Amy Poehler is making her long-awaited return to host Saturday Night Live this weekend after a decade away—but here’s the surprising twist: she has no clue who the new cast members are! This might sound shocking, especially coming from someone so deeply linked to the show, but it adds a fun layer of unpredictability to the upcoming episode.
In a freshly released promo for Saturday night’s show, Poehler encounters the newest featured players—Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska. Instead of confessing her unfamiliarity right away, she humorously pretends to know them well, joking around like old pals. For instance, when Veronika slowikowska nervously introduces herself, Amy lightheartedly acts like she’s known her forever, saying, “Uh oh, here comes trouble. Don’t hit me!” and then claiming Slowikowska is someone who’s always "sticking it to the man."
Slowikowska, clearly caught off guard, reminds Poehler it’s only her second week on the show. The Emmy-winning comedienne then playfully reminisces about Patterson and Culhane with fabricated backstories, stating she remembers Patterson from their “wild days back in 2005” and joking that Culhane is “the old slow burn.” The new cast members quickly catch on and ask if she really has no idea who they are, which she admits with a laugh. Poehler confesses she thought she was coming in for a routine mammogram and was surprised to find she was actually hosting the show. She explains, “I get nervous, so I make things up, have face blindness, and point fingers all over.”
These three comedians are part of a fresh group of five newcomers joining SNL this season, which experienced a major cast shakeup over the summer. Alongside Culhane, Patterson, and Slowikowska, Ben Marshall and Tommy Brennan were also added as featured players. Meanwhile, several familiar faces like Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, and Devon Walker have exited, marking a notable transition period for the iconic show.
Although Amy Poehler has remained connected to SNL over the years with numerous guest appearances since her 2008 departure, her hosting gigs have been rare—this upcoming episode marks just her third time as the show’s host. Adding to the excitement, musical guest Role Model will perform alongside her.
This weekend’s episode follows Bad Bunny’s recent hosting stint, where he notably addressed criticism related to his selection as the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show—a moment that stirred plenty of conversation.
While the full lineup of hosts and musical guests for SNL’s 51st season is still being unveiled, fans can look forward to Sabrina Carpenter carrying double duty as both host and musical guest on the October 18 episode.
But here’s where it gets controversial: should longtime SNL veterans like Poehler be expected to know new cast members or is it fair that even stars can feel disconnected amidst the show's big shifts? What do you think—does this playful ignorance add charm or highlight a deeper disconnect? Share your thoughts below!
