Dear Gossips,

I predicted back in July that Lizzo would be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live’s season premiere. I was wrong. It’s going to be Billie Eilish and the host is Woody Harrelson to promote Zombieland: Double Tap which opens in October.

When SNL announced their upcoming hosts and musical guests a couple of days ago, though, it wasn’t Woody or Billie making headlines. The biggest name on the board is hosting in December, the Christmas episode, the final episode of 2019: 


 
I mean, yes, of course, I’m jacked about Phoebe Waller-Bridge, but we all know the history between Eddie Murphy and SNL. He appeared on SNL for the 40th anniversary but it’s been decades since he hosted. So, yeah, it’s a big deal. Why now? 

Dolemite is My Name

It’s a world premiere at TIFF next week, Saturday night, primetime, one of the most highly anticipated red carpets of the festival. They say Eddie’s performance as Rudy Ray Moore is the best of his career – and, well, that December SNL episode is notable because that’s right in the heat of award season. Looks like they’re putting together an Oscar campaign around Eddie Murphy. If the Oscars happened today, the frontrunner to win Best Actor, according to experts, is Antonio Banderas for his work in Pedro Almodovar’s Pain and Glory. Eddie is definitely in the conversation though. And I’m pretty sure he won’t have a Norbit this year to kill his chances. 

That said, Dolemite is My Name trailer is a Netflix feature. That’s probably going to be the biggest challenge. But that also sets up the biggest potential drama. If Eddie’s performance deserves to be there (and we’ll find out soon enough at TIFF) and becomes a pop culture moment, but the Academy continues with its anti-Netflix position, it’s going to be dealing with a lot more antagonism than last year with Roma. Roma had a much smaller audience than what Dolemite will potentially attract. The shouting is going to be much, much, MUCH louder. The whole ass internet might be yelling at them. 

As for other possible SNL hosts that have yet to be announced… 

Come on. 

Timothee Chalamet. TIMOTHEE CHALAMET SHOULD HOST SNL. Can we please make this happen? 

Yours in gossip,

Lainey