Alexander Skarsgård Hosted the 1,000th SNL and It Was Chaos 🎷💀

February 01, 2026
Image Source :: Dia Dipasupil/WireImage

So, Saturday Night Live just hit a massive milestone. Like, a literally huge number. Last night, January 31, 2026, the show aired its 1,000th episode. Yeah, you read that right. One thousand episodes of live comedy from New York. And to steer the ship for this historic night? They picked the tall, brooding, and unexpectedly hilarious Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård.

If you were wondering who is hosting SNL tonight, well, you missed a wild one. But don’t worry, I got you covered. The night was a mix of weird Scandinavian humor, a family reunion, and Cardi B bringing the absolute heat. It wasn’t your typical nostalgia-fest for a milestone episode, but it honestly felt fresher because of that. Let’s dive into what happened, who showed up, and why everyone is talking about the Skarsgård family today.

The 1,000th Episode Vibe

You would think for the 1,000th episode, Lorne Michaels would bring back every living cast member from the last fifty years, right? But they kept it surprisingly chill. It felt like a regular episode but with this underlying electric buzz. Alexander Skarsgård walked out for his monologue looking sharp as hell, and you could tell he was ready to get weird.

He didn't go for the sappy "I'm so honored" speech. Instead, he leaned into his awkward, stoic Swedish persona. The monologue was a bit of a fake-out. He started talking about his love for the SNL band and then picked up a saxophone. He proceeded to "play" it, but the joke was he kept taking his mouth off the mouthpiece while the smooth jazz sax line kept blaring. It was dumb, simple physical comedy, but it worked because he committed to the bit so hard. He didn't even mention his new BDSM movie Pillion or his other project The Moment during the intro, which is kind of a flex. He was just there to vibe.

A Family Affair: Stellan Crashes the Party

The highlight of the night, hands down, was the family cameo. We all know the Skarsgårds are basically the royal family of acting, and Alexander didn't come alone. His dad, the legendary Stellan Skarsgård, showed up in not one but two sketches.

The best one was "Scandinavian Movie 2," which was a sequel to a sketch from earlier this season. James Austin Johnson had been doing an impression of Stellan before, but seeing the real Stellan scream in Swedish alongside his son was comedy gold. They also did a sketch called "Immigrant Dad Talk Show" where Stellan and Alexander played off each other with that specific brand of European bluntness. Seeing Stellan Skarsgård and Cardi B in the same sketch was the crossover I didn't know I needed until last night. It was chaotic in the best way possible.

The Sketches: Weird and Wonderful

Aside from the daddy issues sketches, the writers gave Alexander plenty of room to be a goofball. We are used to seeing him as the terrifying vampire Eric Northman or the toxic tech bro Lukas Matsson in Succession. Seeing him play a clueless guy or a weirdo was a nice change of pace.

One of the standout moments was a sketch involving Chloe Fineman. They had already built up some chemistry in the promos earlier in the week, joking about "Dry January" (where Chloe thought it meant drinking literally no liquids). On the live show, their energy was great. The "Heated Rivalry" announcement was also a thing—apparently, Connor Storrie is hosting next on February 28 after the Olympic break, but the way they wove it in kept the pacing tight.

Cardi B Brought the Energy

Cardi B returning as the musical guest was the perfect counter-balance to Skarsgård's icy Swedish energy. This was her second time on the show, and she hasn't been on in like eight years. She performed "Bodega Baddie" and another track from her album Am I the Drama? and she looked incredible.

She didn't just stick to the music, though. She jumped into the "Immigrant Dad Talk Show" sketch and held her own. Sometimes musical guests are stiff in sketches, but Cardi is naturally funny. She has that charisma that just pops on screen. Her interactions with the Skarsgård men were awkward and hilarious, bridging the gap between Bronx attitude and Swedish stoicism.

Who is Alexander Skarsgård?

If you are Googling "who is Alexander Skarsgård" after watching the show, you have a lot of great TV to catch up on. He has been in the game for a long time, but he blew up globally playing Eric Northman in HBO's True Blood. He was the bad-boy vampire everyone had a crush on.

After that, he proved he wasn't just a pretty face. He won an Emmy for playing the abusive husband Perry Wright in Big Little Lies alongside Nicole Kidman. It was a dark role, and he was terrifyingly good in it. Then he crushed it as the eccentric billionaire Lukas Matsson in the final seasons of Succession. He has also done huge movies like The Northman (where he got absolutely ripped) and Godzilla vs. Kong.

He comes from a huge family of actors. His dad is Stellan (from Dune, Mamma Mia, Good Will Hunting), and his brothers Bill Skarsgård (Pennywise in It) and Gustaf Skarsgård (Vikings) are also super famous. It is basically a factory for tall, talented actors over there in Sweden.

Why This Episode Mattered

Hitting 1,000 episodes is insane for a TV show. SNL has been on air since 1975. People love to say "SNL isn't funny anymore," but then an episode like this happens where a Swedish dramatic actor pretends to play sax and brings his dad on stage, and you remember why it's special. It’s live, it’s messy, and when it hits, it really hits.

Alexander Skarsgård proved he has serious comedic chops. He wasn't afraid to look stupid, which is the number one rule for a good host. He didn't rely on his looks (though the "he is so tall" jokes were definitely there); he relied on being weird. And honestly, that is the best kind of SNL host.

If you missed it, definitely look up the "Immigrant Dad" sketch online. It is going to be the one everyone is sharing on TikTok this week. SNL is taking a break now for the Winter Olympics, but they left us on a high note.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who hosted the 1,000th episode of SNL?

Alexander Skarsgård hosted the 1,000th episode on January 31, 2026. It was his first time hosting the show, and he was joined by musical guest Cardi B.

Did Stellan Skarsgård appear on SNL with Alexander?

Yes, Alexander's father Stellan Skarsgård made a surprise cameo. He appeared in two sketches, including "Scandinavian Movie 2" and "Immigrant Dad Talk Show."

What songs did Cardi B perform on SNL?

Cardi B performed songs from her album Am I the Drama?, including the track "Bodega Baddie." She also appeared in a sketch with the host.

Is Alexander Skarsgård funny?

He is actually really funny. While he is known for serious dramas like Succession and Big Little Lies, he showed off a great sense of deadpan humor and physical comedy during his SNL episode.

What movie was Alexander Skarsgård promoting on SNL?

He was promoting his new film Pillion, which is an R-rated drama involving BDSM themes, as well as a project called The Moment.

Who is hosting SNL next?

Connor Storrie is set to host the next new episode on February 28, 2026, after the show returns from its hiatus for the Winter Olympics.

Is Alexander Skarsgård related to Bill Skarsgård?

Yes, Alexander is the older brother of Bill Skarsgård, who is famous for playing Pennywise the Clown in the It movies. They are both sons of actor Stellan Skarsgård.

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Tech D

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