Saturday Night Live returned for its third episode of Season 52 on October 10, 2026, with comedian Shane Gillis hosting for the third time and Spanish singer Rosalía as the musical guest. The night delivered a mix of political satire, awkward monologue moments, an accidental live TV slip-up, and standout musical performances that quickly became the talk of social media.
Colin Jost Brings Back Pete Hegseth in the Cold Open
The episode opened with a political sketch set aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which had been deployed for over 300 days. Colin Jost reprised his role as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, wearing an ammunition belt loaded with mini bottles of Fireball whiskey.
Jost’s Hegseth greeted the sailors with a series of bizarre updates about what they had missed while at sea. “In December, as we get into the Christmas spirit, we’re gonna execute a guy in a wheelchair on live TV,” he said, referencing the scheduled execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the convicted Fort Hood shooter. “Public executions are back! Kinda like Scrubs”.
The sketch also featured James Austin Johnson as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who appeared with a shaky voice and declared, “I’m happy to report that America is healthier than ever.” He then suggested renaming cold and flu season to “cold and flu and listeria and measles and trench brain season”.
Jost’s Hegseth closed the sketch by singing Linkin Park‘s “In the End,” a moment that drew mixed reactions from viewers.
Shane Gillis Faces a Rough Monologue
Shane Gillis, 38, walked out in a matching black tee and pants for a monologue that largely fell flat with the studio audience. He opened by claiming he was “fine” before diving into topics like weight loss, solo hiking, and public gyms in New York.
“I tried to go to a public gym. Going to the public gym as a fat guy, especially in New York, is a nightmare, dude,” he said. “It’s just the hottest gay guys you’ve ever seen”.
Gillis also joked about women’s gym attire, remarking, “I haven’t been to the gym in so long I didn’t know women just dress like whores now?” The comment drew groans from the in-studio audience.
He then pivoted to his receding hairline, comparing it to Adolf Hitler‘s hairstyle. “I’ve balded directly into an Adolf haircut,” he said. “You’re either gay or you’re Hitler, and isn’t that where we’re at as a country?” The monologue ended with few laughs.
The Accidental F-Bomb That Stole the Show
The most talked-about moment of the night came during a Dr. Seuss-inspired sketch based on “Green Eggs and Ham.” Gillis played the defensive son of Mikey Day‘s character, who repeatedly refused a breakfast order.
During the sketch, Gillis accidentally dropped an uncensored F-bomb on live television. The slip left the cast and live audience stunned.
At the end of the episode, Gillis addressed the moment directly. “And sorry about earlier. Thank you guys very much. I had a good time,” he told the audience.
Grace Reiter Emerges as a Standout
New featured player Grace Reiter carried three major sketches during the episode, quickly making a name for herself in her first season.
Reiter joined Season 52 alongside fellow new cast member Saidah Belo-Osagie, following the departures of longtime cast member Chloe Fineman and Please Don’t Destroy‘s Martin Herlihy.
The wedding sketch, in which Gillis played a father of the bride more focused on “all the cool shit I can put in her room” than the emotional milestone, was widely praised as the strongest sketch of the night.
Rosalía Delivers Two Theatrical Performances
Rosalía returned to SNL for her second solo musical guest appearance, performing two songs from her 2025 album Lux. She first performed “Reliquia” while dancing en pointe, a moment that immediately went viral online.
Her second performance, “Magnolias,” featured the singer in a white outfit, performing in the rain against a dark backdrop.
Rosalía first appeared on SNL as a guest performer alongside Bad Bunny in 2021, then returned as the featured musical guest in 2022 when Zoë Kravitz hosted.
Audience and Social Media Reactions
Social media reactions poured in throughout the night, with many viewers praising the cold open while criticizing Gillis’s monologue. “Good SNL cold open. BAD shane gillis monologue,” one user wrote on X.
Others questioned why Gillis was invited back to host for a third time. The Daily Mail reported that MAGA supporters expressed fury over the Hegseth sketch, calling it “staggeringly unfunny”.
Colin Jost‘s Hegseth impression continued to draw praise from fans, with some calling for an Emmy nomination for the recurring role.
What Happened in the Other Sketches
The episode included several other sketches that contributed to the night’s mix of hits and misses. A sketch titled “Let the Cops Do the Talking” featured Gillis as a host interrogating guests alongside hostile sidekicks.
A sneaker-themed sketch transported viewers back to 1920 in Lowell, Massachusetts, where Fillmore Footwear introduced a new shoe design.
The wedding sketch, featuring Tommy Brennan, James Austin Johnson, and Andrew Dismukes as a country western band, became the critical highlight of the night. The band performed a tribute to the father of the bride that revealed his excitement about reclaiming his daughter’s childhood room for video games, a popcorn machine, a huge recliner, and pinball.
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Episode Ratings and Viewership
SNL Season 52 has been drawing consistent viewership. The October 3 episode, hosted by Dakota Johnson with musical guest Turnstile, averaged 4.4 million total viewers and 1 million viewers aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Live+Same Day data.
The Season 52 premiere on September 26 featured host Jalen Brunson and musical guest KATSEYE.
Saturday Night Live airs live on NBC and streams on Peacock in the United States. International viewers can watch via local broadcast partners and streaming services. The show continues its 52nd season with new episodes airing Saturdays at 11:30 PM ET and 8:30 PM PT.
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