Charli XCX Can Do Anything on ‘SNL’: Make Out with Shrek, Arrest Girl Scouts, and Sing a New Andy Samberg Classic

'Brat' summer meets fascist fall with an episode that balanced ridiculous humor and biting political satire.

“Saturday Night Live” has pulled out all the stops in recruiting hosts for their 50th season, but the show is at its best when the cast gets to shine. As a result, Charli XCX‘s turn commanding the Studio 8H stage proved to be one of the best stints yet this year. Rather than chew the scenery, XCX blended into each sketch and let the main players flex their skills while earning laughs. Her musical performances gave her more than enough opportunity to claim the spotlight.

The night kicked off with a political cold open that satirized the Oval Office meeting between presidents Trump (James Austin Johnson) and Biden (Dana Carvey) last week, with a lot more punch than any of the sketches featured in last week’s post-election episode. SNL lampooned Trump’s seeming distaste with the trappings of the White House and skewered the “dynamic, free-thinking, animal-killing, sexually criminal, medically crazy” cabinet he’s currentlyassembling.

“SNL 50” also unveiled its new Matt Gaetz impersonator, Sarah Sherman, whose demented take is the perfect match to the potential future Attorney General. Alec Baldwin also joined the cast once again, this time playing RFK Jr., though his impersonation skewed a bit toward his Trump.

Also returning was fan favorite Domingo, played by Marcello Hernadez. Recreating the viral sketch from Ariana Grande’s episode, XCX was joined by Sherman, Ego Nwodim, and Heidi Gardner for a rendition of Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go!” that proved pretty steamy in its own right.

Weekend Update also packed a punch this week, tearing down Trump and his cabinet picks and capturing the absurd nature of our times. Bowen Yang also showed up to play Tiger King and current convict Joe Exotic, whose plea for a pardon from Trump was followed up with an offer to serve as the head of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Perhaps the best bit of the night was yet another new Digital Short from Andy Samberg. In a catchy music video, Samberg plays an overly attentive neighbor with a penchant for calling the cops on anyone who gets near his lawn or garbage can. XCX joins in as his wife mid-song for a duet that highlights her pitch-perfect musical and comedic timing.

Last night’s episode was such an embarrassment of riches that even the final sketch, often a throwaway spot for the most offbeat routines, was a total winner. Following a friend group as they’re leaving a performance of “Shrek: The Musical,” things soon turn complicated when its revealed that nearly everyone has been scoring with Shrek.

“Saturday Night Live” returns December 7 with host Paul Mescal and musical guest Shaboozey.