The best, worst, and most 'awkward' moments from Miles Teller and Brandi Carlile's SNL episode
The best, worst, and most 'awkward' moments from Miles Teller and Brandi Carlile's SNL episode
Live from Studio 8H in New York—Saturday Night! And sometimes it's a rollercoaster of laughter, heart, and sometimes a smile. November 1, 2025—Saturday Night LiveMiles Teller returns as host for the second time in the fourth episode of Season 51 of (SNL). Three years agoTop Gun: MaverickRiding a wave of success, he first arrived in 2022. This time, the 38-year-old actor is back with his upcoming romantic-fantasy filmEternity(released November 26) to promote. But she brought more than just stardom, but political satire, personal vulnerability, and a mix of laughter and tears. The musical guest was the incomparable Brandi Carlile—the 44-year-old Grammy winner, who is making her fourth SNL appearance. Her new solo albumReturning to Myself(Released on October 25) has sung two songs.
This episode felt like a reset button for Season 51—after a few uneven episodes after the break. Taylor, always charming as a common man, dives headfirst into the impossible—from the inconsequential politician to the disastrous remodeler. Carlyle brings a folk-rock fire that elevates the episode beyond comedy. But like any SNL episode, there were highs (pure gold), lows (uncomfortably long-lasting), and those cringeworthy “oops” moments that make you wonder if the cue card was written in crayon? Let’s break it down—the moments that made us laugh, the moments that made us scroll through our phones, and the moments that made us think, “Did that really happen?”
Best moments: Where SNL was in its rhythm
SNL shines when timely satire, the energetic energy of the cast, and the host's unwavering commitment come together. This episode had it all. Taylor proved he can do more than just a serious pilot or a drum solo. The high points were a wonderful mix of cameos, clever writing, and political punchlines.
1. Cold Open: New York Mayoral Debate—Political Circus and Cameo Explosion
The episode opens with a bang. A satire of the real-life New York City mayoral election—which is now grabbing headlines. Teller slips into his role as former Gov. Andrew Cuomo—with a sly gesticulation: “You know me. I got through COVID, then yada yada, honk honk, pinch pinch” (cheap laughs with hand gestures). Rami Youssef, opposite TikTok favorite Zohraan Mamdani—forces a smile and promises. Shane Gillis (returning after a controversial hosting 2024) as Curtis Sliwa—rolls his eyes and tells a story about being shot nine times in a yellow taxi.
Moderator Kenan Thompson—the infamous Errol Lewis (“the least famous character on SNL”). The sketch goes into a frenzy when James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump enters—in orange,Phantom of the OperaSinging in style. It was sharp, balanced satire—the Jewish voter bagel bribe, TikTok flirtation, the MAGA hurdle—without any preamble. Taylor’s double entendre (Cuomo’s Long Island drawl) is great. People on X are calling it “the best cold open of the week.” One person tweeted, “Ramir Mamdani is genius—SNL finally gets the political chaos of New York.” The seven-minute opener set the benchmark for the rest of the episode.
2. Weekend Update: Dismooks and Padilla at the desk, the roast is flying
If Weekend Update was SNL’s heartbeat, this edition was the defibrillator. It was the first time Andrew Dismooks and Ashley Padilla had the desk alone—after Colin Jost and Michael Che’d left. Dismooks’ deadpan take on Prince Andrew’s title theft (“Now he’s just Jeffrey Epstein’s friend”), Padilla’s fiery take on Taylor Swift’s post-Erasmus Tour “Amnesia” and the viral “Yes King” protest meme. Their conversation was as natural as a peek into a smart bar.
But the real fireworks? The guests. Teller comes in as a hungover detective, avoiding the case. The journalist for Dismux (Girl-girl(The rejected graphic novel writer) Hijacked the sketch: “Dave Allen, the voice of a generation!” Padilla is great with election denialism. Charli XCX cameo at the end—“Sally” in a Chiefs jersey. People magazine called it “the undisputed best of the season.” X-rated “Padilla is the future of Weekend Update.” Where Update felt formulaic, it was a satire of memory—smart, quirky, mischievous.
3. Property Brothers White House Makeover: Taylor's Two Characters, Trump's Tantric
Taylor's versatility shines here. He's both Scott's brother—HGTV'sProperty Brothers—Plaid and Bro-Energy. Trumps' Remodel Nightmare. Chloe Fineman's Melania—in skeletal Christmas decor (“That's for Christmas”)—complains about the “small” 55,000 square feet of the White House. JAJ's Trump wants a huge ballroom. Punchlines: Deported workers' delay (“Build the wall, but who's going to build it?”), Melania's withered tree (“symbolic”), Taylor's Scotts want payment but get ICE.
It was the ultimate SNL impossibility—timely (Trump’s post-election glow-up), visual (Taylor’s seamless switch), quotable (“Democracy means crowns, right?”). Praise at X: “Best skit of the year—we love lefty fights!” Taylor’s physical comedy—meter tape mishaps, synchronized bro-hugs—made it worth rewatching.
4. Brandi Carlyle's "Human": A weak ending to a heart-stealing
Carlyle's second set was an emotional anchor.Returning to MyselfFrom “Human”—produced by Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon. The song’s folk-introspection—loss and resilience—hit even harder live. Carlyle, in a simple black jacket, poured his soul, his voice a little broken—real amidst the glitter of SNL. It’s his fourth time (2021 Jason Sudeikis, 2022 Steve Martin/Martin Short, 2025 April Elton John) but it feels like a homecoming. Billboard says “commanding.” At X: “Brandy’s range is incredible—the SNL acoustic couldn’t dim her fire.” It was a touching grace note in a laugh-heavy episode.
Worst moments: Where the jokes fell flat
Not every sketch is successful. There were some duds in this episode—those that dragged, filled in with lazy tropes, or missed the mark. The teller played, but some of the writing felt phoned-in.
1. Monologue: fragmented, safe and unsparking
Taylor on stage after the cold open—Cuomo's suit to open. Childhood SNL Halloween costume (Wayne's World with the sisters—"Party On!"),The GorgeEmmy nomination for producing, Palisades house lost in fire (“My wife and I are camping in the backyard”). Sweet? Yes. Funny? No.
Less than five minutes—the shortest of the year. Rushed, as if reading a grocery list. No musical numbers, no viral videos—just awkward pauses and mild self-deprecation (“I felt like Rachel Maddow’s stunt double”). People said it was the lowest of the night. On X: “Meh host energy; needs more bite.” 2022Top GunCompared to the riff, it's vanilla—heartfelt but forgettable.
2. Italian Waiter Sketch: Drinking Pasta and Forcefully Flirting
Mid-episode Taylor and Marcelo Hernandez’s anniversary dinner is interrupted by over-enthusiastic waiters—Igo Naudim and Chloe Fineman—who fill the room with pasta-innuendo (“This linguine is so al dente, it’ll make you call me Mamma Mia!”). Kenan’s mobster uncle makes a cameo, but it’s too late. The setup screams “lazy bro-comedy”—endless food-sex jokes that read like raw ravioli. Fineman and Naudim fight, but pull it off in eight minutes, ending in chaos but no payoff.
Forbes said “Weakest of the night—feels lazy.” Reddit: “Taylor is having fun, but only men are hitting women with curbs.” It’s filler in a sharp lineup—innocent but showing the rut of SNL’s old gender gags.
3. The Hangover Halloween Game Show: Kenan carries, but fizzles
After the monologue, Kenan the game show host—blackout-drunk contestants (Taylor, Mickey Day, Heidi Gardner)—asks for Halloween regrets. Taylor’s “cult-joining” dad brings laughs at first, but the “what did I do?” format quickly tires. Thompson’s hosting is gold (“You made the Prius Haunted Heres!”), but the punchline recycles old hangover tropes. Six minutes, the post-Halloween cash-in feels like a holiday forgotten.
Medium at X: “Save all the Kenan, Bucky? Hi.” Good for Thompson fans, but shows the uneven pacing of the episode—great setup, weak execution.
The most 'awkward' moments: Bloopers, glitches and cringeworthy slips
SNL's live magic is all about unexpected gems (and gaffes). This episode had some 'ups'—from sweet to eye-rolling.
1. Brandi Carlile's Audio Disaster: "Church and State" Sounds Cheap
Carlyle opens with “Church and State”—a Neil Young-style protest written for 2024 election night. The vocals soar, the band tight, but the mix? A disaster. Muffled guitars, echoey drums, Carlyle’s voice battling feedback. Viewers tweet in real-time: “Why SNL’s musical guest audioAlwaysSo bad? Brandy is hitting, but it sounds like folk underwater.” People noted the complaints. One: “Brandy deserves stadium sound, not the tin cans of Studio 8H.” His most political set—timely post-election—but the tech fails to cut it. (The second song is good, but it’s absent.)
2. Promo Chaos: Taylor Hijacks, Carlyle “Real Host”
Wednesday's promo goes viral—for all the wrong reasons (hilarious). Teller starts: "I'm Miles Teller, hosting with Brandi Carlyle." Then chaos: Padilla demands haircut praise ("You didn't say anything!"), Dismukes yells "Nooo!", Carlyle enters and says "I noticed—new haircut glow." Padilla declares him the "new host," Teller sidelines. Mirror US: "The cast hijacked." X: "Brandy stole the show before it even started." Adorable improv, but Taylor's "second fiddle" vibe is forecast—apparent in optics.
3. Monologue Wildfire Beat: Too True, Too Soon?
Candid share of fire-losing in the monologue—applause for vulnerability. But the “It Feels Good to Be Here” pivot is abrupt. X Analysis: “Bold share, but not SNL therapy—uncomfortable energy.” Not a big blooper, but shows the tightrope of polished raw live TV: heart vs. humor.
Conclusion: Strong comeback with room to grow
The SNL team-up of Miles Teller and Brandi Carlyle was a well-mixed cocktail—the powerful high of debate and update, the bitter aftertaste of monologue and waiter, and the occasional ice cube to keep it from getting too hot. Teller was a reliable host: playful, steady, growing (2022 flashy, it showed depth). Carlyle was the revelation—his sets were masterclasses in authenticity, turning political fire into personal catharsis. Overall grade? B+. It reset the momentum of Season 51, blending satire and soul in the post-election smoke.
What do you think—the ultimate SNL or passable? Leave a comment, and tune in next week for Nikki Glaser and Sombre. Live from New York... It's always a gamble, but an addictive one.
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