‘SNL’ Cast Members React to Elon Musk Hosting: ‘How Could You Not Be Excited for That?’
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
When NBC announced last month that Elon Musk would host “Saturday Night Live” this week, people’s reactions were split, including the cast.
During an appearance on “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” Pete Davidson said he doesn’t understand why people are “freaking out.”
More from Variety
Kate McKinnon's Eccentric Impressions Remain a 'Saturday Night Live' Staple
Maya Rudolph on Burnout, Beyoncé and the Magic Link Between Music and Comedy
How Kate McKinnon Uses Comedy to Cope With Her Social Anxiety
“They’re like, ‘Oh I can’t believe that Elon Musk is hosting!'” Davidson said. “And I’m like, ‘The guy that makes the earth better kinda and makes cool things and sends people to Mars?'”
Davidson also said he was having dinner with Musk and “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels later that night.
“I’m really excited, man,” he said. “I’m gonna ask him for, like, a Tesla or some shit.”
Similarly, Michael Che voiced support for Musk while on “Late Night” earlier this week.
“That’s gonna be exciting, too,” Che told Meyers. “He’s the richest man in the world, how could you not be excited for that?”
While appearing virtually on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Wednesday, Che said, “The show’s on 46 years and people still care about who’s being booked. I think that’s kind of dope.”
“I was all on board for it ’til I found out, like, did you know he’s rich?” Che joked. “Now I’m, like, against it.”
Che also responded to the criticism regarding Musk in an interview on The Breakfast Club Tuesday. When Charlamagne tha God asked the comedian why there was so much backlash, Che joked, “I think white people just don’t like their billionaires for some reason.”
“It’s weird cuz we love our billionaires,” Che said. “If Oprah or Tyler Perry was coming, we’d be all excited about it. I think it’s a little embarrassing when they realize how much wealth they actually have.”
When asked if he thought comedy was too sensitive, Che said he loves that it’s sensitive because it makes taking comedic risks more impactful, and he’s glad “SNL” still has an edge.
“[Musk] is a polarizing guy,” Che said. “But that’s what makes the show exciting.”
On May 1, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO tweeted, “Throwing out some skit ideas for SNL. What should I do?” Musk followed up with ideas including “Baby Shark Tank,” “Irony Man” and “Woke James Bond.”
When Charlamagne asked Che, a head writer at “SNL,” if he was offended by Musk’s tweet, Che said, “No man, I think it’s great. I hope he does some of them. It makes my job easier.”
Though not everyone on the “SNL” cast seems excited for their next host.
When Musk tweeted, “Let’s find out just how live Saturday Night Live really is” in April, “SNL’s” Bowen Yang questioned his comment on Instagram, writing, “What the fuck does this even mean?”
In a more subtle jab, Aidy Bryant posted a retweet from Sen. Bernie Sanders calling it a “moral obscenity” that “the 50 wealthiest people in America today own more wealth than the bottom half of our people.”
Both Yang and Bryant’s posts have since been deleted.
In response to Musk’s tweet about offering “skit” ideas, “SNL’s” Chris Redd said, “First I’d call em sketches.”
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
