Mary Todd Lincoln arrived at Studio 8H on Saturday as Bowen Yang temporarily stepped away from his stint in Oh Mary! to deliver an explosive musical sketch on Saturday Night Live.
The Tony nominee made a surprise appearance as the first lady in a segment titled “The Little Park of Horrors,” Deadline reported. Yang performed a sharp parody of the Dreamgirls anthem “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” centered entirely around the grievances of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The MTA Parody Hits Studio 8H
- Bowen Yang returned from his Oh Mary! stint to play Mary Todd Lincoln in a Dreamgirls MTA parody.
- John Mulaney starred as a horse-drawn carriage operator mourning New York City’s recent ban.
- Cole Escola’s Broadway hit Oh Mary! runs with Yang through Jan. 17, 2027.
John Mulaney joined the lineup as a horse-drawn carriage operator mourning the city’s recent ban on the trade, introduced on the show “for no reason at all, except animal cruelty and human murders,” as he stated during the sketch, Deadline reported.
Mulaney introduced a revolving door of disgruntled New York characters. Veronika Slowikowska appeared as a runner still finishing the marathon, belting out a parody of “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” Tommy Brennan stepped in as a pedicab driver challenging Mulaney’s livelihood with a duet take on “Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better).”
Mikey Day portrayed a homeless man shouting about God, while Kenan Thompson materialized as a cloud of weed smoke. They were backed by Sarah Sherman, Grace Reiter, and Saidah Belo-Osagie for a rousing rendition of the Cats classic “Mr. Mistoffelees.” James Austin Johnson rounded out the bit as the “Park Slope Cuck,” performing a West Side Story parody titled “Mamdani.”
Yang Balances Oh Mary! Extension with Saturday Night Live
Before donning the first lady’s attire for the musical sketch, Yang opened the episode playing Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in the cold open. The appearance marked a homecoming for the comedian, who has been starring in Cole Escola’s Oh Mary!.
Producers announced that the run has been officially extended to Jan. 17, 2027, requiring Yang to balance his theatrical schedule with his ongoing commitments at Saturday Night Live.
| Performer | Sketch Character | Parody Song / Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Bowen Yang | Mary Todd Lincoln | “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” (MTA Parody) |
| John Mulaney | Carriage Operator | New York City Carriage Ban Lament |
| Veronika Slowikowska | Marathon Runner | “Don’t Rain on My Parade” |
| Kenan Thompson | Cloud of Weed Smoke | “Mr. Mistoffelees” (from Cats) |
| James Austin Johnson | Park Slope Cuck | “Maria” / “Mamdani” (from West Side Story) |
The extension of Oh Mary! keeps him attached to the Lyceum Theatre well into early 2027, ensuring fans can catch both his theatrical work and his weekend late-night appearances.
