Ariana Grande Returns to ‘SNL’ And Completely Slays
Ariana Grande returned to host SNL for a second time, starring in seven sketches that aired on Saturday night (Oct. 12) in an episode tailored for her impressive impression skills. Grande took on a variety of roles, including an aggressive mother, Celine Dion, a bridesmaid causing chaos with “Espresso,” a tween, one of several Jennifer Coolidges, a dame tangled with a hotel detective, and a little Italian renaissance boy with an unfortunate bowl cut, whose falsetto developed in an unfortunate way.
Following a musical monologue that wasn’t meant to be musical but included spot-on Britney and Miley impersonations, all while singing about how she wasn’t supposed to be singing, Grande kicked off the show, which featured Stevie Nicks as the actual musical guest.
Many fans are still talking about Grande’s performance in the “Maybelline” sketch. In this segment, she not only portrays Jennifer Coolidge in a Maybelline commercial but also plays Coolidge’s reflection in the mirror, adding an extra layer of silliness to the scene. Chloe Fineman, known for impersonating famous white women when Grande isn’t around, plays the Coolidge looking into the mirror.
The “Bridesmaid Speech” sketch also got plenty of laughs. Grande forms a four-person girl group with Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, and Sarah Sherman in this humorous wedding reception sketch that highlights the awkwardness of TikTok wedding trends. The bridesmaids perform a personalized song about a bachelorette fling named “Domingo” to the bride, set to the tune of “Espresso.” This got a reaction from Sabrina Carpenter via Instagram Story: “very nice and on pitch.” Ariana replied, “tysm we tried.”
Having already showcased her Celine Dion impression, she reprised it for SNL. The pre-taped sketch parodies Dion’s actual promo for Sunday Night Football, swapping the field for the octagon. Grande’s unique talent for manipulating her voice to mimic anyone she’s impersonated shines through.
We also got a glimpse of a new look from Grande: the bowl cut. Ariana Grande as Antonio is an alter ego that will be remembered. SNL alumni Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg play her parents in this hilarious sketch, where young Antonio is described as “shy” and “much more comfortable singing.” The audience responds with nervous laughter as they explain why. The humor lies in what Grande doesn’t say as much as in her exaggerated falsetto.
It’s safe to say that Ariana Grande completely slayed SNL.
