Saturday’s episode of SNL saw a unique take on the renowned ‘Actors on Actors’ roundtable, bringing together familiar festive figures for a comedic segment titled ‘Characters on Characters’. The sketch aired during the December 13 episode, hosted by Josh O’Connor and featuring musical guest Lily Allen, as part of the show’s annual holiday programming.
The parody format closely mirrored the original ‘Actors on Actors’ series, known for in-depth discussions about craft. In the SNL version, classic holiday icons such as Rudolph, the Grinch, Scrooge, and Mrs. Claus engaged in exaggerated, tongue-in-cheek exchanges. These included reflections on acting experience, improvisation, and on-set dynamics, all reimagined in a seasonal context.
Key moments from the sketch included Rudolph, played by O’Connor, discussing his lack of formal training before leading Santa’s sleigh, and the ‘Partridge’ character describing the group of Christmas icons as a ‘chosen family’. The sketch also saw the Grinch recounting the experience of ‘shooting on location in Whoville’, and Scrooge clarifying that his iconic lines were scripted by Charles Dickens rather than improvised.
In a nod to musical traditions, Little Drummer Boy, portrayed by Kenan Thompson, delivered his well-known line: ‘Pa rum pum pum pum’. The scene further explores Mrs. Claus’s concerns about ‘Grandma’ from the song ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer’, referencing worries about her fate in a humorous aside.
Throughout the sketch, SNL incorporated numerous references to seasonal pop culture, blending classic holiday stories with modern entertainment tropes. The playful approach allowed the cast to lampoon celebrity interviews while embracing familiar festive narratives.
The ‘Actors on Actors’ format, which was lampooned in the episode, has seen recent pairings such as Ariana Grande Wicked: For Good and Adam Sandler Jay Kelly, Julia Roberts After the Hunt and Sean Penn One Battle After Another, and Dwayne Johnson The Smashing Machine with Brendan Fraser Rental Family. These conversations have become a staple in the industry for their candid exchanges.
The 23rd series of ‘Actors on Actors’ marks a collaborative effort between Variety and CNN, with new episodes premiering on CNN’s streaming platform from December 5, before appearing on Variety’s YouTube channel. The ongoing popularity of the series underscores its influence and the parody’s relevance.
SNL ‘Characters on Characters’ segment highlights how popular culture continues to intersect with traditional holiday stories, offering viewers both nostalgia and contemporary satire. The sketch also demonstrates the enduring appeal of both SNL and the ‘Actors on Actors’ format during the festive season.
