SNL gets serious: Show ditches traditional cold open for moving performance of Ukrainian national anthem. Host John Mulaney cracks jokes about rehab and having a baby with Olivia Munn... but makes no mention of the wife he ditched

 Saturday Night Live went without its famous cold open ahead of this evening's show on the Russian invasion of Ukraine this evening.

Instead, the show presented a performance by the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York performing the Ukrainian national anthem. 

The song originates from a 19th century Ukrainian poem titled 'Ukraine Is Not Dead Yet.' 

After the moving rendition, the show revealed a set of candles in the shape of the word 'Kiev' referring to the Ukrainian capital, which is currently under siege.

Cast members Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong ended the performance with the traditional proclamation of 'Live from New York, it's Saturday night.' 

Cold open of Saturday Night Live on Feb. 26, 2022 features a Ukrainian choir with cast members Kate McKinnon (front left) and Cecily Strong

The show presented a performance by the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York performing the Ukrainian national anthem

After the moving rendition, the show revealed a set of candles in the shape of the word 'Kiev' referring to the Ukrainian capital, which is currently under siege

Comedian John Mulaney, a former SNL writer, then returned as host for a fifth time and did a monologue referencing his newfound sobriety and new son with actress Olivia Munn.

Mulaney and Munn got together after Mulaney's stint in rehab and have since had a son named Malcolm. 

The arena-headlining comedian did not make reference to his ex-wife Annamarie Tendler.

Mulaney referenced his stay in rehab, where he had to delete and block all of his drug dealers. Upon reaching one of them, he discovered that he wasn't a drug dealer at all, just a painter who Mulaney had kept asking for drugs.   

'All the time, drug dealers turn an innocent man into a drug addict. I might be the first drug addict to turn an innocent man into a drug dealer,' he cracked.

Overall, Mulaney said: 'Life is a lot better and happier now. I have a 12-week-old son. I'm very excited.'

John Mulaney gives his monologue on Saturday Night Live

Mulaney and son Malcolm in this photo from girlfriend Olivia Munn's Instagram story

Mulaney left his ex-wife Annamarie Tendler in late 2020

Olivia Munn and Mulaney, along with son Malcolm, have a play date with Henry Golding and his wife

Weekend Update did take its teeth into the crisis in Ukraine with a series of jokes about the country. 

'This week, Russia began their invasion of Ukraine. President Putin launched the attack with the support of allies like Belarus and Tucker Carlson,' said Colin Jost.

Jost then turned the barbs at his own network's low rated coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games.  

'Many analysts were surprised that Putin went through with it even though it was obviously going to be a colossal mistake. But he couldn't back down after all that build up. Kind of like how NBC still had to go through with airing the Winter Olympics.'

'Experts on Russian politics are saying that economic sanctions from the west will not deter Putin because his money is in non-traditional assets that are difficult to trace,' added Jost. 'So on top of everything else awful about Putin, he's also into crypto.'

Colin Jost on Weekend Update

Michael Che on Weekend Update

Co-anchor Michael Che tossed in a joke about President Biden using the Supreme Court nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to distract people from the crisis. 

'Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson...was nominated by president Biden to become the first black woman on the supreme court. The nomination fulfilling Biden's promise to change the subject,' Che joked. 

As it was Mulaney's fifth time hosting the show, he participated in a sketch with other hosts who've run the ship five times, including Steve Martin, Candace Bergen, Tina Fey, Elliott Gould and Paul Rudd, who had his fifth hosting effort cut somewhat short due to a COVID outbreak. 

The cast of five-timers was also joined by former 'Late Night' host Conan O'Brien. 

It was a rare return to 30 Rock for O'Brien since leaving his beloved talk show for an aborted hosting stint on 'The Tonight Show' in 2009 and 2010.  

Rudd also appeared in a taped sketch with the show's Please Don't Destroy troop alongside Today Show anchor Al Roker.  

John Mulaney gets initiated into the 5-Timers Club on Saturday Night Live on Feb. 26, 2022, and is greeted by Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Elliott Gould and Candice Bergen

Conan O'Brien made his return to 30 Rock for the sketch

Al Roker from the Today Show dropped by SNL this weekend