Teyana Taylor Makes SNL Debut With Geese Tonight

Saturday nights have long belonged to comedy fans, but this week’s episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) promises a little extra spark. On January 24, 2026, the iconic sketch show returns to NBC at its usual 11:30 p.m. EST slot, with a fresh face taking the stage as host and a buzzworthy band making their musical debut. For fans bracing against a winter snowstorm or just eager for a laugh, tonight’s episode is shaping up to be a must-watch event.

This week marks the SNL hosting debut of Teyana Taylor, a multi-talented performer who’s been riding a wave of critical acclaim. According to USA TODAY, Taylor recently nabbed her first Oscar nomination for her supporting role in the three-hour epic One Battle After Another, just weeks after winning a Golden Globe for the same performance. In the film, Taylor plays Perfidia Beverly Hills, a revolutionary whose actions set the stage for the movie’s winding, chaotic journey. The nomination announcement came mere days before her SNL appearance, making her hosting gig a celebration of a banner month in her career.

“What’s poppin’, y’all? It’s your girl, Teyana Taylor, and I will be hosting ‘SNL’ this week with Geese,” Taylor said in a January 22 promo, brimming with excitement. The promo, as reported by USA TODAY, featured cast member Marcello Hernández, who lightened the mood by joking about his dream brunch rotation with the week’s celebrity lineup. Taylor’s energy and comedic timing have fans and critics alike eager to see how she’ll handle the unpredictable world of live sketch comedy.

Joining Taylor as the musical guest is Geese, an indie rock band making their first SNL appearance. According to NBC, Geese is the first band to perform on SNL’s 51st season, riding high off the critical success of their fourth studio album, Getting Killed, which dropped in September 2025. The group’s inclusion is notable not only for their musical chops but also for the playful banter they inspired—SNL cast member Marcello Hernández poked fun at their waterfowl-inspired name in a promo, hinting at the kind of offbeat humor viewers can expect when the band takes the stage.

SNL’s 51st season has already delivered a string of memorable moments and high-profile guests. The season kicked off on October 4, 2025, with Bad Bunny hosting and Doja Cat as musical guest, as reported by Staten Island Advance. Since then, a parade of stars have graced Studio 8H: Amy Poehler returned to the anchor desk, Sabrina Carpenter pulled double duty as host and musical guest, and Ariana Grande hosted for the third time with Cher delivering her second-ever SNL musical performance. The show’s ability to blend veteran talent with new faces keeps the formula fresh, and tonight’s episode is no exception.

The January 17 episode marked SNL’s return from its winter hiatus, with “Stranger Things” star Finn Wolfhard making his hosting debut and A$AP Rocky performing tracks from his new album, Don’t Be Dumb. That show was notable for its special guests, including Sabrina Carpenter, Jason Momoa, and Wolfhard’s co-stars Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo. It also stood out as the first episode in over eight seasons without Bowen Yang, who confirmed his exit during the final show of 2025, co-hosted by his “Wicked” co-star Ariana Grande, as detailed by Parade and NBC.

The current SNL cast is a blend of seasoned performers and rising stars. Kenan Thompson, the show’s longest-serving cast member, anchors the ensemble alongside familiar faces like Chloe Fineman, Mikey Day, and “Weekend Update” co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che. Featured players such as Andrew Dismukes, Marcello Hernández, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, Ashley Padilla, and Jane Wickline all return for Season 51. The show also welcomed five new featured players: Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska. Some fan favorites, including Bowen Yang, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, and Emil Wakim, have departed, along with several writers, signaling a season of transition and fresh comedic voices.

For viewers wondering how to tune in, the answer is simple. SNL airs live every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. EST / 8:30 p.m. PST on NBC, with episodes available to stream the next day on Peacock, as well as platforms like Fubo TV, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu + Live TV. According to Staten Island Advance, fans can also use channel finders for major cable providers to catch the show live. For those who prefer to binge classic sketches, Peacock offers all 51 seasons on demand.

Looking ahead, the SNL stage will welcome another first-time host next week. On January 31, Alexander Skarsgård will take the reins, promoting his new R-rated film Pillion, where he stars as a biker. Skarsgård, known for his bold and sometimes risqué roles in projects like True Blood, Big Little Lies, and Succession, is sure to bring a unique energy to Studio 8H. He’ll be joined by Cardi B, returning as musical guest for the second time, nearly eight years after her last appearance. Her latest album, Am I the Drama?, topped the charts in September 2025, and her return to SNL is poised to be a major event for fans of both music and comedy, as noted by NBC.

SNL’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to reflect—and sometimes poke fun at—the cultural moments and personalities of the day. With Teyana Taylor’s star continuing to rise, and Geese’s indie cred on full display, tonight’s episode is a testament to the show’s knack for staying relevant and surprising, even after more than half a century on the air. As Angela Bassett herself put it in response to Taylor’s SNL promo parodying her iconic Waiting to Exhale role, “I love this sooo sooo much!!!! You got me GOOD! xoAng.”

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, tonight’s SNL offers something fresh: a celebration of new talent, a nod to pop culture milestones, and the kind of unpredictable comedy that only live television can deliver. With a cast ready to embrace change and a lineup that mixes Oscar nominees with indie rockers, Saturday night TV is looking livelier than ever.

As the snow falls and the country settles in for the weekend, SNL’s latest episode stands as a reminder that, after 51 seasons, the show still knows how to surprise and delight its audience.