Inde Navarrette stepped onto the Saturday Night Live stage for the first time during the Halloween edition of season 52. Her opening monologue opened with a self-deprecating nod to the cult-horror movie Obsession, reminding the audience that the actress who played Nikki Freeman is “nothing like her character.” She then introduced her boyfriend, Nick Aiello, who was humorously duck-taped to his audience seat, prompting a quick gag about their “chill” relationship. The riff set a playful tone that carried through the rest of the night.
Marvel-ready jokes and fitness grind
After establishing the Obsession reference, Navarrette turned the conversation toward her upcoming role as Rogue in Marvel Studios’ rebooted X-Men franchise. She confessed that the part demanded a “serious gym regimen,” then delivered a tongue-in-cheek line about donning a “little whore outfit” before hitting the weights. The joke deliberately echoed Shane Gillis’ controversial opening on the Oct. 10 episode, where he described modern gym wear with crass language. Navarrette’s quick-draw parody highlighted both her awareness of recent SNL moments and the physical expectations tied to Marvel’s superhero casting.
Costume chaos, celebrity cameos, and box-office triumphs
The bulk of the broadcast turned into a costume parade. Cast members joined Navarrette onstage: Marcello Hernandez strutted as a “sexy TSA agent,” Kam Patterson embodied Elizabeth Holmes, and Jeremy Culhane arrived dressed as Wolverine, pitching himself for Jake Schreier’s forthcoming X-Men movie. Grace Reiter and Veronika Slowikowska provided a meta-reference to the viral Kelly Clarkson-bird controversy, each insisting the bird was “not for sale.” Classic SNL figures resurfaced, too—James Austin Johnson’s Trump barged in to discuss midterms, while a surprise appearance by Tom Hanks’ David S. Pumpkins haunted a cold-open ride.
Later in the show, the “Drunk Uncle” character resurfaced during Weekend Update, this time accompanied by the 2026 World Series champions, the Milwaukee Brewers, including stars Christian Yelich and Brice Turang. The episode closed with a tribute to Patrick Stewart, featuring a clip from his 1994 SNL stint, linking the Halloween special to the broader legacy of the series.
Beyond the sketches, Navarrette’s rise has been fueled by the staggering success of Obsession. The low-budget horror film amassed a worldwide total of $522 million, making it Focus Features’ all-time biggest title, the top-grossing festival acquisition from TIFF, and the best second-weekend performer outside the Christmas window. Capitalising on that momentum, Navarrette will not only star as Rogue but also executive-produce Apple Original Films’ upcoming sci-fi thriller The Waffle House Index.
Season 52’s lineup continues to build excitement: Druski is slated to host on Nov. 7, becoming the first social-media influencer to take the SNL helm, with the Strokes providing music. John Mulaney will return on Nov. 14, paired with Phoebe Bridgers, while Gracie Abrams already served as the musical guest for Navarrette’s episode. The Halloween special thus functions as both a celebration of Navarrette’s breakout moment and a springboard toward her imminent Marvel adventure.
