When you hear "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" it can only mean one thing: a brand new Saturday Night Live episode. The NBC staple came back for its 47th season and brought in the big guns for hosting: Owen Wilson.
The October 2nd premiere started the way that all great SNL episodes begin, with a Cold Open monologue delivered by the guest host. And as a first-timer, many assumed Owen would be feeling the pressure. And to be fair, he might have - but he sure didn't let the audience know. "OK, we're doing it! Season premiere of Saturday Night Live!" the 52-year-old comedian exclaimed to the enthusiastic crowd. From hilarious recollections from his childhood to his unique approach to receiving (or rather, ignoring) negative criticisms on his performance, Wilson got the crowd all warmed up for the storm of jokes to come. Even if he had his doubts...
"I mean, I know everyone comes out here and says, 'It's going to be a great show!'... Is it?" the upcoming Marry Me star joked to the audience. "I mean, I'm betting on it, of course. I've been betting on a lot of things lately... I guess what's I'm trying to say is, put on your coziest flannel and maybe we just chill out for the next 90 minutes." His attitude both on and off-screen has come to be a fan favorite, and Owen knew just how to get the live studio audience ready for his special brand of humor. But of course, Owen wasn't the only one making his SNL (hosting) debut that night. A brand new trio of talent also got some time in the spotlight as Lorne Michaels and the show's creative team got ready to debut the newest cast members.
Aristotle Athari, James Austin Johnson, and Sarah Sherman were this year's SNL rookies and definitely proved their worth during the season's opening episode - especially James. While most first-timers on the show break onto the scene with the odd line or two, Johnson got the huge honor (and responsibility) of stepping into the staple role of President Biden on the show.
We'll see you next Saturday for a new episode!
