The SNL Season 51 finale closed out the year in style on May 16, pairing a six-time host with a music legend for a night packed with surprises. Will Ferrell returned to Studio 8H to host for the sixth time, while Paul McCartney handled musical guest duties — and neither stuck strictly to the script.

It was Ferrell’s first hosting turn since 2019 and McCartney’s fifth appearance on the show. Together, they delivered a finale built around Ferrell’s signature absurdist comedy and McCartney’s deep musical catalog, with several moments that fans won’t soon forget.

The Cold Open: Ferrell as the Ghost of Jeffrey Epstein

The episode kicked off with James Austin Johnson once again playing President Donald Trump, this time dozing off in the Oval Office after a recent trip to China.

Trump’s nap doesn’t last. He’s jolted awake by Ferrell, dressed in a gray prison uniform and wrapped in chains, playing the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein. The setup deliberately echoed Jacob Marley from “A Christmas Carol,” with the chained specter offering Trump a series of visions of the future. Trump, true to the impression, deadpanned that he was surprised there even was a future.

The visions themselves leaned into political satire:

• Pete Hegseth, played by Colin Jost, pouring beer into a giant beer bong
• FBI Director Kash Patel, played by Aziz Ansari, drinking from the connected tube
• Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appearing on the Home Shopping Network

The segment also worked in a brief musical duet between Ferrell and Johnson before wrapping up.

The Monologue: Chad Smith Crashes the Party

Ferrell began his monologue warmly, thanking the audience and remarking that hosting for the sixth time genuinely felt like coming home. The sentiment didn’t last long.

Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith strode onto the stage and insisted the hosting job was actually his. The bit plays on a long-running pop-culture joke — Ferrell and Smith have famously been mistaken for one another for years, a gag that traces back to their drum battle on “The Tonight Show” in 2014. Ferrell helpfully spelled the joke out for the audience by identifying Smith by name and band.

After ushering Smith off, Ferrell shifted to taking audience questions — and called on McCartney, who was seated in the crowd. McCartney came up on stage and promptly declared that he was the real host of the show.

Ferrell responded by mockingly acknowledging McCartney’s songwriting legacy, sarcastically listing classics like “Let It Be,” “Hey Jude,” and “Eleanor Rigby.” Then came the punchline: Ferrell pivoted to “great songs” McCartney didn’t write, rattling off the alphabet song, Pitbull’s “Timber,” and the entire Smash Mouth catalog.

A Car Mechanic Sketch and More McCartney

McCartney popped up again later in the night, this time in a sketch poking fun at the baffling experience of talking to a car mechanic.

He played a chief mechanic named Nigel, appearing alongside Ferrell, Marcello Hernández, Mikey Day, and Ashley Padilla. The humor came from increasingly ridiculous, made-up industry jargon. McCartney’s character informed a visiting couple that their car was thoroughly broken in the most nonsensical terms imaginable, even complaining that the steering wheel was on the wrong side. Ferrell added to the absurdity by telling the customer they’d need a new “transperson.”

Paul McCartney’s Three Performances

Musically, McCartney gave fans more than they bargained for — three performances in total.

He opened with “Days We Left Behind,” a new track from his upcoming 21st solo studio album, “The Boys of Dungeon Lane,” due out May 29. For his second performance, he turned to “Band on the Run,” the beloved 1973 Wings classic.

The real surprise came at the very end. As the cast gathered for the traditional goodnights and the credits started to roll, McCartney walked back to his band and launched into an unplanned third song — “Coming Up,” the lead single from his 1980 album “McCartney II.” It was a fitting, spontaneous way to send the season off.

What Comes Next

With the finale in the books, Season 51 of “Saturday Night Live” is officially complete. The show will return for its 52nd season in the fall, airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

There’s plenty on the horizon for the night’s two stars as well:

• Will Ferrell’s next project is “The Hawk,” a Netflix golf comedy he co-created with Harper Steele and Chris Henchy, premiering July 16.
• Paul McCartney’s new album, “The Boys of Dungeon Lane,” arrives May 29.

The Bottom Line

The SNL Season 51 finale delivered exactly what fans hope for from a season closer: a sharp political cold open, a self-aware monologue gag, an absurdist sketch, and a music legend willing to play along. Between Ferrell’s comedic instincts and McCartney’s surprise encore, the night felt like a celebration — and a strong note to head into the offseason on.