Third time is the charm for Maya Rudolph, who hosted the May 11 episode of Saturday Night Live with musical guest Vampire Weekend.
The 51-year-old actress and comedian returns to the late-night sketch comedy show this weekend for the first time since 2021.
In addition to her two previous hosting gigs, the Bridesmaids star was a beloved regular on the show for six years, starting in 2001 until her exit in 2007.
Rudolph kicked off her hosting gig on May 11 wearing a beautiful black and white printed dress and tiered skirt, sharing her joy at returning to the Studio 8H stage.
“It’s great to be back and doing the Mother’s Day episode,” she told the audience. “For me, it’s extra special because I’ve been a mom four times. Yes, I have four beautiful kids — that I know of,” she continued jokingly.
“Saturday Night Live” cast members Bowen Young and Sarah Sherman later joined Rudolph on stage to wish her a happy Mother’s Day, before Young explained: “Maya, listen, you’re not just a mom, you’re Mother.
“Who am I, mom?” Rudolph then asked, before smiling slightly menacingly into the camera and saying, “You’re right.” After an introduction by Keenan Thompson, the actress wore a sparkling bodysuit Yui appeared on stage, surrounded by dancers, and then launched into an impressive rap and dance routine, even referencing a famous scene from Bridesmaids.
“I’m your mother/I’m your mother/I’m your… Heck, I made you dance/Remember that movie where I pooped my pants/When you were a baby and you pooped your Pants, I became your diaper/I was your mother,” Rudolph began rapping, continuing as she strutted across the “Saturday Night Live” set, being stopped by several cast members.
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The rap monologue reaches its climax as Rudolph returns to the stage, surrounded by silver-clad dancers and show cast members, and she declares “I am your mother” one last time and introduces the show.
As a cast member on the show, Rudolph played a variety of characters in different sketches, including real-life characters such as Oprah Winfrey and Donatella Versace, as well as in the Bronx Beat sketch Fan-favorite fictional characters such as Jody Deitz. And, for her hosting gig on May 11, she returned to another character and skit from her previous show.
Rudolph reprises her role as Beyoncé in a short drama called “Hot Ones with Beyoncé 2.” She previously played the iconic singer in the 2021 miniseries Hot Ones with Beyoncé. This time around, Rudolph’s Beyoncé wore a Cowboy Carter-themed costume and explained that she came back because “it’s the only thing I’ve ever tried that didn’t kill me.”
In a promo for the series that aired earlier this week, Rudolph appeared in a sketch, hinting that while she may have officially left the show as a cast member in 2007, her spirit has been working ever since Wandering around the room.
In the film, current “Saturday Night Live” cast members Andrew DiMukes and Chloe Trost stumble upon Rudolph collecting dust in a studio closet after hearing her giggling in the hallway.
Inside, dressed as a colonial woman and eating porridge, Rudolph is startled when Demoux and Trost disturb her peaceful, albeit dusty, hiding place.
“I’ve been here since 2007,” Rudolph told the pair. “I never left. Why should I leave? There’s everything I need here. My books, my porridge. And my dear friend Kenny,” she continued, gesturing to a pair of staring eyes mop.
Although she seemed surprised when Trost told her she would be hosting this week, Rudolph dutifully closed the door and “freshened up” in preparation for her big night.
As if by magic, Rodolfo appeared seconds later, mysteriously stripped of her colonial clothes and wearing a smart black and white suit.
“See you on Saturday!” she told the two, who seemed surprised that Rudolph had managed to come out of her closet cave.
Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30 pm ET on NBC.
