It happened on a Sunday. Usually, Saturday Night Live lives up to its name, but for the massive SNL 50th Anniversary Special in February 2025, the rules went out the window. We saw a lot of legends return—Dana Carvey, Maya Rudolph, the whole crew. But the moment that actually broke the internet involved a pop star, a "daddy" of the internet, and a very confused groom. Sabrina Carpenter and Pedro Pascal joining forces for the "Domingo" sketch was the crossover nobody knew they needed. Honestly, it was chaotic.
If you weren’t glued to the screen, here is the gist. Marcello Hernández has this recurring character, Domingo, who basically exists to ruin marriages with a smile. The sketch usually involves women singing a parody of a pop hit to explain why they cheated. This time, the bridesmaids were at a vow renewal, and the "Espresso" singer herself showed up. Sabrina played Sophie, a childhood friend fresh out of prison.
Then came the brothers.
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The Sabrina Carpenter Pedro Pascal SNL Sketch: Why It Went Viral
Most people expected Sabrina to sing. She did. She hopped on a messy, hilarious rendition of her own hit "Espresso" alongside the bridesmaids. But then the "brothers" showed up to explain their own... involvement... with the groom, Matt. Pedro Pascal walked out as Renaldo, and the audience lost it.
Pascal wasn't alone; Bad Bunny joined him as the "hot brother" Santiago. But the chemistry between Sabrina and Pedro was what people couldn't stop talking about. It wasn't just a scripted moment. There was this specific energy on stage that felt like two people having the absolute time of their lives while trying not to break character.
That "Grinding" Note and the Failed Karaoke
Later, Pedro actually opened up about how nervous he was. You’d think a guy who fights clickers in The Last of Us wouldn't be scared of a comedy sketch. Wrong. He told Entertainment Weekly that the whole thing was his "nightmare of karaoke."
He actually messed up his cues. If you watch the footage closely, he starts singing his part of the "Espresso" parody twice before the music actually hits the right spot. It was a total "record scratch" moment. But here is the kicker: Sabrina was the one keeping him loose.
Before they went on, Sabrina reportedly told him, "I got a note last minute... I'm going to be grinding on you hard."
Pedro’s response? "You do whatever you want."
That kind of raw, "let’s just do it" attitude is why the Sabrina Carpenter Pedro Pascal SNL appearance felt so much more authentic than your standard celebrity cameo. It wasn't polished. It was messy. It was real.
Is This the New SNL "A-List" Era?
Seeing these two together highlights a massive shift at Studio 8H. For years, the show relied on the "Old Guard"—Steve Martin, Martin Short, Tina Fey. They’re still there, sure. But Lorne Michaels is clearly betting on the new titans of culture.
Sabrina Carpenter isn't just a musical guest anymore. Since that 50th special, she went on to pull double duty as host and musical guest in October 2025. She’s become a fixture. And Pedro? He’s basically an honorary cast member at this point. Between his "Protective Mom" sketches and his appearance with Bad Bunny, he’s proven he has the comedic timing to stay.
- The "Espresso" Effect: The show has leaned heavily into Sabrina’s discography for sketches, proving her songs are basically the soundtrack of the mid-2020s.
- Pedro’s Versatility: He can go from a prestige HBO drama to singing off-key about a "hung Latin guy" without losing an ounce of street cred.
- The Marcello Factor: Let’s be real, Marcello Hernández is the glue here. He’s the one who brought this specific "Latino Heat" brand of comedy to the forefront of the show, pulling in stars like Pedro and Benito.
What Most People Got Wrong About the 50th Special
A lot of critics thought the 50th anniversary would just be a clip show. They thought it would be a "best of" reel. Instead, they gave us new, weird iterations of current hits. Putting Sabrina in a sketch that parodies her own song while having an A-list actor like Pedro Pascal play a guy who "hooked up" with the groom? That’s bold.
It wasn’t just a cameo; it was a passing of the torch.
Why We Still Can’t Stop Talking About It
Social media is a weird place. Within minutes of the sketch airing, "Bingo, Domingo!" was trending. Pedro posted a behind-the-scenes photo on Instagram of himself, Sabrina, and Marcello with the caption "Bingo, Domingo!" and his tongue out. It currently has millions of likes.
People love seeing "serious" actors act like idiots. We love seeing pop stars who don't take themselves too seriously. When you combine the two, you get a moment that defines a season.
There’s also the "Short n' Sweet" factor. Sabrina’s career has exploded to a point where her presence on SNL feels like an event. When she hosted later in 2025, she even joked in her monologue about the 50th special, mentioning how Martin Short once shoved her out of a buffet line for "mini quiche."
Actionable Takeaways for SNL Fans
If you’re trying to keep up with the ever-evolving world of Studio 8H in 2026, here is what you need to do:
- Watch the "Domingo: Vow Renewal" sketch on YouTube: Look specifically for the moment Pedro misses his cue—it’s actually the most endearing part of the whole night.
- Check out Sabrina’s October 2025 episode: It’s arguably one of the strongest "double duty" performances in recent years, especially the "12-year-old boys podcast" sketch.
- Follow the BTS Content: Most of the best moments from the Sabrina Carpenter Pedro Pascal SNL collab weren't on the live broadcast. The Instagram stories and rehearsal clips show a much more chaotic, fun side of the production.
- Keep an eye on the 2026 schedule: Word is that with the Muppet Show revival and her Coachella headlining set, Sabrina might be back at 8H sooner than we think.
The SNL 50th anniversary wasn't perfect. It was long, sometimes bloated, and full of technical glitches. But for those few minutes when Sabrina Carpenter, Pedro Pascal, and Bad Bunny were on stage together, it felt like the show was exactly where it needed to be: right in the center of the cultural conversation.