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Katy Perry and Robyn Team for ‘SNL’ Poptacular

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The list of musicians who have hosted Saturday Night Live is longer (and weirder!) than you’d think: Paul Simon, Ray Charles, Art Garfunkel, the Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa, Debbie Harry, Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder, Ringo Starr, Madonna, Paul Shaffer, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Quincy Jones, Sting, MC Hammer, Garth Brooks, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Queen Latifah, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Jon Bon Jovi, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Elton John. This past weekend, Katy Perry joined this bizarre fellowship, and viewers tuned in — according to the Hollywood Reporter, she helped earn the show’s best ratings since November 5.

The pop star hit some speed bumps along the way, but not with her boobs, as expected (the last time Perry was on SNL, her chest stole the show). Her opening monologue leaned on characters from her videos, but Kristen Wiig wore the whipped cream breasts. In her weaker moments on the show, Perry played a Hello Kitty enthusiast, herself (being interviewed by an awkward Finnish talk show host), and MSNBC’s Kelly O’Donnell. At her best, Perry portrayed a tragic soulmate-seeking single with a tattoo of Jewel on her breast and did a wickedly spot-on Florence Welch impression. Her impersonation of Christina Aguilera in a New Year’s Eve spoof called The Apocalypse was fine, but upstaged by a casting gag — the film also starred Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Kris “Ludacris” Kristofferson, and Lou “Ludacris” Bega.

Perry was actually outstanding twice: playing a cheery “best friend” of Andy Samburg in a hilariously dark digital short, and portraying a bawdy Pippa Middleton who grabbed the mic from Queen Elizabeth (the ever brilliant Fred Armisen) for a raucous two-tone holiday jam:

Perry’s California Dreams tourmate (and SPIN feature subject) Robyn worked herself into a lather as the night’s musical guest, performing all of her signature dance moves in a three-minute frenzy during first tune “Call Your Girlfriend,” including a back flip/floor hump she patented in the track’s video. She accomplished all this while wearing a ridiculous amount of spandex and platform Timbalands. She returned dressed like an upscale construction worker for “Dancing on My Own,” again performing as though she were singing in an arena of crazed fans rather than on an NBC soundstage. But (over)working as hard as she did, it looked and sounded like it wouldn’t be long until she’d be headlining her own U.S. stadium tour.