Fans celebrated the holidays with laughter as Jimmy Fallon host SNL Christmas for Saturday Night Live’s festive 2025 edition. The special Christmas-themed episode aired live from Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center in New York City on December 14, 2025, marking Fallon’s highly anticipated return to the show that launched his national fame.
The Tonight Show host brought his trademark energy, musical humor, and nostalgia to the NBC stage for what has become an annual tradition of comedy and Christmas cheer. Joined by an A-list musical guest and surprise cameos from SNL alumni, Fallon’s latest hosting gig delivered one of the most memorable holiday broadcasts in recent years.
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Jimmy Fallon Returns Home to SNL for the Holidays
As one of SNL’s most beloved alumni, Fallon’s return to host the 2025 Christmas episode carried extra emotional weight. He first joined the Saturday Night Live cast in 1998 and became a household name through his impressions, musical sketches, and chemistry with Tina Fey on Weekend Update.
Now, 27 years later, Fallon continues to honor his roots each time he steps back onto the SNL stage. This marks his fourth time hosting since leaving the cast in 2004 to pursue other projects, including his successful run as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
For this year’s Christmas special, Fallon’s presence immediately set a festive tone. His signature warmth, laughter, and musical flair transformed the episode into a true holiday event.
The 2025 SNL Christmas Episode: Air Date and Setting
The December 14, 2025 broadcast of Saturday Night Live served as the show’s final episode of the year before its winter break. NBC’s Rockefeller Plaza — already decked out for the season with its iconic Christmas tree and ice rink — made for the perfect backdrop.
Inside Studio 8H, the set featured holiday decorations, snow effects, and live music throughout the night. The crowd energy was electric, filled with fans eager to see Fallon return for another round of musical sketches and celebrity impressions.
Opening Monologue: Music, Memories, and Christmas Spirit
Fallon opened the show with a high-energy musical monologue blending comedy and song — a trademark move for his SNL appearances. Backed by the show’s live band, he performed a holiday medley that mixed comedy lyrics with snippets of Christmas classics like “Jingle Bell Rock,” “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” and “Let It Snow.”
During the monologue, Fallon reflected on his early SNL years and shared a few humorous memories of performing holiday sketches in the early 2000s. His nostalgic storytelling drew laughter and cheers from the audience.
As he wrapped up the opening number, Fallon welcomed surprise guests Maya Rudolph and Will Ferrell, who joined him for an impromptu dance routine, earning a standing ovation.
Musical Guest and Special Appearances
The 2025 SNL Christmas episode featured Olivia Rodrigo as the musical guest, performing two live songs: her holiday single “Snow Angel” and her chart-topping hit “Vampire.” Her performances showcased her vocal range and emotional delivery, perfectly complementing the evening’s festive tone.
Throughout the episode, Fallon interacted with the cast and several surprise guests:
- Tina Fey made a cameo during the Weekend Update segment, reuniting with Fallon for a nostalgic bit.
- Kenan Thompson, SNL’s longest-tenured cast member, joined Fallon for a holiday game show parody titled “Guess That Christmas Gift!”
- Paul Rudd appeared in a recurring holiday sketch as Santa’s overworked assistant, sharing comedic banter with Fallon.
These collaborations combined classic SNL humor with Fallon’s lighthearted spontaneity, producing genuine moments of laughter.
Top Sketches from Jimmy Fallon’s SNL Christmas Episode (2025)
The episode delivered a series of standout sketches that showcased Fallon’s versatility as a comedian and performer.
1. “Elf on the Shelf: The Musical”
In one of the night’s most talked-about sketches, Fallon played a mischievous elf who leads a group of “retired” shelf elves in a Broadway-style performance. The sketch combined choreography, slapstick comedy, and an original song written for the show. Fallon’s musical timing was spot-on, and his ability to improvise drew big laughs.
2. “Weekend Update with Jimmy and Tina”
Fallon made a surprise co-anchor appearance alongside Colin Jost and Michael Che during Weekend Update. Midway through the segment, Tina Fey joined the desk, and the trio delivered a mix of current event jokes and throwbacks to classic Update bits. The chemistry between Fallon and Fey felt as natural as it did two decades ago.
3. “The Office Christmas Party”
In this sketch, Fallon portrayed a clueless office manager trying to organize a holiday celebration that spirals into chaos. Cast members Heidi Gardner, Bowen Yang, and Ego Nwodim played frustrated employees caught in the mess. The sketch mirrored the awkward humor of The Office while highlighting Fallon’s gift for physical comedy.
4. “Santa’s Social Media Workshop”
A modern holiday parody, this sketch featured Fallon as Santa Claus managing influencer elves who measure success by “likes” and “shares” instead of toy production. The scene cleverly poked fun at digital culture and included a cameo from Pete Davidson, whose unexpected reappearance brought loud applause from the audience.
5. “Holiday Rap Medley”
To close the show, Fallon joined the SNL band for a rap-infused Christmas number mixing festive lyrics with classic beats. Backed by cast members dressed as reindeer, Fallon’s performance ended the night on a high-energy, musical note — the perfect send-off for the holiday season.
Behind the Scenes: Fallon’s Connection to SNL’s Holiday Legacy
Hosting Saturday Night Live’s Christmas episode is a major honor, often reserved for alumni or stars with strong ties to the show. Fallon has long been part of that tradition, having previously hosted SNL Christmas specials in 2011, 2013, and 2019.
His love for SNL’s holiday episodes dates back to his time as a cast member, when he appeared in classic sketches like “I Wish It Was Christmas Today,” which he famously performed alongside Horatio Sanz, Chris Kattan, and Tracy Morgan.
In interviews leading up to the 2025 show, Fallon expressed his excitement about hosting again during the holidays, emphasizing how much it means to him to return to Studio 8H — especially during the Christmas season, when the set is filled with nostalgia and joy.
Audience Reaction and Ratings
NBC’s 2025 SNL Christmas episode hosted by Jimmy Fallon received widespread praise from both critics and fans. Viewers highlighted Fallon’s enthusiasm, musical talent, and connection with the audience as standout qualities that made the episode feel festive and timeless.
Preliminary Nielsen ratings indicated that the broadcast attracted 8.6 million live viewers, making it SNL’s highest-rated episode of the season. Social media clips from the show, especially Fallon’s musical monologue and the “Elf on the Shelf” sketch, went viral within hours, amassing millions of views across X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube.
Jimmy Fallon’s Career Beyond SNL
Since leaving Saturday Night Live in 2004, Fallon has built an extraordinary career in entertainment. As the host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon since 2014, he’s become one of the most recognizable faces in late-night television.
Fallon’s ability to blend comedy, music, and audience participation has made his hosting style unique. His recurring games like “Lip Sync Battle” and musical duets with celebrities continue to attract large audiences across platforms.
Even as his Tonight Show duties keep him busy, Fallon maintains a close relationship with SNL, frequently visiting to perform cameos and musical skits. His enduring bond with the show and its cast reinforces his reputation as one of the franchise’s most cherished alumni.
SNL’s Christmas Tradition: A Staple of American Television
Saturday Night Live’s Christmas episodes have become a beloved U.S. television tradition since the 1970s. These specials blend topical comedy with heartwarming sketches, capturing the cultural spirit of each holiday season.
Over the years, notable hosts like Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig, and Paul Rudd have headlined the holiday broadcast. Fallon’s involvement in the 2025 edition continues that tradition, combining classic SNL energy with modern entertainment sensibilities.
The holiday episodes often close with the cast singing festive songs as fake snow falls on stage — a moment of unity and nostalgia that fans have come to anticipate each year. Fallon embraced that ritual once again this year, joining the cast for a rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to end the show.
Why Jimmy Fallon Is the Perfect Holiday Host
Few entertainers capture the holiday spirit as effortlessly as Jimmy Fallon. His mix of humor, kindness, and musicality aligns perfectly with SNL’s Christmas tone. He approaches each sketch with genuine joy, often breaking into laughter mid-performance — a quality that has become part of his charm.
Fallon’s ability to make audiences feel included, whether through song or improv, makes him the ideal choice to host SNL during the most festive time of the year. His chemistry with both veteran and new cast members bridges generations of comedy, uniting fans who’ve followed the show since its early days with those discovering it anew.
The Legacy of Jimmy Fallon and SNL’s Holiday Spirit
Fallon’s 2025 hosting gig reinforces his long-standing connection to Saturday Night Live’s legacy. His presence not only honors the show’s history but also brings it renewed life each time he returns to the stage.
With every performance, Fallon reminds viewers of SNL’s power to unite laughter and music during the holidays — a hallmark of American television that continues to thrive more than five decades after its debut.
The 2025 “Jimmy Fallon host SNL Christmas” episode proved once again that the magic of Saturday Night Live is strongest when nostalgia, music, and humor come together. Fallon’s return to Studio 8H brought fans laughter, warmth, and the unmistakable joy of the season — a perfect holiday gift from one of television’s most beloved entertainers.
