Will Ferrell & Paul McCartney Unite for SNL Season 51 Finale

The Season 51 finale of Saturday Night Live doesn’t just have a legendary lineup — it has two of the most beloved returnees in the show’s history sharing a stage. Will Ferrell is back as host for the sixth time tonight, May 16, and Paul McCartney is stepping into Studio 8H as musical guest for the fifth time. If that wasn’t enough to get you to clear your Saturday night, the promo clips they shot together this week absolutely will.

Ferrell, who was a cast member from 1995 to 2002, is hosting to promote his upcoming Netflix comedy The Hawk. He most recently appeared on the show during the 50th anniversary special in February 2025 — the same night McCartney took the stage and performed “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” and “The End.” Tonight, they’re back together, and based on the promos, they haven’t lost a step.

The Promos Are Already a Highlight of the Season

In the new promo clips, Ferrell and current cast member Marcello Hernández join McCartney for what turns into one of the more absurd and charming bits the show has put out in years. Hernández asks McCartney what it’s like being a knight — Sir Paul was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for his services to music — and McCartney, without missing a beat, casually mentions that he once slayed a dragon.

McCartney also gets in a callback to last week’s Matt Damon Mother’s Day monologue, quipping that he’s a big fan of Hernández’s mom. The whole thing wraps up with the three of them attempting — and we use that word generously — to sing the Justin Bieber remix of “Despacito.”

“Sir Paul, everyone’s wondering what songs you’re going to play on Saturday,” Hernández says in the clip. McCartney’s response? “I won’t tell.” So Ferrell proposes a guess, and on the count of three, he and Hernández shout in unison: “‘Despacito’ remix featuring Justin Bieber!”

McCartney’s reaction: “Damn, how’d you know?”

A separate host-only promo earlier in the week leaned into Ferrell’s SNL legacy, calling back to his beloved “Get Off The Shed” sketch from the ’90s — and featured a joke about McCartney that involved Ferrell hitting him with a belt. Classic.

A Night of Milestone Returns

For McCartney, tonight is genuinely historic. Saturday will mark almost exactly 46 years since his SNL debut on May 17, 1980. He’s also performed on both the 40th and 50th anniversary specials, making him one of the show’s most enduring musical presences. His 21st studio album The Boys of Dungeon Lane is due May 29, and he previewed a new track called “Salesman Saint” on The Rest Is History podcast earlier this week.

Ferrell, meanwhile, is a six-time host — a club that’s not easy to get into. His connection to the show runs deep, and his chemistry with the current cast has always been easy and electric. The season that began with Bad Bunny and Doja Cat is ending on a very different, very legendary note.

Saturday Night Live airs tonight at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC. If you don’t have cable, you can stream it live or catch it the next morning with a Peacock Premium free trial (seven days, then $16.99/month). DIRECTV is another option, with a five-day free trial starting at $84.99/month. Season 52 returns to NBC this fall.