AceShowbiz - The iconic sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live wrapped up its 51st season on May 16 with a star-studded finale hosted by Will Ferrell. Returning to the show as host, Ferrell kicked off the episode with a memorable cold open that featured a surreal reunion between a satirical Donald Trump and the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein, portrayed by James Austin Johnson and Ferrell, respectively.

In the opening sketch, Trump had just come back from a trip to China and decided to take a nap resting on a gold bar, which he claimed was a bribe from Switzerland. As he drifted off, the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein appeared to him in a cloudy apparition. Epstein, played by Ferrell, greeted the faux president warmly, joking about his own death with the line, "I am, remember? I killed myself. Wink!"

The two characters then engaged in a tongue-in-cheek conversation where Trump inquired about Epstein's experience in the afterlife. Epstein humorously described heaven as "really hot" and said he spends his time playing mahjong with infamous historical figures like Stalin and John Wayne Gacy. He also mentioned contributing jokes to a roast of comedian Kevin Hart.

Continuing their banter, Trump outlined his upcoming "fun summer plans," including hosting the "Patriot Games," an event featuring high school athletes from across the United States. He also mentioned a World Cup UFC fight set to take place on his lawn. Epstein responded with his characteristic sarcastic sound effect, "Bo-oi-oi-oi-oing," adding to the absurdity of the sketch.

Reflecting on their past, Epstein lamented that they should have taken more photographs together, to which Trump quipped that it was actually a bad idea to have taken any. The ghostly Epstein then revealed his ability to glimpse into the future, offering to show Trump what Kristi Noem, played by Ashley Padilla, would be doing six months after her firing. According to the sketch, Noem would be selling products on television. Epstein also previewed Pete Hegseth's (portrayed by Colin Jost) future partying with Kash Patel, marking the third consecutive week that Aziz Ansari joined the cold open as the FBI director.

Before parting, the two performed a humorous duet to Grover Washington Jr.'s "Just the Two of Us." Epstein left Trump with a pointed message: no matter the number of wars started or economic distractions, people would always link him to Epstein, which he called a "beautiful thing."

The episode featured a surprise comedic moment when Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers jokingly interrupted Ferrell’s monologue, pretending to be the host. The confusion arose due to their similar hairstyles and matching suits. When Ferrell asked Smith what he was doing, Smith responded that he was hosting, leading to a playful exchange between the two. The situation escalated until Ferrell decided to take questions from the audience to fill the time.

Among the audience was a notable guest, Paul McCartney, who was humorously mistaken by Smith as the actual host. McCartney joined the stage and humorously dismissed Smith, telling him, "Nice try, Chad. Get back behind the drums where you belong." This playful moment added to the episode's lighthearted tone.

Adding to the finale’s star power, Ferrell’s longtime collaborator Molly Shannon appeared in a later sketch, delighting fans with her presence. The final "Weekend Update" segment featured the show's co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che engaging in their traditional joke swap. Jost delivered a joke about Kanye West’s new album titled Bully, asking viewers to separate the art from the artist despite the controversial subject matter.

In a comedic twist, Che challenged Jost to shave his famously award-winning hair live on air as a form of apology for the offensive joke. A barber was brought onstage with clippers, and just as Jost was about to proceed, Che stopped him, praising Jost as the greatest comedian of all time for being willing to go through with it.

Will Ferrell’s hosting stint marked his sixth time leading an SNL episode. He was a cast member from 1995 to 2002 and has hosted multiple times since his debut as host in 2005. Over the years, he has made numerous cameo appearances and participated in special events, including the show’s 50th Anniversary Special in February of the previous year.

The musical guest for the season 51 finale was none other than Paul McCartney, whose encore performance of "Coming Up" concluded the episode. As Ferrell and the cast thanked viewers for tuning in, McCartney’s final song provided a memorable close to the season.

This finale combined biting political satire with nostalgic humor and celebrity cameos, delivering a fitting send-off for the 51st season of Saturday Night Live. Fans can expect more surprises as the show continues its long-standing tradition of blending current events with comedy.