Josh O’Connor’s first time hosting Saturday Night Live turned into a gleefully chaotic, kiss-filled showcase of his comic range, backed by returning musical guest Lily Allen and a surprise Dakota Johnson cameo, in one of December 2025’s most playful and star‑studded episodes.


Josh O’Connor and Lily Allen on the SNL stage during the December 13, 2025 episode
Josh O’Connor and Lily Allen on the Saturday Night Live stage, December 13, 2025. (Image credit: Entertainment Weekly / NBC)

A December SNL Episode That Actually Feels Like an Event

As SNL barrels through its December 2025 stretch, the booking of Josh O’Connor—fresh off the dark, stylish thriller Wake Up Dead Man—feels like a savvy bit of counter‑programming. Pair him with Lily Allen, making a welcome return as musical guest, and you’ve got a show that leans into British charm, romantic chaos, and more on‑stage kissing than NBC’s Standards and Practices probably expected on a Saturday night.

Coming on the heels of Melissa McCarthy’s crowd‑pleasing episode the week prior (and a reported fan approval rating pushing 80%), this outing had something to prove: could a more “serious” actor carry the goofy, live‑wire energy that longtime fans expect from December SNL? The short answer: yes—by kissing half the cast and committing to every bit like it’s awards‑season bait.


From The Crown to the Cold Open: Why Josh O’Connor Is an Inspired Host

If you mostly know Josh O’Connor as the brooding Prince Charles on The Crown or from the arthouse romance God’s Own Country, seeing him embrace full‑tilt sketch comedy might feel like watching your quiet friend suddenly dominate karaoke. But O’Connor has long had the ingredients for an effective SNL host: expressive physicality, a willingness to look ridiculous, and that odd British mix of self‑deprecation and theatrical flair.

Add in the buzz around Wake Up Dead Man—which has positioned him as a new‑school leading man with genre credibility—and this episode doubles as a victory lap and a re‑introductory reel. SNL loves a narrative, and tonight’s one is clear: “Yes, he can kiss multiple cast members on live TV and still make you cry in a prestige drama tomorrow.”

Television studio stage with spotlights and audience seating
Studio 8H energy: the unique pressure cooker where prestige actors prove their live‑TV comedy chops.

“The thing about doing SNL is you just have to be all in. No vanity, no hesitation—just say yes to whatever madness they throw at you.”
— Josh O’Connor, on preparing for his hosting debut

The Kissing Gag: A Running Bit That Actually Pays Off

The headline item of the night—Josh O’Connor kissing multiple cast members—could easily have been a one‑note stunt. Instead, it becomes a thematic through‑line: a send‑up of his romantic‑lead image, a wink at his British heartthrob status, and a physical bit that escalates just enough to stay funny without tipping into cringe.

Rather than lingering on shock value, the writing leans into timing and reaction shots. The kisses are quick, absurd, and often undercut by dry asides, keeping the tone closer to farce than to soap opera. It’s less “thirsty fan service” and more “Monty Python collides with a rom‑com blooper reel.”

  • Self‑parody: O’Connor gamely mocks his own “sensitive leading man” persona.
  • Cast chemistry: The bit works because the ensemble clearly trusts him.
  • Live‑TV tension: Each kiss lands like a small dare to see what NBC will let air.
Comedy stage with performers under warm lights
Physical comedy and blink‑and‑you‑miss‑it visual gags anchor the night’s big running bit.

Opening Monologue: Awkwardly Charming, Emphasis on Charming

O’Connor’s monologue leans into classic “I can’t believe I’m here” territory, a staple for actors best known for period dramas and indie films. There’s self‑aware nods to Wake Up Dead Man, a couple of wry The Crown references, and the first hints that tonight’s show will gleefully blur the line between swoony leading man and total goofball.

Structurally, it’s not a groundbreaking monologue—no elaborate song‑and‑dance, no massive cameo parade—but it’s grounded by O’Connor’s pacing and willingness to throw himself under the bus. The jokes about British emotional repression land especially well with a New York audience that knows its way around neurotic oversharing.

“They told me SNL would be a bit different from brooding in a rainy field for six months. So far, the lighting is about the same.”
— Monologue highlight
Live TV host performing on a stage in front of an audience
The monologue keeps things simple, relying on timing, self‑mockery, and a steady live‑TV presence.

Sketch Highlights: Romance, Absurdity, and a Well‑Timed Dakota Johnson Cameo

The episode’s best sketches understand the assignment: use Josh O’Connor’s dramatic gravitas as fuel for increasingly deranged premises, then throw in a cameo just when the energy risks dipping.

1. The Over‑Directed Romance Scene

In a meta‑movie sketch, O’Connor plays an actor trapped in an endlessly re‑shot kissing scene, forced into increasingly bizarre directions by an off‑screen auteur. It’s a smart way to fold in the night’s running gag while poking fun at prestige cinema’s obsession with intimacy and “raw vulnerability.”

2. British Mood Board: “Sad Boy of the Year”

This pre‑tape imagines a fake awards show for “Most Melancholic British Man,” with O’Connor fully embracing the trope. The writing is sharp, skewering the way Hollywood treats British sorrow as inherently Oscar‑worthy. It’s also the sketch most likely to be endlessly clipped on social media.

3. Dakota Johnson Drops In

The surprise Dakota Johnson appearance is brief but well‑used, playing into her own dry, unbothered persona. Rather than overshadowing the host, she heightens the bit—a reminder that SNL cameos work best when they feel like friends crashing a party, not a marketing mandate.

Behind-the-scenes look at a television control room during a live show
Behind the chaos: live control rooms juggle sketches, cameos, and musical cues in real time.

Lily Allen’s Return: A Confident, Low‑Key Counterweight to the Chaos

While the sketches lean big and physical, Lily Allen brings a more controlled energy to the musical segments. As a returning musical guest, she doesn’t have to prove anything; instead, she uses the stage time to remind viewers why her blend of sharp lyricism and pop instincts still lands in 2025.

Framed simply on the Studio 8H stage, Allen’s performance offers a tonal reset between the more frenetic sketches. Her vocals sit front and center, with the band and lighting doing just enough to keep it visually engaging without stepping on the songs themselves.

  • Performance style: Understated but precise, emphasizing voice and storytelling.
  • Fit with episode: Acts as a calm, melodic palate cleanser between comedy peaks.
  • Audience reaction: Warm, with a sense of reunion rather than novelty.
Singer performing on stage under colorful lights with a live band
Lily Allen’s performance plays like a confident return visit rather than a debut audition.

For those who treat SNL as a discovery platform, her set doubles as a reminder that the show doesn’t just break new artists; it also re‑introduces veterans to a new cohort of late‑night scrollers who might only know her via playlists and TikTok samples.


Weekend Update: Reliable Laughs, Smart Use of the Host

By this point in the season, “Weekend Update” is a well‑oiled machine, but the Josh O’Connor episode finds a few fresh angles. Rather than over‑relying on him at the desk, the show opts for a focused guest‑appearance strategy, allowing him to drop in as a character that winks at both his filmography and tabloid aura.

The segment’s strength lies in balance: enough topical bite to feel current, enough silliness to avoid turning into a straight news roast. O’Connor’s cameo adds texture without hijacking the segment—always the sweet spot when a host ventures onto the Update set.

  • Topical jokes: Sharp but not mean‑spirited, staying in SNL’s political‑adjacent comfort zone.
  • Character work: O’Connor holds his own against the show’s veteran Update correspondents.
  • Replay value: High, especially for fans following his post‑Crown career trajectory.

What Worked, What Didn’t: A Balanced Look at the Episode

Not every moment lands—this is SNL, not a perfectly engineered streaming special—but the hit‑to‑miss ratio is solid, especially for a host making his first appearance.

Strengths

  • Commitment: O’Connor is all‑in on every sketch, from physical comedy to quiet weirdo roles.
  • Cohesion: The recurring kiss motif gives the episode a loose but welcome sense of structure.
  • Chemistry: He meshes quickly with the repertory players, especially in ensemble pieces.
  • Musical balance: Lily Allen’s segments complement the comedy rather than competing with it.

Weaknesses

  • Over‑reliance on one gag: While the kissing bit mostly works, a few sketches feel like variations on the same punchline.
  • Middle‑of‑show dip: A couple of premise‑light sketches in the back half blur together, the classic live‑TV pacing lull.
  • Limited Lily Allen integration: Outside of the performances, she’s underused in comedic crossover moments.
A responsive Studio 8H crowd helps buoy even the weaker sketches of the night.

Overall, the episode succeeds less because every sketch is a killer and more because it feels like a coherent, personality‑driven hour of TV. O’Connor doesn’t just survive the SNL gauntlet; he comes out of it looking like the sort of versatile performer the show will happily invite back.


Final Verdict: A Playful, Flirty Showcase for a Serious Actor

In a crowded late‑December TV landscape, this Saturday Night Live outing stands out as the rare episode that’s both fun in the moment and interesting in hindsight. It documents a pivot point for Josh O’Connor—from “that guy from the prestige dramas” to a performer comfortable being silly, self‑aware, and, yes, occasionally the butt of the joke.

Paired with Lily Allen’s composed musical turn and buoyed by a well‑timed Dakota Johnson cameo, the show delivers exactly what a modern SNL needs to: meme‑ready moments, a strong sense of host identity, and enough solid sketch writing to justify staying up past midnight.

Episode rating: 4/5 stars — a confident, creatively coherent episode that makes a strong case for inviting Josh O’Connor back to Studio 8H.