Maya Rudolph Takes on Beyoncé on Saturday Night Live, Brings Pals Justin Timberlake & Amy Poehler

Bridesmaids star and SNL alum transitions from former cast member to first-time host

By Brandi Fowler Feb 19, 2012 5:30 PMTags

Just like Saturday Night Live alums turned hosts before her (we're looking at you, Jimmy Fallon), Maya Rudolph rocked last night's show.

The Bridesmaids star and SNL alum took the stage for the first time as host of the late-night laugher, bringing back her killer voice, spot-on impressions and a little Justin Timberlake to boot.

"I am so happy to be back here at SNL with all my friends, my SNL family," Rudolph said in her opening monologue. "It's a dream come true to be hosting, it really is. I will never forget the seven amazing years I had in this studio. Every face I see reminds me of a special moment I've shared. So many special moments…some of them sexual."

And the host, who said she connected with "many people with her booty," went on to break out into a song-and-dance number about those sexual trysts during her "wild child" days on SNL

Then it was time for the show….and a reprise of Rudolph's beloved character Jodi on Bronx Beat.

On the segment, Amy Poehler also returned to play spunky talk show cohost Betty, and the duo took on topics like Hoarders ("You know what they should call that show? Oops! We Found a Cat Skeleton"), and J.Lo's "14-year-old dancer who Roger Rabbited his way into her heart."

Justin Timberlake made his surprise appearance playing Bronx Beat crewmember (along with Andy Samberg), who takes Betty and Jodi's flirty advances a little too seriously.

While Rudolph continued to bring on the laughs portraying the likes of poet-turned-prankster Maya Angelou, Michele Obama and a showcase model, among others, it was her take on Beyoncé that proved to be one of the show's best skits.

In "Jay-Z and Beyoncé's Baby," Beyoncé (Rudolph in a blonde wing and shimmery silver dress) and Jay-Z (Jay Pharoah, who does a spot-on impression of the hip-hopper) welcome a round of visitors to visit baby Blue Ivy. Fred Armisen plays Prince, Keenan Thompson plays LL Cool J, Nasim Pedrad takes on Nicki Minaj (and pokes fun at her Grammy performance), Taran Killam and Abby Elliot play Brad Pitt and Angelina, and Justin Timberlake returns to take on a bored-with-himself Bon Iver.

 "Sorry I'm late...I was just wandering in the woods barefoot in Wisconsin, fashioned this guitar out of a canoe and I wrote a song for your baby," Bon Iver (Timberlake) says, before falling asleep to his own music.

But that wasn't all.

Amy Poehler sat back down at the Weekend Update desk with Seth Meyers to discuss birth control, and Bill O'Reilly and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Kate Upton turned up on "What Up With That: President's Day Special," as guests on Keenan's Deondre Cole's Show.

While Cole interjects musical numbers throughout the show with an MC Hammer dancing Jason Sudeikis, Rudolph returns as "Brazil's answer to LeAnn Rimes," Sabrina Spotlight, and um, steals the spotlight with yet another song-and-dance number and a belly-baring get-up. 

Rock duo Sleigh Bells served as the musical guest for the show, performing "Comeback Kid" and "End of the Line."

So, we want to know...what did you think of Rudolph's return to SNL?

Sound off in the comments.

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