Mechanical Bull

At a bachelorette party, two women (Nikki Glaser and Sarah Sherman) decide to ride a mechanical bull. What starts as a typical party activity quickly escalates into a surreal, absurd adventure as they ride through increasingly bizarre scenarios - traveling through time and space, encountering historical figures like Galileo, experiencing strange environments, and dealing with flying underwear. The sketch features Kenan Thompson as the eccentric mechanical bull operator with his signature high-pitched voice, James Austin Johnson playing guitar throughout various scenes, and the mechanical bull head itself coming to life. The sketch embraces pure absurdist comedy, taking viewers on an unpredictable journey that includes references to contemporary events and completely nonsensical scenarios, all while the two riders remain committed to their increasingly chaotic bull ride.

The sketch was widely praised as one of the highlights of Nikki Glaser's hosting debut. Comments describe it as "the dumbest thing I've seen in a while and I LIVE for it". Fans noted this was part of Season 51's focus on absurd, silly sketch concepts. The flying underwear visible on the green screen floor became a memorable visual element. James Austin Johnson was praised for actually playing guitar (in Open E Major). New featured player Jeremy Culhane's performance as Galileo drew comparisons to former cast member Bobby Moynihan. The sketch exemplifies SNL's return to classic absurdist, surreal comedy. Sarah Sherman's reveal that she's playing herself was highlighted as a particularly funny moment.