Girl group KATSEYE appeared on the season premiere of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), a stage predominantly graced by American stars, showcasing performances of their new tracks alongside a comedic sketch.
KATSEYE featured as the musical guest on the premiere of "SNL" Season 52, which aired on September 27 (KST), marking their very first appearance on the program since their debut. The group delivered performances of "Animal," the pre-release track from their third EP "WILD," and the title track "Hootie Frutti," while also participating in a comedy sketch.
During the "Animal" stage, the members took off their black jackets midway through the performance to reveal outfits adorned with feathers and jewels. Under striking red lighting, their bold facial expressions brought out the song's provocative mood. For "Hootie Frutti," they staged a vibrant performance on a set reminiscent of a tropical fruit juice bar, incorporating playful gestures as if picking and tasting fresh fruit.
In the comedy sketch, KATSEYE appeared in "The Debut: Dream Academy 2," a parody of the audition show that formed them, "The Debut: Dream Academy." In this comedic twist, the members—once contestants themselves—acted as judges auditioning hopefuls for a new girl group, delivering laughs as they earnestly cheered on clumsy and quirky auditionees.
Billboard highlighted KATSEYE's "SNL" appearance as a milestone reflecting their rapid rise. Noting their back-to-back guest spots on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and the "Today" show, Billboard emphasized their step onto the "SNL" stage and described them as "one of the most commercially successful girl groups in the world."
KATSEYE is also nominated in four categories at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, taking place on September 27 local time: "Best Group," "Song of Summer," "Best K-Pop," and "Best Choreography."
Later this year, the group will join the "2026 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour." This year's lineup includes Olivia Rodrigo, Jonas Brothers, Hilary Duff, Alex Warren, and Charlie Puth. KATSEYE will perform at the tour's opening show in Dallas-Fort Worth on December 1.
Photo Credit: "Saturday Night Live" YouTube channel
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)