‘SNL’ tackles NFL, Rami Malek, Pete Davidson turn ‘Squid Game’ into country song
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Rami Malek is the first to admit he’s no funnyman.
“I’ve played a lot of dramatic roles in my career – most recently, the new Bond villain – but I don’t usually do comedy,” the 2019 Oscar winner for “Bohemian Rhapsody” said Saturday, amiably hosting his inaugural “Saturday Night Live.”
“I tend to do these really intense characters,” Malek told the audience, “which makes a lot of sense because people tell me I have what’s called a ‘resting villain face.’ ”
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Malek, 40, who starred in USA’s “Mr. Robot,” has gradually learned to embrace his weirdness.
“I’ve always been more drawn to villains,” Malek said in his opening monologue. Growing up obsessively watching Disney’s “The Lion King,” “I actually found Simba to be kind of annoying. You want to be king? You’re 3 years old.”
More ‘SNL’: Rami Malek, Pete Davidson turn our ‘Squid Game’ obsession into a country song
As for Jodie Foster thriller “The Silence of the Lambs,” which turns 30 this year, “I’m always like, ‘That poor Hannibal. That lady Clarice just keeps coming in and asking him all these questions. Leave the guy alone!’ ”
Malek appeared as everything from a stink bug to a Prince wannabe to Pete Davidson during the show, even paying tribute to Netflix’s hottest series right now, “Squid Game.” He was joined by 007 co-star Daniel Craig, who surprised audiences by popping into Saturday’s episode.
Rami Malek: Why he wasn’t afraid to go up against James Bond (and what happened to his face?)
Malek currently stars in the latest James Bond thriller “No Time to Die” as the maniacal Lyutsifer Safin, a bioterrorist seeking control of the world and 007’s love interest, Madeleine (Lea Seydoux).
“I kept reminding myself that James Bond might be powerful and a hero to all,” Malek told USA TODAY. “But there is no greater adversary, greater power or more intelligent human being than Safin. That’s his vision of himself.”
“Saturday Night Live” is back for Season 47! First-timer Kim Kardashian West hosted the iconic late-night variety show on Oct. 9, sending up her family and O.J. Simpson in her opening monologue.
First-time host Owen Wilson ushered in the new season on Oct. 2. “Now, a lot has changed since last season. The vaccine came out everywhere except Florida and the rest of the country went back to normal for about a week and a half,” Wilson said during his monologue. “But it is wonderful to be here around people again.”
(L-R) Country music star, and musical guest, Kacey Musgraves poses with host Wilson and Kenan Thompson.
Musgraves was the musical guest during “Saturday Night Live” on Oct. 2.
The Grammy winner delivered an emotional performance of “justified” and “camera roll” from her fifth studio album, Star-Crossed.
“SNL” had fun with “The View” during its season premiere, with a fake show called “The Talking.” Ego Nwodim’s host character welcomed guests to the show, “where we discuss everything that women could have an opinion about at 11:30 in the morning.” Heidi Gardner, Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong joined her.
(L-R) Andrew Dismukes as Oliver Daemen, Heidi Gardner as Wally Funk, host Wilson as Jeff Bezos, and Luke Wilson as Mark Bezos during the “Billionaire Star Trek” sketch.
(L-R) Pete Davidson and anchor Colin Jost during Weekend Update on “SNL.”
Davidson channeled his inner Dog the Bounty Hunter during the “School Board Meeting” sketch on Oct. 2.
Thompson during the “School Board Meeting” sketch on “SNL.”
(L-R) Bryant as Sen. Joe Manchin, Strong as Sen Krysten Sinema, Davidson as Andrew Cuomo, James Austin Johnson as President Joe Biden, Alex Moffat as Sen. Chuck Schumer, Nwodim as Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Melissa Villaseñor as Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during the “Biden Unites Democrats” Cold Open on the “SNL” season premiere.
And that’s a wrap for the “Saturday Night Live” Season 47 premiere!
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rami Malek can’t help ‘resting villain face’ in ‘SNL’ hosting gig, Daniel Craig crashes
