Live from Studio 8H, it’sQuinta Brunson!

During her opening monologue, Brunson opened up about the success of her hit sitcomAbbott Elementary, at one point comparing it toFriends. “Except instead of being about a group of friends, it’s about a group of teachers. And instead of New York, it’s in Philadelphia. And instead of not having Black people — it does,” Brunson joked.

Brunson then explained in her monologue that viewers keep expecting her to fix problems within the public school system in real life, much like her character, teacher Janine Teagues. But as she shared, she’s the “opposite” of her character, and the success of the show has introduced her to some pretty big names. Showing a video she andBarack Obamasent to her mother thanking her for being a teacher, Brunson then concluded that teachers get “taken for granted.”

“Please remember how important teachers are, acknowledge the work they do every day and for the love of God, pay them the money they deserve,” she said.

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Later in the show, Brunson took part in various sketches, including one where she played a doctor who keeps running into the same midwife, and another where she portrayed an increasingly concerned partner in a “Couple Goals” game show.

Lil Yachty, 25, also performed twice during his first-everSNLappearance, playing selections from his latest LPLet’s Start Here.

Tapping into his latest psychedelic rock-inspired sound, Yachty, whose real name is Miles Parks McCollum, first delivered a rendition of “the BLACK seminole” with Diana Gordon, before bringing the collaborator back on stage for a performance of “drive ME crazy” near the end of the show.

RELATED VIDEO: Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler Share Their FavoriteSNLMoment: ‘We Were Laughing So Hard Our Wigs Came Off’

Season 48 ofSNLhas been taking place as the comedy sketch series navigates a major cast shakeup. Longtime series regularsKate McKinnon,Pete Davidson,Aidy BryantandKyle Mooneyexited after theseason 47 finale.

PEOPLE thenconfirmedon Sept. 1 that the series was also losingMelissa VillaseñorandAlex Moffat, as well as featured playerAristotle Athari. Then,Chris Reddannouncedhis departure fromSNLafter five seasons, whileCecily Strongleft the show in December 2022.

On Sept. 15, NBC revealed the four new featured players joiningSNLin season 48:Marcello Hernandez,Molly Kearney,Michael LongfellowandDevon Walker.

SNLcreator Lorne Michaels recently calledseason 48 a “transition year,“telling reporters backstage at the2022 Emmy Awards, “There are new people, and things are changing, and a different generation comes into the show.”

Saturday Night Livewill return on April 8 withMolly Shannonas host andThe Jonas Brothersas musical guest.

source: people.com