impossible to ever be funny again, at least for a while, but the tide of humanity always rises, and we collectively feel the need to laugh again. And to be critical again.”
Monologue
One thousand episodes! Alexander would watch the monologue while growing up in Stockholm, always focused on the band. Tonight, he wants to give them their moment. Freeform jazz and comically pained banter ensues. "Focus on the lady!" he shouts, taking over the frame. I like him comically drinking water. "It feels good to give," he concludes.
He definitely has a steely, stoic presence — but that becomes quite deadpan when he does comedy. Kroeger agrees: "I've always thought that the best guest hosts are the ones you least expect to be hosting a comedy show. Alexander has certainly proven his comedic chops already, but his image is not that of a comedian. I think that gives the writers so many more choices to use his spectrum as an actor. Too much emphasis, in my opinion, is put onto the guest host's talents. The talent and diversity is in the cast; they are the ones to fill the gaps or lift the tide, and bring the host into their worlds. The host's job is to try to compete. Often it's the effort that is most entertaining.”
He adds: “I'm a huge fan of any movie adaptation of classic hero stories. I've loved Tarzan in every medium ever since I heard the words ‘Me Tarzan, you Jane’ and so I went to Skarsgard's The Legend of Tarzan and that is when I became aware of him as an actor... Big Little Lies, The Stand, and who can forget Godzilla vs. Kong? It was a pleasant and not-so-surprising surprise to learn that his father is Stellan Skarsgård and that his brother is Bill, who played Pennywise. They are the Swedish Barrymores!”
"Mom’s Confession"
On his birthday, Skarsgård welcomes his kids back home to be with him and his wife (Ashley Padilla). The mom has something to say, on the condition that the kids do not react. They must promise. The thing she has to say is shocking; they must even do a few practice non-reactions.
Here it is: She’s changed her mind about Trump. "I feel now like he might be bad for our country..." The kids flip out; they’ve been saying this since 2016. She demands grace. "I feel like, maybe, some of the things he says… aren’t true,” the wife says.
Kroeger notes the show's strength is the ensemble; however, in this moment, he admits that "Ashley Padilla is someone to watch."
This is funny. Padilla has a number of great lines, including threatening to see the Melania movie. The kids try their best to not explode. Padilla selects each word carefully — about trans people and drag queens, about guns. I like this!
"Winter Olympics Promo"
It’s a week until the games in Milan. We see a number of athletes. Jane Wickline hates the luge. She’s good at it, but notes it’s mostly a height-weight thing. Skarsgård plays her coach, he says she has a once-in-a-generation... shape.
"Scandinavian Movie 2"
Scandinavian cinema captures the harrowing workings of family. In November, we saw an American director (Mikey Day) direct two Norwegian actors (Glen Powell, Chloe Fineman) for a film. Same premise this time with Skarsgård — they’re very intense on-screen, then giggle when the cameras are off. Blooper reel!
Stellan Skarsgård — our host’s father and a recent Oscar nominee for Sentimental Value — cameos. Silly.
"Immigrant Dad Talk Show 3"
Ah, another installment of Marcello’s recurring talk show host/dad. It’s been a minute since we’ve seen this. This time, his neighbor from Finland (Skarsgård) guests.
Mikey Day’s lame white neighbor Kevin tells Joaquin Antonio he feels horrible about the ICE raids — and has the shirt to prove it!
Wow, Stellan Skarsgård cameos again!
Carbi B also shows up, as Joaquin’s wife. The crowd loves this. And it’s been a year!
"The Viking Raid"
Eifar is feeling left out after his team pillages. Lots of blood and guts as he recounts how his feelings were hurt during their raid. Turns out, they’re all jealous of him! Odd final joke about his cornrows. Meh.
Cardi B, "Bodega Baddie"
“Bodega Baddie” is a fun track off Am I The Drama. It’s a bilingual Dominican-influenced jam featuring a sample of Magic Juan’s "Ta Buena (Tipico)."
Back in 2018, Cardi performed a medley of "Bodak Yellow" and "Bartier Cardi" and "Be Careful" — she also appeared in "Aidy B and Cardi B."
"Weekend Update"
Dry January is over! Topics include ICE, the British FBI, and the new Melania documentary.
There’s a foot of snow in New York City, and they cut to Sarah Sherman in Rockefeller Center as the new weather correspondent. She’s freezing and wants to throw it back to Colin. We get some classic digs at Colin. Jack McBrayer from 30 Rock stops by, but he isn’t working tonight! (I want to say McBrayer last appeared on the show when Tracy Morgan hosted — and before that during a “What’s Up With That” segment in 2009!) I like seeing the show outside the studio — shout out to "The Rocket Report."
Two People Who Just Hooked Up (Padilla, Dismukes) return to talk about the Super Bowl — previously, they discussed the government shutdown.
"Play Date"
A little girl named Agnes (Skarsgard) just moved to a town from Iowa. Her mom sets up a playdate with some local girls. They attempt a few icebreakers: Bluey, Harry Styles. But Agnes does not know them and erupts in rage. Wickline suggests they do not ask Agnes if she knows anything. The gates of hell are opened — and Maria (Sarah Sherman) is thrown out the window three times!
Cardi B, "ErrTime"
Released as a single in November, "ErrTime" was nominated at the 57th NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song. It's got a throwback early 2000s style aggression.
"Tarzan"
Skarsgard reprises one of Gary Kroeger’s favorite characters! This time, Tarzan is breaking up with Jane (Sherman). Skarsgard brings a different energy to the role than Kevin Nealon.
"Funny Boyfriend"
Jessica’s new boyfriend is hilarious. Her friends on the ski trip love him. He’s wearing a huge jacket — stuffed with Cards Against Humanity one-liners!
In college, he started playing the game — after a lifetime of being unfunny, he finally felt witty and goaded.
Good episode for Sarah Sherman.
Goodnights
A moving title card dedicated to Catherine O’Hara. Kroeger’s story is above. I will take this moment to encourage you, the reader, to please watch "Laurie Has a Story," featuring O’Hara and Laurie Metcalf.
Final Thoughts -
Well, what did you think?! Vote! See everyone in a month!
What did *YOU* think of the Alexander Skarsgard SNL??
— the legendary “SNL in Review” experience (@SNLinReview) February 1, 2026
Thank you, Gary Kroeger! Fyi, Gary says he is “finishing up my opening weekend as the director of The Cottage in Cedar Falls, Iowa — a farce set in 1923 Britain that has given me immense joy for the past couple of months.”
Ironically, I mentioned O’Hara with commentary from Gary Kroeger during SNL’s 900th episode. Damn, I’ve been recapping for a while. It’s not Kenan Thompson-level, but hey.
Wow, over 60 percent of you disliked last week’s Teyana Taylor episode.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
