Melissa McCarthy Hosts SNL for Sixth Time

Melissa McCarthy returned to host Saturday Night Live on December 6, marking her sixth time at the helm of the long-running NBC sketch comedy series and solidifying her place among its most frequent hosts.

The episode, the seventh of SNL's 51st season, aired live from Studio 8H in New York at 11:30 p.m. ET, following a three-week holiday break. McCarthy, a two-time Oscar nominee for her roles in Bridesmaids and Can You Ever Forgive Me?, last hosted in 2017, earning a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series that year. She has also received Emmy recognition for her work on Mike & Molly. This appearance placed her in elite company, tying her for seventh on the list of most prolific hosts with six outings, ahead of figures like Tina Fey and Bill Murray, who each have five. Only Alec Baldwin, with 17 hostings, Steve Martin with 15, and John Goodman with 13 lead the rankings.

McCarthy opened the show in a festive black velvet pantsuit, delivering a monologue infused with Christmas cheer. "Pinch me, there's nothing better than Christmas in New York," she said, before humming "Carol of the Bells" using what she described as her "mouth horn." She called for some...