SNL with Will Ferrell & Paul McCartney, PLUS did Chris Rock’s Tupac comments explain Will Smith slap?

May 16, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The episode covers a cluster of comedy and entertainment updates centered on live television, music crossovers, and lingering questions from past celebrity incidents. Johnny Mac moves through several stories without forcing connections, noting fresh developments on Saturday Night Live, Chris Rock’s recent podcast remarks, and projects involving high-profile comedians and musicians.

Saturday Night Live and Paul McCartney’s appearance
Will Ferrell hosts this week’s episode with Paul McCartney as musical guest. Speculation has surfaced that Lorne Michaels might use the night to step away, but the host dismisses the idea as unlikely given the lack of prior signals. McCartney is promoting his new album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, which includes the track “Home to Us,” the first proper duet with Ringo Starr since the Beatles split and the first post-breakup song with the two alternating lead vocals. The conversation revisits the 1976 SNL bit in which Michaels offered the Beatles three thousand dollars to reunite; John Lennon and McCartney were reportedly in the same apartment that night and briefly considered showing up. Ringo has appeared on the show only once before, as host in 1976, and his own recent album Long Long Road is mentioned without any confirmed plans for him to join McCartney onstage.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:45) **Chris Rock Tupac comments revive Will Smith slap talk** - Rock reveals past dating rivalry with Tupac on Fly on the Wall podcast
2 (02:46) **SNL preview: Will Ferrell hosts with Paul McCartney as musical guest** - Speculation about Lorne Michaels possibly stepping away
3 (03:05) **Rumor of Ringo Starr cameo for potential Beatles SNL reunion** - Paul promoting new album with first true duet with Ringo
4 (04:11) **Lorne Michaels’ 1976 $3,000 Beatles reunion offer** - John and Paul were blocks away at the Dakota and considered showing up
5 (05:44) **Jeff Ross says Paul McCartney was approached for Kevin Hart roast** - Would have been a “fantasy roast” because McCartney is so beloved
6 (06:05) **Rolling Stones announce new album Foreign Tongues** - Features guests including Robert Smith and Chad Smith; first two tracks already out
7 (06:58) **Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood hit late-night circuit** - Appear on Conan and Jimmy Fallon’s “Real People Fake Arms” bit

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Johnny Mac previews Saturday Night Live with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Paul McCartney amid speculation about whether Lorne Michaels is leaving, and discusses Chris Rock on the Fly on the Wall podcast saying he had “beef” with Tupac because they dated the same women, raising renewed interest due to Tupac’s connection to Jada and her past claim that Rock once asked her out. He explores the possibility of Ringo Starr joining McCartney on SNL, citing their new duet “Home to Us,” and recounts Lorne’s 1976 on-air offer to pay The Beatles $3,000 to reunite. Other updates include Jeff Ross saying Hart’s roast could have been McCartney’s, The Rolling Stones’ upcoming album Foreign Tongues (out July 10) with McCartney among guests, Fallon bits with the band, Kevin Hart’s Michelob ULTRA World Cup 2026 fan job, Ron Taylor’s Netflix special status, Obama teasing an HBO Larry David project (June 26), renewals for The Paper and Reggie Dinkins, a Brett Goldstein Prime Video rom-com, and Jon Stewart drumming with Church and State.

00:20 Chris Rock Tupac Jada
01:16 SNL Lorne Speculation
01:29 Ferrell McCartney Cold Open
02:39 Beatles Reunion Possibility
04:14 McCartney Roast What If
04:35 Stones New Album Conan
05:28 Fallon Bit With Jagger
06:15 Kevin Hart World Cup Job
07:10 Ron Taylor Netflix Update
08:27 Obama Produces Larry David
09:06 TV Renewals New Shows
10:01 Jon Stewart Plays Drums

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