Saturday Night Live Season 51 kicked off with explosive energy on October 4, 2025, live from Studio 8H, as Bad Bunny returned to host for the second time, fresh off his Puerto Rico residency and Super Bowl halftime announcement buzz.
Doja Cat made her SNL musical guest debut, bringing theatrical flair to the premiere. The episode introduced five new cast members (Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska) and featured surprise cameos from Jon Hamm and Benicio del Toro. But the spotlight stayed glued to Bad Bunny's bilingual charisma and Doja Cat's commanding stage presence.
This episode wasn't just a kickoff; it was a cultural collision of Latin trap, pop innovation, and sharp satire, blending fresh cast energy with celebrity cameos that had viewers buzzing from the cold open to the credits.
11:30 PM ET – Cold open: political satire sets the stage
The episode opened with a timely sketch mocking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent presentation to generals, featuring new cast members like Kam Patterson in sharp impressions. No direct involvement from Bad Bunny or Doja Cat here, but it set the show's satirical edge, earning solid laughs from the live audience.
11:35 PM – Bad Bunny's monologue: Super Bowl jabs and bilingual banter
Bad Bunny burst onto the stage in a sleek velvet suit emblazoned with Puerto Rican flag motifs, shades low on his nose, owning the monologue with effortless swagger. He kicked off in rapid Spanish, greeting fans before switching to English:
"“If you didn't catch that, you've got four months to learn, Super Bowl's coming up!”"Bad Bunny
The crowd roared as he roasted critics doubting reggaeton's stadium-filling power, tying into his 2026 halftime slot backlash. It was a chaotic, funny vibe that highlighted his growth as a host since his 2023 debut, more confident, less reliant on crutches.
Saturday Night Live Season 51 kicked off with explosive energy on October 4, 2025, live from Studio 8H, as Bad Bunny returned to host for the second time, fresh off his Puerto Rico residency and Super Bowl halftime announcement buzz.
Doja Cat made her SNL musical guest debut, bringing theatrical flair to the premiere. The episode introduced five new cast members (Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska) and featured surprise cameos from Jon Hamm and Benicio del Toro. But the spotlight stayed glued to Bad Bunny's bilingual charisma and Doja Cat's commanding stage presence.
This episode wasn't just a kickoff; it was a cultural collision of Latin trap, pop innovation, and sharp satire, blending fresh cast energy with celebrity cameos that had viewers buzzing from the cold open to the credits.
11:30 PM ET – Cold open: political satire sets the stage
The episode opened with a timely sketch mocking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent presentation to generals, featuring new cast members like Kam Patterson in sharp impressions. No direct involvement from Bad Bunny or Doja Cat here, but it set the show's satirical edge, earning solid laughs from the live audience.
11:35 PM – Bad Bunny's monologue: Super Bowl jabs and bilingual banter
Bad Bunny burst onto the stage in a sleek velvet suit emblazoned with Puerto Rican flag motifs, shades low on his nose, owning the monologue with effortless swagger. He kicked off in rapid Spanish, greeting fans before switching to English:
"“If you didn't catch that, you've got four months to learn, Super Bowl's coming up!”"Bad Bunny
The crowd roared as he roasted critics doubting reggaeton's stadium-filling power, tying into his 2026 halftime slot backlash. It was a chaotic, funny vibe that highlighted his growth as a host since his 2023 debut, more confident, less reliant on crutches.
Quick promo clips from Thursday showed him bantering with Doja Cat and cast member Chloe Fineman, where he hyped her:
""She's about to make history; I'm just here to not mess it up.""Bad Bunny
That earned a playful eye-roll from Doja and set the tone for Bunny’s all-around dominance, blending music promo with pop culture shade.
11:45 PM – "K-Pop Demon Hunters" Sketch: Bad Bunny's comedic breakout with HUNTR/X
Hitting around the 45-minute mark, Bad Bunny dove into his first major sketch as a hapless American producer clashing with a fierce K-pop girl group (played by new cast Veronika Slowikowska and others) in "KPop Demon Hunters."
Dressed in a comically oversized hoodie, he delivered wide-eyed confusion turning to deadpan charm amid demon-slaying choreography and laser effects.
The highlight? Real K-pop act HUNTR/X (the breakout group from the bit) dropped a killer live cover of their track "Golden," with synchronized dances that had the studio hyped.
Bad Bunny’s timing shone, proving his charisma extends beyond music, while tying into SNL's love for genre mashups. No Doja Cat here, but it built anticipation for her set, with fans later calling it "unexpectedly hilarious" on X.
12:15 AM – Doja Cat's first performance
The lights dimmed to a crimson haze post-commercial, and Doja Cat emerged like a thorned queen from a massive bed of undulating red flower petals, edible-looking props that "bloomed" around her via stage mechanics.
Rocking a sleek black bodysuit with metallic thorn accents, she unleashed her latest single from her album Vie (produced by Jack Antonoff), backed by an '80s-infused beat that escalated from sultry verses to explosive drops.
Fog machines rolled, dancers twisted through the petals, and her live vocals, breathy highs and gritty lows, cut through without a hint of lip-sync. The confetti-petal bridge was a stunning visual payoff. Doja commanded every second, reminding viewers why her SNL debut was a must-watch.
Online, fans raved about the performance, calling it “her fiercest TV slay yet.”
12:40 AM – "Spanish language lesson" Sketch
Bad Bunny kept the momentum going in this language spoof, playing a cheeky tutor alongside Jon Hamm (as a baffled student) and surprise guest Benicio del Toro. They dissected Spanish quirks, like gender rules, rolling Rs, and siesta culture, with del Toro stealing scenes via exaggerated naps.
Bad Bunny’s bilingual delivery was spot-on, lighting up punchlines like: "Barcelona's just one big siesta."
Hamm’s dry wit complemented the chaos, but Bunny’s natural flow made it a host highlight. It showcased a softer, more educational side amid the humor, with fans praising the “global vibe” on X.
1:00 AM – Bad Bunny’s acoustic closer
Post-commercial, Bad Bunny returned for an intimate acoustic rendition of "Un x100to" under a lone spotlight, guitar in hand, voice raw with emotion.
This emotional pivot hushed the crowd. His Puerto Rican roots shone through every resonant note. It was a fitting closer that drew a standing ovation and had fans tweeting it was "chills-inducing."
1:10 AM – Doja Cat's second performance
Doja Cat came back with a yet-unconfirmed track from Vie and turned up the heat. High-octane energy, flashing lights, flawless vocals, and sharp choreography lit up the studio. The audience fed off her intensity. She didn’t just perform; she owned the stage.
1:20 AM – Episode close: Bad Bunny & Doja Cat’s viral air-hug moment
As credits rolled, Bad Bunny pulled Doja Cat into a respectful air-hug, joined by HUNTR/X /X, Jon Hamm, and Benicio del Toro for a group bow under confetti. The moment went viral, and fans dubbed it a “crossover dream.” No full collab yet, but the chemistry was real. The studio erupted in cheers.
But was it good?
SNL’s Season 51 premiere was straight-up electric, and Bad Bunny and Doja Cat were the ones flipping the switch.
Bad Bunny's hosting has shown real growth since 2023, funny, charismatic, and confident. His “KPop Demon Hunters” sketch was hilarious, and his acoustic "Un x100to" was a perfect emotional closer.
Doja Cat, making her SNL debut, gave two jaw-dropping performances, especially "Petals" with its blooming stage theatrics and pitch-perfect vocals. Her second set brought the fire too, flawless and full of attitude.
No sketch for Doja, but the finale’s air-hug with Bunny, plus surprise guests like Hamm and del Toro, was the perfect outro. Fans lost it on X: “Doja ate, Bunny slayed.”
This timeline recap cements Episode 1 as a versatile banger. Bad Bunny’s hosting MVP’d with monologue zingers, sketch steals, and that raw closer. Doja Cat’s petal-powered debut delivered visual and vocal fireworks. Their air-hug finale, amid surprise cameos, created an iconic SNL moment.