SNL': Weekend Update joke swap sticks to Formula in abbreviated and one-sided Christmas edition featuring a new Scarlett Johansson dig.

Cher’s second performance was of “Run Rudolph Run,” written by Chuck Berry in 1958 and credited to Marvin Brodie and Christmas songwriter Johnny Marks for having trademarked the Rudolph character.

Airing Thursday, Dec. 18, the two-hour TV event revisits holiday sketches from throughout the show's 50-year history.

That Austin Butler episode—actually the only Christmas episode not hosted by a former cast member since 2018!—also served as a mid-season farewell to longtime cast member Cecily Strong. I’m sure these types of things aren’t actually planned out particularly far in advance;

Before signing off for the holidays, Saturday Night Live welcomed Ariana Grande back to Studio 8H to host the Dec. 20 episode. It was her fifth appearance on the long-running sketch comedy series overall (she previously hosted in seasons 41 and 50 and served as musical guest in seasons 40 and 49),