SNL UK Launch Details plus Marcelo Hernandez’s Sebastian Maniscalco impression actually good or no?

March 18, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

SNL UK launches this weekend with American host Tina Fey and British band Wet Leg, marking a rare expansion of the format to British TV amid local complaints of atrophying comedy writer rooms. The episode also covers recent US SNL sketches, comedian specials, and industry beefs in a daily roundup of stand-up and sketch news.

SNL UK Debut

SNL UK premieres Saturday at 10 p.m. on Sky One and Now in the UK (Peacock the next day in the US), with 75-minute episodes for a six-episode first season. Tina Fey hosts the opener, followed by Jamie Dornan (March 28 with Wolf Alice) and Riz Ahmed (April 4 with Casbian). The cast of 11 (ages 26-36) and 20 writers workshopped in London's TV Center, emphasizing unknown talent over names. Showrunner James Longman notes Lorne Michaels' advice to "just get it on air," while a Guardian profile highlights the novelty of SNL's collaborative model versus solo-written British sitcoms. Weekend Update carries over from the US version.

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What you'll learn

1 **[01:47] SNL UK Launch Details**
2 **[04:28] Marcelo Hernandez Sebastian Maniscalco Impression**
3 **[07:00] Jeremy Cohane Tucker Carlson Impression**
4 **[08:18] SNL vs. Daily Show RFK Jr. Hospital Sketch Beef**
5 **[09:38] Mark Normand Netflix Special "Soup to Nuts"**
6 **[11:49] Bert Kreischer Bus Fire Update & Netflix Renewal**
7 **[15:04] Conan O'Brien Defends Oscars Political Jokes**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

A preiview of SNL UK’s debut on Sky One at 10 PM local time with Tina Fey hosting and Wet Leg as musical guest; season one has six 75-minute episodes, including hosts Jamie Dornan (with guest Wolf Alice and Casian) and Riz Ahmed, and U.S. viewers can watch next day on Peacock.

In U.S. SNL news, John discusses Marcello Hernandez’s Sebastian Maniscalco impression and praises a Tucker Carlson impression on Weekend Update, then notes similarities between an SNL RFK Hospital parody and earlier Daily Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live sketches. He covers Mark Normand’s new Netflix special, Bert Kreischer’s bus fire update and Netflix projects, Conan O’Brien’s comments on political jokes at the Oscars, Robbie Hoffman returning a found diamond watch at Vanity Fair’s party.

00:17 SNL UK Launch Details
01:19 Guardian Behind Scenes
02:54 SNL US Impressions
06:48 Daily Show SNL Beef
08:09 Mark Normand Special
10:19 Bert Kresicher Bus Fire Update Part 17
11:21 Fishing Pronunciation
12:03 Conan Oscars Politics
12:27 Robbie Hoffman Watch
14:04 Amazon Bond Series Rant

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This is the animal sanctuary mentioned in the February 10 episode.