In the holiday-themed Saturday Night Live season finale this weekend, SNL took one of the most ubiquitous Christmas traditions and gave it a bizarre, hilariously grim twist.
During the sketch officially titled “Elf on the Shelf Support Group,” a circle of beleaguered elves gathered to share what can only be described as traumatic Christmas stories. The setup, delivered in high-pitched voices and absurd costumes, quickly turned seasonal cheer into a comedic therapy session filled with holiday horror.
Led by a cast member acting as the elf support group facilitator, the toy figures recounted their yearly ordeals: one elf was reportedly ripped in half by a family cat, another went insane after being lost in couch cushions for weeks, while others endured humiliations ranging from improper poses at a fraternity house to nightmares about the pressures of reporting children’s behavior to Santa.
The sketch leaned deep into dark humor — wrapping seasonal misery in the cutest outfits — and played on the idea that the “Elf on the Shelf” tradition, which normally hides quietly on mantels and shelves, might have feelings worth discussing.
Appearing as one of the distressed elves, host Ariana Grande delivered lines that veered from silly to outright bleak, including one character’s exclamation about wishing elves could just end their relentless holiday duty.
While SNL has long mined holiday tropes for laughs, this sketch stood out for its blend of absurdist pain and sitcom-style therapy group format — prompting chuckles from some viewers and raised eyebrows from others. Online reaction has skewed positive, with fans praising both the originality and the cast’s commitment to the unusual premise.
The episode aired as part of SNL’s year-end holiday special, hosted by Ariana Grande with musical guest Cher, and featured other standout sketches such as a twisted Home Alone parody and topical seasonal bits.
The “Elf on the Shelf Support Group” is now streaming on Peacock alongside the full episode, giving fans a chance to relive one of the stranger — and funniest — takes on a holiday icon this year.
