5 Shocking Reasons Why Saturday Night Live’s December 20 Finale Is A Must-Watch
Yes, *Saturday Night Live* (SNL) is absolutely new tonight, Saturday, December 20, 2025, and it’s an episode you absolutely cannot afford to miss. This broadcast is not just another installment of the long-running sketch comedy show; it is the highly-anticipated Season 51 Christmas Finale, a star-studded event that marks the show’s final new episode of the calendar year before its annual winter hiatus. Airing live coast-to-coast at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC and streaming live on Peacock, this episode is set to deliver holiday cheer, big laughs, and a sensational musical performance.
The finale is closing out a strong December run for Season 51, which has included back-to-back new episodes featuring Melissa McCarthy and Josh O'Connor. The buzz around tonight’s show is unprecedented, thanks to a powerhouse pairing of a pop culture icon as host and a music legend as the musical guest. Prepare for an evening of holiday sketches, political satire, and a guaranteed show-stopping monologue.
The Star-Studded Lineup: Host Ariana Grande and Musical Guest Cher
The centerpiece of the *Saturday Night Live* Christmas Finale is its incredible talent roster, which features two of the biggest names in entertainment. This pairing alone has secured the episode's status as the most anticipated broadcast of the season. The show's producers have gone all out to ensure the final episode of 2025 is a memorable one, setting the stage for a spectacular holiday send-off.
Ariana Grande: Host (The Pop-Star-Turned-Wicked-Witch)
Ariana Grande is set to host the December 20th Christmas episode, marking her latest appearance on the iconic stage. Grande, a global pop superstar, is currently experiencing a massive career moment as she prepares for the release of the highly-anticipated film adaptation of the Broadway musical *Wicked*, where she plays Glinda the Good Witch.
Her hosting gig provides a perfect platform for her to showcase her comedic timing, which has been praised in previous appearances. Fans are eager to see if she will incorporate any *Wicked* references, perform any of her famous impressions (which are notoriously spot-on), or debut a new holiday-themed song. Her previous turns on SNL have proven she is a versatile performer, capable of handling both the high-pressure live sketches and the musical numbers.
Ariana Grande Biography Profile:
- Full Name: Ariana Grande-Butera
- Born: June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida
- Age: 32 (as of December 2025)
- Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Actress
- Breakthrough Role: Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon TV series *Victorious* (2010–2013)
- Major Film Role: Glinda in the *Wicked* film series (2024 & 2025)
- Grammy Awards: Multiple wins, including Best Pop Vocal Album
- Notable Albums: *Yours Truly*, *My Everything*, *Dangerous Woman*, *Sweetener*, *Thank U, Next*
- SNL History: Has previously appeared as both host and musical guest.
Cher: Musical Guest (The Legendary Icon)
Joining Grande is the one and only Cher, who will take the stage as the musical guest. Cher's involvement is a massive coup for the show, as the legendary entertainer brings decades of hits and a unique stage presence.
Given the holiday theme, there is speculation that Cher will perform her recent holiday-themed track, "DJ Play a Christmas Song," which has been dominating the seasonal charts. Her performance is expected to be a spectacle, providing a perfect counterpoint to Grande's hosting duties and ensuring the episode’s musical segments are as memorable as the sketches.
5 Critical Things You Need to Know About the SNL Christmas Finale
Beyond the A-list talent, the *Saturday Night Live* Christmas Finale is packed with significance for the show, the cast, and the overall television landscape. Understanding these details will enhance your viewing experience and provide context for why this episode is so important.
1. It's the Final New Episode of 2025
Tonight's broadcast serves as the traditional mid-season finale. After the December 20th show, *Saturday Night Live* will enter its customary winter hiatus. This means viewers will have to wait several weeks—typically until mid-to-late January—for the show to return with new, original content. This makes the Christmas Finale the last chance for the cast and writers to deliver fresh political satire, holiday sketches, and pop culture commentary until the new year.
2. The Highly-Anticipated "Wicked" Promotional Push
Ariana Grande's role as host comes at a crucial time for the promotion of the *Wicked* film. While Grande is a seasoned performer, her hosting gig is strategically timed to build hype for the two-part movie musical. Expect at least one major sketch or her monologue to lean heavily into the world of Oz, potentially featuring some of her co-stars in surprise cameos. The synergy between a major NBC property like SNL and a massive Universal/NBCUniversal film release is a key element of this episode's buzz.
3. The Season 51 Milestone Countdown
The December 20th episode is the 9th installment of Season 51. More significantly, it is the 997th episode of the series overall. This puts *Saturday Night Live* just three episodes away from its monumental 1,000th episode milestone, which is expected to occur early in 2026. The show will likely acknowledge the approaching landmark, potentially with a cold open or a Weekend Update segment dedicated to looking back at the show's history, further cementing its topical authority.
4. The Potential for Surprise Celebrity Cameos
The SNL Christmas show is historically known for its high volume of celebrity drop-ins. Given the star power of both Grande and Cher, the potential for cameos is exceptionally high. Past Christmas episodes have featured former cast members, famous musicians, and other high-profile friends of the host. Keep an eye out for appearances from other *Wicked* cast members, Grande's famous friends, or even holiday-themed appearances from SNL legends like Jimmy Fallon or Tina Fey.
5. A Final Look at the Current Cast Dynamics
The current Season 51 cast, which includes veteran players like Kenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim, along with newer breakout stars, is hitting its stride. The Christmas episode is often a showcase for the cast's strongest characters and impressions from the first half of the season. It’s a chance for the cast to deliver their biggest, broadest laughs before the break, often leading to viral sketches that dominate social media over the holidays. The final "Goodnights" segment will also be a warm, celebratory moment as the cast and crew sign off for the year.
How to Watch the SNL Christmas Finale Live Tonight
Whether you’re a long-time viewer or a casual fan drawn in by the star power, there are several ways to catch the Season 51 Christmas Finale live tonight, December 20, 2025:
- Airing Live: 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) / 10:30 p.m. Central Time (CT) / 9:30 p.m. Mountain Time (MT) / 8:30 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) on NBC.
- Streaming Live: The episode will stream live simultaneously on the Peacock streaming service for premium subscribers.
- On-Demand: If you miss the live broadcast, the full episode will be available to stream on Peacock the following day.
Don’t settle for a rerun or old clips. Tonight is a new, must-see episode of *Saturday Night Live* that promises to be the comedic high-point of the holiday season. Tune in to see Ariana Grande host and Cher perform in what is sure to be a classic Christmas finale before the show takes its well-deserved winter break.
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