Jack Black Joins Five-Timers Club as Jack White Debuts New Music on SNL

NEW YORK — Actor Jack Black celebrated a major career milestone this weekend, hosting Saturday Night Live for the fifth time on April 4 and officially joining the program’s storied “Five-Timers Club.” However, the induction was anything but traditional, as Black and a slate of familiar faces leaned into the self-deprecating satire that has defined the late-night institution for decades.

Black’s monologue descended into chaos as he was joined by Jonah Hill and veteran cast member Tina Fey. The scene revealed a dilapidated, cobweb-covered version of the formerly prestigious Five-Timers lounge. During the skit, Fey delivered a sharp jab at the show’s internal history. Jack Black’s induction into the Five-Timers Club featured surprise cameos from Tina Fey and Jonah Hill, who used the platform to poke fun at the show’s long-standing diversity criticisms.

The episode’s political edge was immediately apparent during the cold open, which focused on the recent firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi by President Donald Trump. While the sketch drew immediate criticism from some viewers who labeled the segment as overly partisan, NBC has defended the content as consistent with the show’s history of political satire.

Musical guest Jack White provided a high-energy counterpoint to the evening’s comedy. Marking his sixth appearance as the show’s musical guest, White performed two new singles, “Derecho Demonico” and “G.O.D. and the Broken Ribs.” The tracks, which are currently being sold at Third Man Records locations in Detroit, Nashville, and London, saw physical editions sell out in less than two hours following the broadcast.

Music critics have noted that the new songs appear to mark a return to White’s garage-rock roots, with “Derecho Demonico” being described as a high-intensity “fuzz-guitar workout.” During the monologue, the worlds of music and comedy collided when Black closed out the segment with a rendition of “Seven Nation Army,” accompanied by White on electric guitar.

“You’re the first Black in the five-timers club.”

— Tina Fey, SNL Cameo Artist

The collaboration clearly resonated with audiences; clips of the “Seven Nation Army” performance went viral on social media, racking up over 5 million views within 12 hours. While the digital reception was overwhelmingly positive, the show’s political tone remains a point of contention online, sparking a debate on social media between fans of the musical performances and those critical of the program’s recent editorial direction.

As White’s new singles prepare to roll out to mainstream record retailers next week, his performance continues a long-term collaboration with the musical titan that has seen him serve as a guest on the show in 2002, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2023. For Black, the five-show achievement serves to cement his status as a pillar of the Saturday Night Live brand, even as the “Five-Timers” set itself continues to teeter on the edge of farce.