On March 16, 2024, the popular sketch show Saturday Night Live (SNL) showcased a significant milestone for the character Domingo, portrayed by Marcello Hernández. Transitioning from a recurring role, Domingo became the focal point of the opening sketch, marking a notable shift in the show’s format. This episode featured Sabrina Carpenter as both host and musical guest, who broke from the recent trend of political satire to spotlight the comedic escapades of Domingo, a notorious womanizer.
The sketch began with Domingo once again pursuing Kelsey, played by Chloe Fineman, much to the dismay of her new husband Matt, portrayed by Andrew Dismukes. Domingo’s character first gained traction in a 2024 sketch where bridesmaids, including pop star Ariana Grande, performed a humorous rendition of Carpenter’s song “Espresso.” This unexpected viral hit led to further sketches, including Domingo crashing the couple’s babymoon and appearing in a vow-renewal ceremony on SNL’s 50th anniversary special alongside actors Molly Shannon and Martin Short.
This week’s opening sketch included a series of musical parodies that humorously highlighted Domingo’s infidelity. Alongside Carpenter, Hernández, Ashley Padilla, Veronika Slowikowska, and Sarah Sherman performed versions of Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” and Alex Warren’s “Ordinary.” The sketches culminated in a comedic exchange where Dismukes expressed his frustration, stating, “I’m serious, this is strike six,” to which Fineman responded, already flirting with Hernández, “It won’t happen again.”
The episode also featured a sketch satirizing a podcast format, where Carpenter and her co-stars debated food trends. The twist came when James Austin Johnson, impersonating former President Donald Trump, joined the young cast. Johnson’s performance blended seamlessly into the sketch, where he humorously discussed his endorsement of Little Debbie snack cakes, claiming, “We like Little Debbie. She does tremendous work.”
In a notable absence, Bowen Yang was unavailable to reprise his role as George Santos, the disgraced congressman. Yang was attending the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles. Despite his absence, a pre-recorded music video featuring Yang and Carpenter depicted teenagers finding creative, albeit inappropriate, ways to express affection at a school dance.
The iconic segment Weekend Update continued to deliver sharp commentary on current events. Anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che addressed topics such as President Trump’s commutation of Santos’s fraud sentence and the fallout from a controversial group chat involving young Republican officials. Jost opened by quipping, “Yesterday President Trump finally released what everyone has been asking him to release. George Santos,” highlighting the absurdity surrounding the situation.
Che added humor regarding a leaked chat that drew outrage for its derogatory remarks, stating, “The chat was named ‘Jost Family.’” The banter provided a comedic lens into serious political matters, demonstrating SNL’s blend of humor with contemporary issues.
As the episode wrapped, Hernández’s recurring character, Movie Guy, made a humorous appearance, showcasing his endearing naivety about modern films. His simplistic yet charming commentary on horror movie titles drew laughter, emphasizing the timeless appeal of his character.
The March 16 episode of SNL not only highlighted the growth of Domingo as a central character but also reinforced the show’s ability to blend entertainment with cultural commentary, keeping audiences engaged and entertained.
