Saturday Night Live alum Jimmy Fallon returned to host the show this past weekend with musical guest Justin Timberlake, and needless to say, the show was a hit.
The show was the highest-rated SNL episode in metered markets since the Charles Barkley/Kelly Clarkson episode two years ago, NBC said in a statement. It was also the highest-rated Christmas edition in nine years, according to Nielsen Media Research data.
See also: Jimmy Fallon Gives Pop Hits a Very Festive Holiday Makeover
Was it Fallon's impressions? Timberlake's charm? The holiday spirit of viewers? It was, most likely, a combination of all three factors. Though it's somewhat unsurprising considering the sheer amount of viral hits pals Fallon and Timberlake have generated over the years.
The first digital short was the runaway viral hit. It doesn't feature Timberlake, but it does reference that awkward moment of bringing your significant other home for the holidays and having to get it on in your childhood bedroom/twin bed.
As an added bonus, SNL's female cast dances in front of their awkward seventh grade pics, proving no one does adolescence well, especially TV stars.

The episode's cold open relied on a Timberlake recurring sketch "Bring it on down to ____ ville." This time, Fallon duets and there is wrapping paper involved.

Fallon's monologue involved copious impressions and a surprise appearance from none other than Beatle Paul McCartney, plus a few Bob Dylan jokes.

While this sketch isn't a Timberlake or Fallon one, it does give us a Christmas take on Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's ultra-sexual and ultra-awkward Bound 2 music video, parodied by cast members Jay Pharoah and Nasim Pedrad.

Timberlake and Fallon bring out another recurring classic in their "Barry Gibb Talk Show" sketch, something which has existed as a fan favorite, since Fallon was a cast member and Timberlake hosted SNL for the first time in 2003.

And sorry to end on a Grinch-y note, but the entire show wasn't exactly a smashing success. Fans took fault with Taran Killam's parody of Ebenezer Scrooge, that used the Ghost of Christmas Past to reveal that he's gay.

OK, we can't end with that, so here's Fallon and Cecily Strong with a hilarious rendition of Baby, It's Cold Outside.

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Image: NBC via Hulu