Scarlett Johansson's SNL50 send-off ends on a high note with 'piano man' parody

When Scarlett Johansson walks into Studio 8H, magic usually follows. And for the grand finale of Saturday Night Live's 50th season, she did exactly what she does best—command the stage, charm the audience, and completely roast the show in the most musical way possible. If you missed it, she pulled off a full-blown parody of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” and honestly, Billy himself would've probably approved.

This was Scarlett’s seventh time hosting SNL (yeah, she's basically family at this point), and she made it count. Dressed in a sleek black gown, she kicked off the night with a cheeky monologue that quickly turned into a full-cast singalong. The target? The beautiful chaos that is SNL—from weird sketches that bomb to celebrity impressions that made the internet explode.

As she belted out the chorus with a wink, Scarlett teased the audience with a fake-out line that had everyone momentarily believing that Billy Joel might actually make a cameo. Spoiler alert: he didn’t. But somehow, it didn’t matter. The moment was golden, and the sketch hit home for every long-time fan who knows SNL thrives on that blend of satire, surprise, and absurdity.

Of course, it wasn’t just about the music. The rest of the episode was a chaotic, joyful send-off to the milestone season. One standout sketch involved a hilarious Please Don’t Destroy music video with none other than Bad Bunny. The premise? A fancy first-class flight that takes a turn for the worse when the passengers realize they're landing at... Newark. (Yes, the New Jersey airport. Cue groans, laughs, and airport trauma flashbacks.)

Then there was a meta, behind-the-scenes-style sketch where Scarlett pretends to be entangled in a scandalous affair with cast member Bowen Yang. It’s ridiculous, it’s self-aware, and it’s totally on-brand for an SNL that loves to blur the lines between real life and sketch comedy.

And what’s an SNL episode without Weekend Update? Michael Che and Colin Jost (who happens to be Scarlett’s husband, if you’re keeping track) kept the zingers coming. At one point, Che jokingly apologized to Scarlett for a previous joke that clearly crossed a line—but in classic Update fashion, it was all done with a smirk and a sideways glance.

The whole night felt like a love letter to both the audience and the show itself. Scarlett, who has been part of the SNL orbit for years—not just as a host but as someone married to one of its writers and anchors—managed to strike that perfect balance of star power and humility. She wasn’t there to just promote a film or make an appearance; she was there to be in the moment, to have fun, and to give the show the finale it deserved.

As the 50th season wrapped up, Scarlett's musical moment reminded everyone why she keeps getting invited back: she's funny, fearless, and she gets the weird, lovable beast that is Saturday Night Live. Whether you were tuning in for the sketches, the music, or just hoping Billy Joel would actually show up, this finale had something for everyone—and Scarlett was right at the center of it.