Will Ferrell hosts SNL season 51 finale

Will Ferrell will host the season 51 finale of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday, May 16, with Paul McCartney appearing as the musical guest, according to NBC listings and network promos. NBC said the episode airs at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, closing the show’s latest season with a pairing built around two of the program’s most familiar returning names. NBC has promoted the episode in clips released this week under the line “Will Ferrell Is Hosting the Season 51 Finale of SNL with Musical Guest Paul McCartney.” The network’s show page also lists the May 14 promo alongside other current-season clips, indicating the finale was in active promotion ahead of Saturday’s broadcast. (nbc.com) ### When does the finale air, and where can viewers watch it? NBC said the season 51 finale airs on Saturday, May 16, at 11:30 p.m. ET. The network’s “NBC Insider” page said viewers can watch the episode live on NBC and Peacock, with next-day availability on Peacock also noted in the show’s broader viewing information. The May 16 episode is the 20th and final installment of the current season, according to NBC’s season-finale write-up. (nbc.com) NBC described it as the last show before the cast and crew break for the summer. ### How often has Will Ferrell hosted “SNL”? Variety reported on April 8 that Ferrell would return for his sixth stint as host. The outlet said Ferrell, a former cast member, appeared on “SNL” for seven seasons from 1995 to 2002. (nbc.com) NBC said this is Ferrell’s first time hosting the show since 2019. The network has also leaned on Ferrell’s history with Studio 8H in its run-up coverage, including a separate feature published this week highlighting sketches from his earlier years on the show. (nbc.com) ### Why is Paul McCartney’s booking notable? Variety reported that McCartney’s May 16 booking marks his fifth appearance as an “SNL” musical guest. (variety.com) The same report said McCartney has also made several cameos on the show and appeared in its 40th and 50th anniversary specials. NBC’s current “SNL” page also featured a clip titled “The Chris Farley Show with Paul McCartney,” dated May 15, adding to the network’s use of McCartney archival material ahead of the broadcast. (nbc.com) That placement underscores how the show is tying the finale to McCartney’s longer history with the program, though NBC’s page does not list his earlier guest dates in the visible excerpt. (variety.com) ### How was this finale announced? Variety reported on April 8 that “SNL” had set its final May lineup, with Olivia Rodrigo scheduled for May 2, Matt Damon for May 9 and Ferrell for the May 16 finale, alongside musical guests Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan and McCartney. The staggered announcement put Ferrell and McCartney in place more than a month before the finale aired. (nbc.com) NBC followed with updated promotional material in May, including a dedicated preview clip and a how-to-watch article published on May 10. By Friday, May 15, the show page had added finale-week clips tied to both Ferrell and McCartney. ### What comes next after Saturday night? Saturday, May 16, is the scheduled season 51 finale, and NBC’s current listing says the episode airs live coast-to-coast at 11:30 p.m. (variety.com) ET on NBC. Peacock carries the live stream, and NBC’s viewing page says the episode will be available there after broadcast as the show heads into its summer break. (nbc.com)