Jenna Bush Hager nearly on SNL

Jenna Bush Hager said this week that she nearly ended up in a “Saturday Night Live” sketch, but her name was cut before the bit aired. Hager made the comment on the May 20 episode of “Las Culturistas,” the podcast hosted by Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. The exchange came during a conversation about Hager’s bob haircut, which she has kept since cutting it live on television in 2025. Entertainment outlets including KPVI, WFMZ and TheWrap picked up the anecdote on May 21 and May 22. ### Which sketch was Jenna Bush Hager talking about? Bowen Yang said on “Las Culturistas” that an original draft of an “SNL” sketch about bob haircuts included Hager by name. Coverage of the interview identified the sketch as “Bob Army,” a Season 51 bit tied to an episode hosted by Glen Powell. The sketch had already drawn attention because Hager’s hairstyle had become a talking point after she cut her hair during a July 2025 “Today” broadcast. (iheart.com) Matt Rogers raised Hager’s haircut during the podcast, telling her he thought the shorter style suited her. That prompted Yang to bring up the earlier “SNL” draft and tell her that her name had once been in the sketch. The podcast listing for the May 20 episode says the three discussed Hager being parodied on “SNL” along with other parts of her public life. (thewrap.com) ### What did Hager say about Lorne Michaels? Jenna Bush Hager responded by joking that Lorne Michaels was responsible for the cut. Aggregated reports of the podcast quoted her as saying, “Lorne said, who the f---?” after learning that her name did not make the final version. Those reports described the remark as a joke made during the back-and-forth with Yang and Rogers. (iheart.com) TheWrap reported that Hager reacted with surprise that she had made it as far as dress rehearsal. WFMZ and TV Insider similarly described the exchange as Hager learning on the podcast that she had nearly been referenced in the finished bit. None of those reports said Michaels had publicly responded. (thewrap.com) ### Why did the story surface now? The May 20 “Las Culturistas” episode appears to be the first place Hager publicly recounted the anecdote in this form. The iHeart listing identifies the episode as “More Like Read BY Jenna” and names Hager as the guest. NBC also posted a May 20 clip highlighting Hager’s appearance on the podcast. (thewrap.com) KPVI published an article about the exchange on May 22, while other entertainment sites moved versions of the story on May 21. The timing reflects the usual cycle for podcast-based entertainment items: the comments were made on Wednesday, then recirculated in follow-up coverage over the next two days. (iheart.com) ### How does this connect to Hager’s recent on-air image? Jenna Bush Hager’s bob had already become part of her television persona before the podcast anecdote surfaced. Reports tied the “SNL” sketch discussion to the haircut she debuted live on “Today” when Leslie Bibb guest-hosted the show’s fourth hour with her in July 2025. Rogers referred to that look on the podcast, and Hager said she had kept it because it was easier to maintain short. (wfmz.com) The podcast description also notes that Hager and the hosts discussed earlier “SNL” parody treatment dating to her years in public life. That gave Yang and Rogers an opening to tell her that one more mention had nearly made it onto the show. ### Where can readers find the original exchange? (wfmz.com) The May 20 “Las Culturistas” episode remains posted on iHeart and other podcast platforms under the title “More Like Read BY Jenna.” NBC’s site also carried a clip on May 20 flagging Hager’s appearance on the show. As of May 22, the anecdote was still circulating through entertainment coverage built from that interview with Hager, Yang and Rogers. (iheart.com)