Photo: Saturday Night Live/Youtube
Live from Studio 8H, it’sAriana DeBose!
On Saturday evening, the 30-year-old actress made herSaturday Night Livehosting debut, where she shined in a night full of fun-filled and hilarious sketches.
At the start of the program, DeBose performed an opening monologue that celebrated her roots.
“It is great to be here representing not only the Latino community as an Afro-Latina, but also the Broadway community,” she said. “Obviously, Broadway has been through a lot these last past couple of years … but we are a community that perseveres.”
“I believe Broadway changes lives, and hey, it changed mine,” DeBose added. “Broadway has this magical ability to bring people together.”
The actress then channeled herWest Side Storycharacter Anita and sang a selection of songs from the film alongsideKate McKinnon, including “Tonight” and “I Feel Pretty.”
Later in the episode, DeBose performed alongside theSNLcast in a series of sketches, including an NBA on TNT halftime show and one where two parents attempt to offer their son as a date for high school girls renting attire from their dress rental shop.
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Another standout sketch saw castmemberChris Reddimpersonate newly-elected New York City MayorEric Adams, while DeBose stars as his press secretary. “He will kick your ass,” DeBose’s character hilariously quips at one moment in the sketch.
Leading the von Trapp children with a lesson on how to sing, DeBose performs “Do Re Mi” with the inclusion of various pop culture references, includingQueen Latifah,Ray Romano, andHomer Simpson.
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Earlier this month,SNLannouncedthat the second half of season 47 would premiere on Jan. 15 with DeBose as host and Roddy Ricch as musical guest.
SNLpreviously closed out 2021 with a quieter show amid the spread of the omicron variant. As COVID-19 cases surged in New York City where the show is filmed,SNLslimmed downits Dec. 18 show with a limited cast and crew, asPaul Ruddcelebrated his fifth time presenting.
Charli XCX, who was set to perform on Rudd’s episode as the musical guest, had to cancel her set altogether.
Saturday Night Liveairs weekly on NBC.
source: people.com
