Lady Gaga made a memorable return to Saturday Night Live on February 8, serving as host and musical guest for the second time. This appearance coincided with the release of her seventh studio album, ''MAYHEM,'' allowing her to showcase her versatility in comedy and music.
Gaga's opening monologue set a humorous tone for the evening as she playfully addressed her role in the critically panned film ''Joker: Folie à Deux,'' for which she and co-star Joaquin Phoenix received a Razzie Award for "Worst Screen Duo." Demonstrating her ability to laugh at herself, Gaga quipped about the experience, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of her career choices, as well as her poked fun at her 2013 'SNL' performance of "Do What U Want" with R. Kelly.
As the musical guest, Gaga delivered electrifying performances of her new tracks "Abracadabra" and "Killah" from Mayhem. "Abracadabra" featured high-energy choreography and dynamic visuals, while "Killah" paid homage to Prince, with Gaga donning a custom purple suit reminiscent of the late artist's iconic style.
Throughout the episode, Gaga participated in a variety of sketches that highlighted her comedic timing and adaptability:
''Wonderful Tonight'': Two people on a first date (Lady Gaga, Bowen Yang) sing and dance in the middle of the restaurant.
''No More Slay'': Two friends (Lady Gaga, Bowen Yang) sing a song to their friends about overusing the word slay.
''Funeral Home'': Funeral home owners (Lady Gaga, Heidi Gardner) plan a funeral with their clients (Ego Nwodim, Andrew Dismukes).
''A Long Goodbye": A man (Marcello Hernández) regrets letting his lover (Lady Gaga) leave him for culinary school.
"LIttle Red Glasses": A group of women (Lady Gaga, Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Sarah Sherman, Chloe Fineman, Ashley Padilla) show off their little red glasses.
"Birthday at Friendly's": A dinner at Friendly's gets intense when a group of friends (Heidi Gardner, Mikey Day, Bowen Yang, Andrew Dismukes) lie about having a birthday to their waiters (Lady Gaga, Kenan Thompson, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman).
''Mascara Commercial'': A commercial advertises a new extra runny mascara
''Pip'': A student (Lady Gaga) motivates a fellow classmate to participate in the school's weight lifting competition.
''Weekend Update: Lord Gaga'': Lord Gaga (Mikey Day) stops by Weekend Update to discuss supporting his wife, Lady Gaga.
Critics and fans alike praised Gaga's dual role on SNL. Her ability to seamlessly transition between comedic sketches and powerful musical performances was lauded as a testament to her multifaceted talent. Vogue highlighted the episode's standout moments, noting Gaga's "witty opening monologue" and her "touching ballad to a bullied mouse named Pip," among other skits.
