Timothée Chalamet hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time last night, and he kicked off the night with a New York City-themed monologue. At the piano, he reflected in his
own nostalgia of growing up in the city at Christmas.
He shared memories of eating Cheetos on the F train, then grabbing the pole and later licking his hands. That might have been a fake memory, but...come on, we all cringe at our pre-corona public transportation experiences. He also "remembered" sliding down the Chrysler building and ice skating on the Hudson River. Then, he invited his fellow New York kid, Pete Davidson, who grew up in Staten Island.
Davidson shared his own memories of Staten Island holidays, which were...quite different than Chalamet's.
"We don't leave Santa cookies," Davidson said. "We leave him Bud Light and a White Claw."
But the monologue wasn't Chalamet's only shining moment on the show. Only a real talent can play a rebel-child virus, a farm kid who has to say goodbye to his tiny horse, a contestant on a holiday-baking competition, and a white rapper who says his influence was the Kia commercial hamsters.
His mom, who was once in an SNL sketch with Chris Farley and Dana Carvey, was even in the audience. "Yep. That's my mom. She almost got spit on by Chris Farley. She's the reason I'm alive and why I have an acting career. Mom, I love you."
Gotta love a host who loves his mom. Here's a roundup of some of Chalamet's best moments from last night.
Coronavirus Holiday
The Oscar nominee's best role yet might have been when he played the rebel child in a family of coronavirus particles. He threatens to take the vaccine and celebrates Gov. Andrew Cuomo's leadership during this pandemic, while his parents are pretty big fans of Trump. Also, he takes several swigs from a jug of Purell, which is just *chef's kiss* good.
Dionne Warwick Talk Show
Chalamet plays Harry Styles, who explains Watermelon Sugar to music (and now Twitter legend) Dionne Warwick.
Tiny Horse
Chalamet plays a farm boy whose parents tell him they have to sell the farm, which means he has to give up his tiny horse. He then serenades Tiny Horse as he attempts to White Fang him.
Rap Roundtable
Questlove joins Chalamet and Davidson, who play appropriating white rappers who make zero sense and really love the word "yeet."
Holiday Baking Championship
The contestants are given two hours to make the holiday cake of their dreams, and Timmy's turns out...disturbing.