Saturday Night Live host Quinta Brunson had some unexpected guests during her monologue on Saturday, May 3, when both Sabrina Carpenter and Dwyane Wade made cameo appearances.
The Abbott Elementary creator and star, 35, kicked off her second SNL hosting stint by telling viewers that she was proof that “you can do anything you set your mind to even if people look down on you.” Brunson referenced working at a phone sex line before getting her big break in Hollywood, as well as her struggles with “literally [being] 4-foot-11.”
“Yeah, that’s right, I’m short. It’s OK,” she told viewers. “They even tried to cast me as a kid on Abbott Elementary and I wrote that. But I love being short, and I want other short people to know the sky’s the limit. So shorties, tonight, this one’s for us.”
As she started a musical ode to “being short,” Brunson was suddenly joined on stage by Carpenter, 25, while name-checking other short celebrities.
“Sabrina, it’s the real you! What are you doing here?” Brunson asked, with the “Espresso” singer explaining, “I mean, you were talking about being short so I thought I’d stop by!”
The pair traded a few jokes about the pitfalls of their height, including the way “short ribs” just taste like regular ribs for the vertically-challenged.
“When you read short stories, do they feel like novels?” Carpenter asked, to enthusiastic agreement from Brunson.
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SNL cast member Marcello Hernández eventually interrupted the musical routine to point out that standing next to Carpenter and Brunson made him look “super tall,” before NBA legend Wade, 43, arrived on stage to dwarf all three.
“I really love being short,” he professed. “I was sitting in the audience watching SNL and I heard your song about being short. I feel seen.”
When Brunson reminded Wade that he is 6-foot-4, the athlete confessed he just “really wanted to be in the song.” From there, Wade joined the trio to finish up their musical monologue.
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Carpenter has been a recurring presence on Saturday Night Live throughout its 50th season. Her song “Espresso” was used in the viral hit “Domingo” sketch in October 2024 and she later opened SNL’s 50th anniversary special in February 2025 by performing the Simon & Garfunkel classic “Homeward Bound” alongside Paul Simon. Also, on the 50th anniversary show, Carpenter joined Pedro Pascal, Bad Bunny and Martin Short for another “Domingo” sketch.
The popstar has a busy summer ahead as it was recently announced that she will be headlining the Lollapalooza music festival, alongside Olivia Rodrigo and Tyler, The Creator, in Chicago from July 31 to August 3.
Saturday’s SNL episode also featured musical guest Benson Boone serenading host Brunson, as well as Colin Jost making a rare sketch appearance to try to sell the decommissioned Staten Island ferry boat he infamously bought with pal Pete Davidson in 2022.
Saturday Night Live’s next new episode airs Saturday, May 10 on NBC at 11:30p.m. ET with guest host Walton Goggins and musical guest Arcade Fire. The season finale, on May 17, will be hosted by Jost’s wife, Scarlett Johansson, and will feature music from Bad Bunny.
