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The SNL Hiatus Answer: Who's Hosting The Next New Episode (And Why It's A Must-Watch Debut)

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The simple, most current answer for fans asking "Who's hosting SNL tonight?" on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, is that *Saturday Night Live* is currently on its annual winter hiatus. This means that tonight's broadcast will be a rerun, most likely featuring a fan-favorite episode from the first half of Season 51, such as the recent blockbuster hosted by Ariana Grande.

However, the real news is the highly anticipated return of the show and the incredible talent lined up for the first new episode of 2026. The next new episode of *Saturday Night Live* will air on Saturday, January 17, 2026, and will be hosted by a major fan-favorite making his Studio 8H debut: *Stranger Things* star Finn Wolfhard. He will be joined by musical guest A$AP Rocky, who is celebrating the release of his new album.

Host Profile: Finn Wolfhard—From Mike Wheeler to Studio 8H Debut

Finn Wolfhard is one of the most recognizable young actors of his generation, known globally for his work in genre-defining films and television. His upcoming hosting gig marks a significant career milestone, transitioning from dramatic actor to the unpredictable world of live sketch comedy.

  • Full Name: Finn Michael Wolfhard
  • Born: December 23, 2002 (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Age at Hosting: 23 (The episode will air just a few weeks after his 23rd birthday, which is today, December 23rd, 2025!)
  • Known For: Mike Wheeler in the Netflix series *Stranger Things* (2016–Present)
  • Major Film Roles: Richie Tozier in the *It* film series (2017, 2019), Trevor in *Ghostbusters: Afterlife* (2021), and *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024).
  • Directorial Work: Wolfhard is also an emerging director, having written and directed the short film *Night Shifts* (2020) and is set to direct a feature film adaptation of the Replacements biography *Trouble Boys*.
  • Musical Career: He was the lead vocalist and guitarist for the rock band Calpurnia and is currently a member of The Aubreys.
  • SNL Status: First-time Host (Debut)

Wolfhard’s career trajectory is a perfect fit for a post-hiatus SNL episode. His connection to the massive *Stranger Things* universe, which is currently gearing up for its final season, provides a wealth of material for sketches.

The final season of *Stranger Things* is a major cultural event, and Wolfhard’s appearance will undoubtedly feature parodies of the series, potentially bringing back fan-favorite characters like Eleven, Dustin, Lucas, and Will. Furthermore, his roles in the *Ghostbusters* franchise and his recent work on the film *Crash Land* demonstrate a comedic versatility that will be tested on the legendary stage of Studio 8H.

The Perfect Storm: A$AP Rocky's Album Release Timing

Joining Finn Wolfhard is the multi-talented rapper, producer, and fashion icon A$AP Rocky. His appearance as the musical guest is perfectly timed to maximize the cultural impact of his long-awaited new project.

A$AP Rocky is set to release his fourth studio album, *Don't Be Dumb*, on January 16, 2026—the day immediately preceding his SNL performance. This strategic timing ensures that his musical segments will serve as a massive, high-profile release party for the album, which has been teased and anticipated by fans since 2022.

The album’s release through AWGE, Polo Grounds, and RCA, coupled with the cover art revealed in collaboration with Tim Burton, has generated significant buzz. Performing tracks from *Don't Be Dumb* live on the SNL stage will instantly catapult the album into the national conversation, offering a fresh, cutting-edge musical counterpoint to Wolfhard's youthful, nostalgic comedic energy.

Why This SNL Episode is Crucial for Season 51's Momentum

The first episode back from the winter break is always critical for setting the tone for the second half of the season. The pairing of Finn Wolfhard and A$AP Rocky is a brilliant move by SNL creator Lorne Michaels to pull in two distinct, powerful demographics: the Gen Z and Millennial audiences who grew up with *Stranger Things* and the hip-hop/fashion enthusiasts who follow A$AP Rocky.

This episode, slated for January 17, 2026, is packed with topical authority and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords that will dominate social media and online searches. The entities involved—Netflix, *Stranger Things* finale, *Ghostbusters*, A$AP Rocky's new album, and Wolfhard's directorial ambitions—provide a deep well of sketch material.

Anticipated Sketch Ideas and Topical Comedy

With a host like Finn Wolfhard, the writers at Studio 8H will have an easy time crafting sketches that blend his established persona with current events. Potential sketch gold includes:

  • *Stranger Things* Finale Parodies: A sketch centered around the emotional final table read of the series, where the adult cast members (like Winona Ryder and David Harbour) struggle to accept the end, while the younger stars are already booked for new projects.
  • The "Mike Wheeler" Effect: A recurring sketch where Wolfhard is forced to deal with fans who only see him as his *Stranger Things* character, perhaps even confusing him with other young actors like Gaten Matarazzo or Caleb McLaughlin.
  • Director's Commentary: A sketch where Wolfhard, as a young director, tries to direct an overly serious, Oscar-bait scene with SNL cast members like James Austin Johnson or Heidi Gardner, leading to generational clashes in artistic vision.
  • A$AP Rocky Fashion Integration: A musical crossover sketch where a cast member (perhaps Marcello Hernandez or Bowen Yang) attempts to emulate A$AP Rocky's avant-garde fashion sense in a New York City setting, only to be ridiculed by the rapper himself.
  • *Ghostbusters* Crossover: A sketch where Wolfhard’s Trevor is called to bust a ghost in a mundane setting, like a suburban supermarket, with the SNL cast playing hilariously inept ghost hunters.

The episode will also serve as a crucial bridge from the holiday season's political and pop culture moments, offering the first chance for the SNL cast to tackle any major news stories that break over the Christmas and New Year period. The final episode of 2025, hosted by Ariana Grande, featured a cold open with James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump, setting a high bar for political satire that the January return will need to match.

Looking Ahead: The Rest of Season 51

While the focus is on the return with Finn Wolfhard and A$AP Rocky, the rest of Season 51 promises a packed schedule. The show's commitment to securing both seasoned veterans and first-time hosts ensures a diverse comedic offering.

The earlier part of the season saw a mix of talent, including the celebrated return of Ariana Grande, who also hosted in 2016, and the debut of actors like Josh O'Connor. The continual rotation of hosts, from major movie stars to breakout television personalities, is a testament to the show's enduring relevance as a cultural barometer.

For fans wondering "Who's hosting SNL tonight" (December 23, 2025), the answer is a rerun, but the wait is short. The January 17, 2026, episode with Finn Wolfhard and A$AP Rocky is shaping up to be one of the most culturally significant and buzzworthy episodes of the entire season, a true must-watch event that will kick off the New Year with a bang. Make sure to tune in to NBC and Peacock to catch the debut performance and the release of *Don't Be Dumb*.

The SNL Hiatus Answer: Who's Hosting the Next New Episode (And Why It's a Must-Watch Debut)
whos hosting snl tonight
whos hosting snl tonight

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