Photo: Getty Images
Timothée Chalamet’s second time as host ofSaturday Night Livehad him showing off not only his comedic chops, but also just how versatile he is as an all-around performer.
The last time he hosted was during COVID in 2020 and he had to wear a mask for the duration of the show. This go-round, he was in the mood to celebrate the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, which came in the middle of his rehearsal week for the show.
During his opening monologue, he made light of the fact that, during the strike, actors weren’t allowed to plug their projects, like his upcoming filmWonka.
Timothée Chalamet during his SNL monologue on Saturday, November 11.NBCSNL/X
NBCSNL/X
But now that the strike is over, Chalamet said, “It’s like we’re all returning to this magical world, where actors can once again talk about their projects.” With that, the lights dimmed and he grabbed a cane.
“Come with me, and you’ll be, in a world of shameless self-promotion,” he sang to the tune of “Pure Imagination” from the originalCharlie and the Chocolate Factoryfilm from 1971. The lyrics, however, were changed to talk-up his own upcoming movies.
“If you want to view a three-and-a-half hour film, go seeKillers of the Flower Moon, or just wait for Part 2 ofDune. Just make sure before to use the bathroom,” he sang of another of his films, theDunesequel which is set to be released in 2024.
In his first sketch, Chalamet played a young and successful rapper named SmokeCheddaThaAssGetta guesting on a talk show with Mary J. Blige (Punkie Johnson), Rick Rubin (James Austin Johnson) and Cornel West (Kenan Thompson) commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
Asked who his favorite rapper of all-time is, Chalamet’s rapper character answered, “That insurance girl. When she go ‘Nationwide is on your side,’ “ he sang, “Man, that slap bro. Be rapping out that ‘Nationwide is on your side.’ You know what I’m saying? That fire right there man.”
Next, padded with rippling, vein-popping muscles, Chalamet played a jacked gym employee in “Gym Call.” What would normally be a simple phone call with a gym member turned into an exercise of patience for Heidi Gardner’s ‘Tracy,’ who gave up trying to communicate and ended the call with a “Your brain is broke.”
In a rather epic-looking, special effects and CGI-driven video, looking like something out ofDune, Chalament played a warrior sent on a mission to destroy the beast intent on “crushing the human race” — a gigantic horse that used to be a tiny horse and his very bestest friend.
“It’s extra bad in the future tonight,” Chalamet sang, showing off his musical abilities once again.
Other sketches starring Chalamet had him playingTroye Sivan, the Australian singer-turned-actor, who appears in Sarah Sherman’s hallucinations; a depressed [and really bad] songwriter; and the Man on the Moon who attempts to encourage an orphan to look on the bright side of life, only to find out that she’s a 28-year-old sociopath.
During Chalamet’s first appearance as host in 2020, he told audiences how excited he was to take on the gig.
“It is a huge honor to be hostingSaturday Night Livein New York City!” he said. “Man, I’m so happy to be here. I’m from New York, I live in New York. I actually grew up in an arts building in Hell’s Kitchen about 12 minutes from here.”
SNL/NBC
“Before I was born, my mom was a dance teacher but on occasion, she would do background work onSaturday Night Live,” the star continued. “In fact, we have a clip of her in aDana CarveyandChris Farleysketch ‘Massive Head Wound Harry.’”
Since then, the Golden Globe nominee has kept busy with several upcoming projects and spending time withKylie Jenner, who didn’t appear to have been in theSNLstudio on Saturday night, but supported Chalamet at theshow’s afterparty in N.Y.C. later the same night.
Gotham/GC Images
The actor is slated to star in the upcomingWonkafilm when it hits theaters on Dec. 15, where he will show off his singing and dancing skillsas Willy Wonka. In the midst of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, his appearance onDune Part 2alongsideZendayahas been delayedto March 2024.
Gabe Ginsberg/Getty
Saturday Night Liveseason 49 continues with its fifth episode next week on Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
source: people.com
