Glen Powell flies out UPS driver for 'SNL' hosting debut with Olivia Dean as musical guest

The latest edition of Saturday Night Live delivered a balanced, character-driven episode led by Glen Powell in his first time as host. 

Powell, currently starring in the new adaptation of The Running Man and the Hulu series Chad Powers, had previously appeared on the programme during Sydney Sweeney’s episode.

Former cast member Aristotle Athari has long praised Powell’s timing, noting his performance in Hit Man and recalling Top Gun: Maverick as the first post-pandemic film that revived his cinema-going excitement.

Audience reactions to last week’s Nikki Glaser episode were divided, making this week’s offering a useful gauge of consensus. Meanwhile, Olivia Dean performed her hit single "Man I Need" from her second album The Art of Loving.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cold Open centred on Ashley Padilla as press secretary Karoline Leavitt, with reporters steering the conversation toward Epstein before James Austin Johnson’s Trump entered. Padilla’s grounded performance stood out, supported by Chloe Fineman and Kam Patterson.

Powell’s Monologue focused on his long road to 8H, from early roles such as Spy Kids to a delayed hosting opportunity during the Top Gun: Maverick release. He shared a story about the UPS driver who witnessed his early excitement and whom he flew out for the show.

Sketches included the distorted-memory technology of AI Photos, the melodic Ex’s Dad, a bachelor-party setup allowing Marcello Hernandez’s Sebastian Maniscalco impression, the accent-driven Scene of a Marriage, and a strong return of MacGruber with Will Forte.

SNL returns on December 6, hosted by Melissa McCarthy with Dijon as the musical guest.