The Best, Worst, and Most Oops Moments from Miles Teller and Brandi Carlile's SNL Episode
Live from New York, it's Saturday Night... and sometimes it's a rollercoaster of hilarity, heart, and the occasional facepalm. The November 1, 2025, episode of Saturday Night Live—Season 51, Episode 4—marked Miles Teller's triumphant return to Studio 8H as host, three years after his 2022 debut riding the Top Gun: Maverick wave. This time around, the 38-year-old actor was there to plug his upcoming romantic comedy-fantasy flick Eternity (hitting theaters November 26), but he brought more than just star power: a mix of sharp political satire, personal vulnerability, and sketches that ranged from side-splitting to "what just happened?" Pairing him as musical guest was the incomparable Brandi Carlile, the 44-year-old Grammy darling making her fourth SNL appearance, fresh off her solo album Returning to Myself (dropped October 25). Her sets were raw, resonant, and a reminder that live music can still cut through the chaos of late-night TV.
This episode felt like a reset button for Season 51 after a hiatus and some uneven starts. Teller, ever the everyman charmer, dove headfirst into the absurdity, channeling everyone from disgraced politicians to bumbling renovators. Carlile, meanwhile, brought folk-rock fire that elevated the night beyond comedy. But like any SNL outing, it had its peaks (pure gold), valleys (awkward slogs), and those cringey "oops" detours that make you wonder if the cue cards were written in crayon. Let's break it down: the best moments that had us howling, the worst that left us scrolling our phones, and the most "oops" slip-ups that somehow made the whole thing more human. Spoiler: It's a testament to why we keep tuning in—flaws and all.
The Best Moments: Where SNL Hit Its Stride
SNL shines brightest when it leans into timely satire, breakout cast energy, and hosts who commit without ego. This episode delivered on all fronts, with Teller proving he's got the chops for more than brooding pilots and drum solos. The highs were packed with cameos, clever writing, and that rare alchemy where politics meets punchlines.
1. The Cold Open NYC Mayoral Debate: A Political Circus with Cameo Chaos
Kicking off the show with a bang, the cold open parodied New York City's real-life mayoral race—a hot mess of egos and endorsements that's been dominating headlines. Teller slipped seamlessly into the role of former Governor Andrew Cuomo, complete with a sleazy swagger and a not-so-subtle nod to his scandals: "You all know me. I got us through COVID and then yada yada yada, honk honk, squeeze squeeze" (complete with mimed groping for the cheap seats). Opposite him? Ramy Youssef as the TikTok-savvy Zohran Mamdani, force-smiling through promises he knows won't stick, and Shane Gillis (back after his controversial 2024 hosting gig) as the wild-eyed Curtis Sliwa, spinning yarns about getting shot nine times in a yellow cab like it's a badge of honor.
Moderated by Kenan Thompson as the hilariously obscure Errol Louis ("the least famous person to be impersonated on SNL"), the sketch escalated into glorious absurdity when James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump crashed the party. JAJ's Trump, in full orange glory, belted out a Phantom of the Opera-style closer that had the audience in stitches. It was sharp, balanced satire—poking at pandering (Cuomo's bagel bribes to Jewish voters), TikTok flirtations, and MAGA interruptions without feeling preachy. Teller's dual accent work (Cuomo's Long Island drawl was spot-on) earned big laughs, and the ensemble chemistry crackled. X users called it "the best cold open in weeks," with one tweeting, "Ramy as Mamdani was genius—SNL finally nailed the chaos of NYC politics." This seven-minute opener set a bar the rest of the episode chased, proving political sketches can still land if they're this unhinged.
2. Weekend Update: Dismukes and Padilla Take the Desk, Roasts Fly
If Weekend Update is SNL's heartbeat, this edition was a defibrillator jolt. For the first time, Andrew Dismukes and Ashley Padilla anchored the desk solo— a fresh pivot after Colin Jost and Michael Che's holiday break. Dismukes, with his deadpan delivery, skewered Prince Andrew's title stripping ("He's now just plain old Jeffrey Epstein's buddy"), while Padilla brought fiery energy to bits on Taylor Swift's "amnesia" post-Eras Tour and a viral "Yes King" protest meme. Their banter felt organic, like eavesdropping on a smart bar crawl, and the lack of the usual duo dynamic let them shine.
But the real fireworks? Guests stealing the spotlight. Teller popped in as a hungover detective dodging case details, only for Dismukes' journalist character (author of the rejected graphic novel Gar-Girl) to hijack the presser with escalating absurdity: "Dave Allen, voice of a generation!" Padilla crushed a segment on election denialism, and the whole thing wrapped with a surprise Charli XCX cameo as "Sally" in a Chiefs jersey— a sly nod to Swift diss tracks. Critics raved; People magazine dubbed it the episode's undisputed best, and X lit up with "Padilla is the future of WU." In a season where Update has felt formulaic, this was a reminder of the segment's satirical soul—witty, weird, and wickedly on-point.
3. Property Brothers White House Makeover: Teller Doubles Up, Trump Tantrums Ensue
Teller's versatility got a workout in this gem, where he played both Scott brothers from HGTV's Property Brothers—twinning in plaid and bro-energy as they tackle the Trumps' latest renovation nightmare. Chloe Fineman's Melania, decked in skeletal Christmas decor ("They are for Christmas"), gripes about the White House's "tiny" 55,000 square feet, while JAJ's Trump demands a "huge" ballroom for his ego. The punchlines flew: delays from deported workers ("Build the wall, but who builds the wall?"), Melania's withered tree ("It's symbolic"), and Teller's Scotts begging for payment only to get iced by ICE.
It was peak SNL absurdity—topical (Trump's post-election glow-up fantasies), visual (Teller's seamless switch between bros), and quotable ("Nothing says democracy like a crown, right?"). X exploded with praise, one user calling it "the best skit in years—we love Bum Fights!" (a wild aside about reality TV lows). Teller's physical comedy—measuring tape mishaps and synchronized bro-hugs—made it rewatchable gold, proving he's got range beyond the smirk.
4. Brandi Carlile's "Human": A Vulnerable Closer That Stole Hearts
Carlile's second set was the emotional anchor, a stripped-down rendition of "Human" from Returning to Myself. Co-produced by Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon, the track's folk introspection—lyrics grappling with loss and resilience—hit harder live. Carlile, in a simple black jacket, poured her soul into it, her voice cracking just enough to feel real amid SNL's gloss. It was her fourth time on the show (previously with Jason Sudeikis in 2021, Steve Martin/Martin Short in 2022, and Elton John in April 2025), but this felt like a homecoming. Billboard called it "commanding," and X fans echoed: "Brandi's range is unreal—SNL acoustics can't dim that fire." In an episode heavy on laughs, this was the gut-punch grace note.
The Worst Moments: When the Jokes Fell Flat
Not every sketch lands, and this episode had its share of duds—moments that dragged, relied on lazy tropes, or just missed the mark. Teller was game, but some writing felt phoned in, turning potential winners into snoozefests.
1. The Monologue: Choppy, Safe, and Short on Spark
Teller bounded onstage post-cold open, still shedding Cuomo's suit, and aimed for relatable charm. He reminisced about childhood SNL Halloween costumes with his sisters ("We'd dress as Wayne's World—party on!"), name-dropped his Emmy nod for producing The Gorge, and got candid about losing his Palisades home to wildfires ("A lot's happened since last time—my wife and I are basically camping in our backyard"). Sweet? Sure. Funny? Not so much.
At under five minutes, it was SNL's shortest in years—rushed, like Teller was reading off a grocery list. No big musical number, no viral video tie-in, just awkward pauses and mild self-deprecation ("I look like Rachel Maddow's stunt double"). People flagged it as the night's low point: "Poor Miles—it felt choppy, like he was nervous." X consensus? "Meh host energy; needed more bite." Compared to his 2022 opener (a Top Gun riff-fest), this was vanilla—earnest but forgettable, leaving the audience wanting fireworks instead of a fireside chat.
2. Italian Waiters Sketch: Pasta Puns and Forced Flirtation
Mid-show, Teller and Marcello Hernández crashed a couple's anniversary dinner as overzealous waiters, bombarding Ego Nwodim and Chloe Fineman with innuendo-laden pasta service ("This linguine's so al dente, it'll make you say 'mamma mia!'"). Kenan Thompson's cameo as a mobster uncle added a twist, but it was too little, too late. The setup screamed "lazy bro-comedy"—endless food-sex jokes that landed like uncooked ravioli. Fineman and Nwodim fought valiantly, but the sketch overstayed at eight minutes, devolving into chaotic interruptions without a real payoff.
Forbes called it "the weakest of the night—feels lazy," and Reddit threads piled on: "Teller's having fun, but it's just dudes hitting on women with carbs." In a lineup of sharper bits, this was filler—harmless but highlighting SNL's occasional rut with dated gender gags.
3. Hungover Halloween Game Show: Kenan Carries, But It Fizzles
Post-monologue, Kenan Thompson hosted a game show quizzing blackout-drunk contestants (Teller, Mikey Day, Heidi Gardner) on their All Hallows' Eve regrets. Teller's character, a dad who "accidentally joined a cult," got early chuckles, but the format—endless "what did I do?" reveals—wore thin fast. Thompson's bombastic host was gold ("You turned your Prius into a haunted hearse!"), but the punchlines recycled hangover tropes without fresh twists. It clocked in at six minutes, feeling like a post-Halloween cash-in that forgot the holiday was yesterday.
X feedback was middling: "Kenan saves everything, but the rest? Yawn." Solid for Thompson superfans, but it underscored the episode's uneven pacing—great setup, limp execution.
The Most Oops Moments: Bloopers, Glitches, and Cringe-Worthy Slip-Ups
SNL's live magic means unscripted gems (and gaffes) are part of the deal. This episode had a handful of "oops" that ranged from endearing to eye-roll-inducing, humanizing the polish.
1. Brandi Carlile's Audio Woes: "Church & State" Soundtrack from the Cheap Seats
Carlile opened her musical duties with the fiery "Church & State"—a Neil Young-esque protest anthem she wrote on election night 2024, railing against faith-politics hypocrisy. Her vocals soared, band tight, but the mix? A disaster. Muffled guitars, echoey drums, and Carlile's powerhouse pipes fighting feedback had viewers tweeting in real-time: "Why is SNL audio for musical guests always so bad? Brandi's killing it, but it sounds like underwater folk." People noted complaints flooded X, with one user quipping, "Brandi deserves stadium sound, not studio 8H's tin can." It was her most politically charged SNL set yet—timely post-election—but the tech fail dulled the edge. (Her second song fared better, but the oops lingered.)
2. Promo Chaos: Teller Hijacked, Carlile Crowned "Real Host"
Wednesday's promo video went viral for all the wrong (hilarious) reasons. Teller kicked off smoothly: "Hi, I'm Miles Teller, hosting with Brandi Carlile." Then chaos: Ashley Padilla demanded haircut compliments ("You haven't said anything!"), Andrew Dismukes wailed "Nooo!" over nothing, and Carlile swooped in with "I noticed—you've got that new-haircut glow." Padilla promptly dubbed her the "new host," leaving Teller sidelined. The Mirror US called it "spiraled as the cast hijacked," and X ate it up: "Brandi stole the show before it started." Adorable improv, but it foreshadowed Teller's "second fiddle" vibes— an oops in optics if ever there was one.
3. Monologue Wildfire Bit: Too Real, Too Soon?
Teller's candid fire-loss reveal mid-monologue drew applause for vulnerability—until it didn't. The audience laughed politely, but the pivot to "glad to be here" felt abrupt, like emotional whiplash. X dissected it: "Brave share, but SNL's not therapy—awkward energy." No major blooper, but the unpolished rawness turned a sweet story into a "did that just happen?" pause. Teller powered through, but it highlighted live TV's tightrope: heart vs. humor.
Wrapping It Up: A Solid Return with Room to Grow
Miles Teller and Brandi Carlile's SNL team-up was like a well-mixed cocktail—strong highs from the debate and Update, a bitter aftertaste from the monologue and waiters, and ice cubes of oops to keep it from overheating. Teller proved a reliable host: game, grounded, and growing (his 2022 gig was flashier, but this showed depth). Carlile, though, was the revelation—her sets a masterclass in authenticity, turning political fire into personal catharsis. Overall grade? B+. It reset Season 51's momentum, blending satire with soul in a post-election haze.
What did you think—peak SNL or passable? Hit the comments, and tune in next week for Nikki Glaser and Sombr. Live from New York... it's always a gamble, but damn if it isn't addictive.
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