Image Credit: WireImage.com
Is it too early to dub 2011 the year of Melissa McCarthy? Methinks not. After all, McCarthy has finally been recognized for her comedic talents (though Gilmore Girls fans will boast that they had known about it for years) thanks her breakout performance in this summer’s smash hit Bridesmaids. Then she followed up that success with a surprise Emmy win for her work on the sitcom Mike & Molly, for which she gave a sweet and sincere acceptance speech. (Not to mention totally knocking it out of the park with her fellow funny lady Amy Poehler during the ceremony’s beauty contest spoof.) Now she’s one-upped herself yet again with her first Saturday Night Live hosting gig, airing this evening.
In fact, if tonight’s SNL feels as funny and fresh as last week’s Alec Baldwin-hosted premiere, it’s a pretty safe bet that everything will continue coming up McCarthy. Not only can she hold her own against anyone (you’d better stay pumped, Andy Samberg) but she’ll be reuniting with her Bridesmaids co-star, SNL multi-tasker Kristin Wiig. Perhaps we’ll get a skit about what could happen in the possible sequel? (I’m personally hoping to see MCarthy’s Megan meet Bobby Moynihan’s spot-on imitation of Guy Fieri, as the actress admitted she based the Bridesmaids character off the over-the-top Food Network star.) Or maybe, just maybe, SNL vets Poehler and Tina Fey will swing by for another awesome pageant? (Never stop dreaming, PopWatchers!)
But McCarthy won’t be the only one to make her SNL debut tonight. Ladies and gentleman, Wilson Phillips! No, just kidding. Actually, a different power trio entirely, Grammy-winners Lady Antebellum will grace the stage of Studio 8H for the first time, too. But can we expect all new material from the chart-topping country crossover act, whose latest album Own the Night currently sits at #2 on the Billboard 200? Or will viewers get treated to the crowd-pleasing smash single “Need You Now”?
Will you be tuning in tonight to see how McCarthy fares as a first-time host, PopWatchers? Do you hope the SNL writers pull a lot from Bridesmaids or do you think they should test out something else for McCarthy? Or are you simply psyched for the musical stylings of Lady Antebellum? Either way, we’ll have a full recap up and running for you by Sunday morning, but until then, feel free to post your thoughts here.
Read more:
Melissa McCarthy and Andy Samberg pump the jam in ‘SNL’ promos
Melissa McCarthy and Joel McHale’s hilarious Emmy video
Emmy scene-stealer Melissa McCarthy’s EW Pop Culture Personality Test
I can’t wait! Always a GG fan, Melissa has been a favorite scene stealer of mine for years!
Agree about GG but tonight’s SNL was not good.
wasn’t really feeling it tonight
Show was hit and miss, but McCarthy was awesome. She really went all out in her sketches.
can’t wait hope it lives up to expectations
mediocre
Might watch tonight. I can’t remember to look for Schweddy Balls when I do my groc. shopping!
Just cannot warm up to this woman.
Agree!
Those promos were just not funny
Agree! Huge let down from last week!
This show is so hit and miss.
seriously thought the pic on the ew front page was of Rosie O’Donnell with like 35 years of airbrushing applied.
Please don’t confuse Melissa with that B!tch!
I am sure she is much better in every way possible but seriously I did think it was a pic of Rosie. Sorry.
Well, her laugh and all-around enthusiasm kind of reminds me of “Queen of Nice” Rosie. Eh, I have a soft spot for Rosie. I liked her in her talk show days and I still do. Anyway… Melissa McCarthy really reminds me more of her former Gilmore Girls co-star, Lauren Graham. Only, you know, hefty.
Can’t wait. I have a feeling she’ll hit it out of the park.
“Now she’s one-upped herself yet again with her first Saturday Night Live hosting gig, airing this evening”
Now, I’m guessing she’ll do just fine whatever she’s given to do. But also remember that many, many, many “first” hosting gigs turn out to be the last as well.
Now, when is Tony Bennett going to be the musical guest. He’s everywhere promoting his album. And he can mix it up with Alec Baldwin.
Kristen Wiig acts like an annoying idiot again and isn’t funny again. Why does she get nominated for Emmys every year? I do not get it. I do not get her.
honestly I wonder why I still watch SNL sometimes
Kristen Wiig again. Not funny. And annoyingly skinny. Is this opening monologue supposed to be sexy? Amusing? Vomit-inducing?
It would have been so much better if you kept all your trolling in one post.
The jazz act in the beginning was quite enjoyable to watch. I say, off to a good start!
I agree.
Oh man the HPV doll, I’ll admit it made me laugh out loud. Good absurdity.
Yeah, I agree. I definitely didn’t see that coming. This time, SNL didn’t really have to shoot for a political agenda. They just went for the absurd and it worked.
Worse Digital Short ever.
Yeah, really. “STOMP”ing all over Blue Man Group?
It could’ve been good, but it was nothing more than that description.
N my barkley voice….turrible!
The sketch in the office had me literally laughing out loud. when she was riding the horse I thought I was going to die.
She was funny in that sketch
She was. The sketch, however, was so-so. Kind’ve a desperate attempt to stretch out McCarthy’s Bridesmaid’s character. It did get better as it went, though. And Bill Hader was yummy.
some of the writing for this show has been really bad this year
I know. That was hilarious!
Taran Killam is the best thing about SNL I’ve noticed.
But why is he getting all the roles tonight? I like him too, but why can’t some of these nondescript supporting parts go to Paul Brittain?
Perhaps he had a hand in writing them… or, more likely, he shares an office with the person who DID. Just a guess.