Timothee Chalamet Fulfills Dual Roles on 'SNL'
Timotheé Chalamet had a triple threat night on Saturday Night Live, hosting for the third time and serving as the musical guest, too. This isn't a common occurrence in the show's 50-year history. While acts like Deion Sanders in 1995 and Lily Tomlin in 1975 have done the same, Chalamet's performance was a refreshing twist, especially given the Oscar-nominated film, A Complete Unknown, he tied into with his songs.
The oddity of a non-musician acting as the musical guest is not lost on Chalamet, who praised SNL for their quirks in his monologue. The tradition of non-musicians taking on this role is a rare one, with Desi Arnaz, Lily Tomlin, and Deion Sanders being the only few to do so. Arnaz, most notably, even brought the Conga Line to SNL.
Moving on to the show itself, the Cold Open began with a meta-humor exercise, featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda as a rapping Hamilton. This was followed by James Austin Johnson's impersonation of Donald Trump, offering a political commentary on the inauguration. The monologue focused on Chalamet's struggle with awards, despite his multiple nominations.
The night featured various sketches, including a humorous take on bungee workouts, a medcast-style doctor visit, and a training session for new baristas. The pre-taped sketches, such as Oedipal Arrangements and AI Software, showed SNL's willingness to try out unique and edgy content. The performances, notably Chalamet's Bob Dylan songs, received praise for their inventiveness and Chalamet's ability to make the songs his own.
All in all, Chalamet's appearance on SNL was filled with entertaining moments, impressive performances, and a nod to its quirky history. Confirming Seasons 50's host is yet to be announced.
Sarah Sherman made a notable appearance in the bungee workout sketch, showcasing her comedic talents once again. During the SNL 50 recap segment, Lin-Manuel Miranda highlighted the show's unique moments throughout its 50-year history, mentioning Desi Arnaz's iconic Conga Line performance. Timothée Chalamet, in his appreciation for the show, expressed his admiration for bringing non-musicians as musical guests, like Bob Dylan, who graced the stage in earlier seasons of SNL 50.
