Alexander Skarsgård Hosts SNL’s 1,000th Episode With Family Surprises

Saturday Night Live marked a historic milestone on January 31, 2026, airing its 1,000th regular episode with a night that was equal parts star-studded, irreverent, and touching. The episode was hosted for the first time by Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård, whose understated charm and willingness to share the spotlight—especially with his Oscar-nominated father, Stellan Skarsgård—set the tone for a memorable evening. The show, as reported by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, and Rolling Stone, wove together biting political satire, family comedy, and heartfelt tributes, all while maintaining the unpredictable energy that has defined SNL for more than five decades.

From the jump, the night signaled its intent to tackle current events head-on. The cold open featured Pete Davidson, a former SNL cast member, returning to the stage to portray White House Border Czar Tom Homan. Davidson’s Homan, sent to Minneapolis “in response to the chaotic situation in Minnesota,” addressed a roomful of baffled Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The sketch, as Rolling Stone described, was a sharp parody of real-life tensions following the killing of two people by federal agents in Minneapolis that month. Davidson’s character attempted to clarify the ICE mission, only to be met with a series of clueless responses from the agents. When he asked why they were in Minneapolis, one agent simply replied, “Pass,” and another guessed, “Army?”

“We’re here to detain and deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes,” Davidson’s Homan explained, only to be met with, “That is literally the first I’m hearing of that.” The sketch escalated as agents suggested their objective was to find “Epstein files,” prompting Homan to quip, “We actually just released those to distract from this, which is ironic because we did this to distract from those.” The cold open struck a balance between lampooning bureaucratic confusion and highlighting the absurdities of real-world policy, a hallmark of SNL’s best political comedy.

With the political satire setting the stage, Alexander Skarsgård took over as host, marking not just his SNL debut but also a significant moment for his family. Skarsgård, known for his roles in “True Blood,” “The Northman,” and the upcoming “Wicker” and “The Moment,” kept his monologue light and self-deprecating. He joked about his Swedish heritage—“Now, when I was a kid, I loved watching this show from my igloo back in Stockholm”—and confessed that, as a child, he was more interested in the SNL band than the hosts. True to form, he mimed playing the saxophone alongside the band, a move that drew laughs and set a playful tone for the night.

But it was the presence of his father, Stellan Skarsgård—currently Oscar-nominated for his role in “Sentimental Value”—that truly stole the show. According to Variety and the Los Angeles Times, Stellan appeared in two sketches, both of which played off the family dynamic and the elder Skarsgård’s gravitas. In one sketch, titled “Stench of a Family,” Alexander and cast member Chloe Fineman portrayed Scandinavian siblings on the set of a melodramatic film. Their characters’ father, played by Stellan, lay in a bathtub, supposedly ready to die. The scene’s somber mood was punctured when Stellan, concealed beneath the water, raised a fake Incredible Hulk fist, delivering the punchline that broke the tension and sent the cast into fits of laughter.

The second sketch lampooned the stoicism of immigrant parents. Alexander played a Finnish son whose only memory of paternal affection was “accidentally touching knees in a sauna.” The sketch reached its comedic peak when Stellan entered, bellowing, “The shame is yours! Live with it!” As Variety noted, the moment was both hilarious and a loving nod to generational quirks in immigrant families.

The night’s musical guest, Cardi B, made her presence felt both on stage and in the sketches. She performed two songs—“Bodega Baddie” and “ErrTime”—and also appeared in the immigrant parents sketch, playing the wife of Marcello Hernández’s character. Cardi B’s comedic timing and willingness to dive into the absurdity of the sketch earned her praise and demonstrated her growing comfort on the SNL stage. This was her second time as musical guest, having first appeared in 2018 alongside Chadwick Boseman.

Beyond the headline-grabbing cameos, the episode showcased SNL’s ability to blend topical humor with relatable family dynamics. One standout sketch featured Ashley Padilla as a mom slowly changing her mind about Trump administration policies, with Alexander Skarsgård playing her husband. The sketch, as highlighted by the Los Angeles Times, deftly balanced political commentary with the everyday comedy of family life, as the children nervously tried to avoid saying “I told you so.”

Other sketches included Alexander as a coach to a nervous Olympic luge athlete, a Viking feeling left out during a bloody raid, and a guy using Cards Against Humanity jokes to seem funny. The diversity of roles allowed Skarsgård to flex his comedic muscles, showing why he’s become a sought-after actor for both drama and comedy.

The episode was not without its poignant moments. Before the closing goodbyes, SNL aired a tribute card for Catherine O’Hara, who died on January 30, 2026. O’Hara, beloved for her work on “SCTV” and her two stints as SNL host in the early 1990s, was remembered fondly by fans and cast alike. As the Los Angeles Times noted, Alexander gave his father Stellan a big hug during the goodbyes, a fitting end to a night that celebrated both family and comedy.

Looking ahead, SNL announced that Connor Storrie would host the February 28 episode, with Mumford & Sons as musical guest. The show also paid tribute to its legacy, noting the many stars who have taken the stage this season, including Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, Sabrina Carpenter, and Ariana Grande.

For a show that has weathered countless cultural shifts and controversies, SNL’s 1,000th episode was a reminder of its enduring appeal. With sharp political satire, heartfelt tributes, and genuine family moments, the night captured everything that makes Saturday Night Live a television institution.