Jake Gyllenhaalis taking a stroll down memory lane.
The actor, 41, made his return toSaturday Night Liveas host over the weekend, after last leading the late-night NBC comedy sketch series in 2007. The hosting gig came on the heels of the premiere ofAmbulance, his latest film.
During hisopening monologue, Gyllenhaal joked about how long it had been since he last hosted the show, teasing, “That was like 400Marvelmovies ago.”
“To give you an idea of what it was like in 2007, in the show I hosted, there was aGeorge W. Bushsketch, there were jokes about the first iPhone, and this is a photo of me from my monologue,” he continued, before a photograph of Gyllenhaal in a wig and dress was shown.
“There I am in full drag, singing a song fromDreamgirls, to promote a movie where I played agay cowboy,” Gyllenhaal added. “That was actually the least problematic thing in that episode, but looking back, I feel like I was a totally different person.”
Will Heath/NBC
Gyllenhaal then went into a bit about how he is portrayed as being “this serious, intense method actor,” before noting that he was only “doing that method stuff” because he thought it was what he needed to do to be taken seriously as an actor. He explained that it made him forget “how to have fun.”
“That’s when I realized something I should have realized a long time ago — acting is a really stupid job,” he continued. “It’s pretend and it’s fun, and it should be filled with joy. Well, I’m finally embracing that joy again, and that’s why I’m back standing on this stage.”
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Gyllenhaal admitted, however, that he never thoughtSNL"would come calling" and ask him to host once more due to the fact that he hosted the show so long ago. “But being here tonight,” he said, “it feels like everything is suddenly coming back.”
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During hisSNLhosting spot, Gyllenhaal performed in an array of sketches, including one surrounding acouple’s therapy session, and another where he played aplant that garnered the attention of a horny bee.
Jake’sSNLstint came just one day afterAmbulancepremiered in theaters. Hetold PEOPLEat the Los Angeles premiere on Monday that he had fulfilled his “dream” of starring in aMichael Baymovie.
“I’ve always had this sort of dream since I was younger to be in a Michael Bay [movie], and it’s just fun to sort of play that out,” Jake said ofAmbulance. “To be in a city where I grew up, where you’re a kid thinking about cars and car chases and stuff like that and to be fulfilling that.”
He added, “Being an action star in a movie, it just allows for so much room for fun and joking and absurdity.”
Lizzowill serve as both host and musical guest whenSaturday Night Livereturns this coming Saturday at 11:30 p.m. PST on NBC.
source: people.com
