As a die-hard SNL enthusiast with a soft spot for nostalgia and rising stars, I can’t help but feel a sense of awe when I reflect on Saoirse Ronan’s journey from an obscure audience member to a captivating host of Saturday Night Live.
Kenan Thompson is an enduring legend on Saturday Night Live, having spent more than two decades on the show and holding the record for the longest-serving cast member in the series’ history. Throughout his tenure, he has provided countless laughs with unforgettable sketches that have become essential parts of the show’s rich heritage, such as “What Up with That,” which remains a timeless classic. The sketch was particularly memorable when it first aired because a well-known celebrity was in attendance at the time.
If you’re not familiar with the “What Up with That” skit, it features a quirky host, portrayed by Kenan Thompson, who confuses high-profile guests on a fictional talk show by repeatedly singing the theme song and introducing odd, unrelated characters onto the stage. The unique structure of the skit has attracted various celebrities such as Robin Williams and Robert De Niro to make appearances.
The performance of that particular segment occurred on October 17th, 2009, during a show hosted by Gerard Butler and featuring a special appearance by James Franco. It didn’t take much time for the unusual musical part to gain popularity as the audience warmly welcomed its chaotic vibe. Notably, Oscar-nominated actress Saoirse Ronan was among the audience, and you can catch her laughing with the crowd in the front row. See if you can find her in this clip from X below:
At that point in time, Saoirse Ronan wasn’t yet widely recognized, so she might not have stood out immediately among the audience of SNL. However, despite her relatively young age (approximately 15 years old at the time depicted in this clip), she had already garnered significant attention. This recognition came from her impressive performance in the 2007 film “Atonement,” which earned her an Oscar nomination in 2008. It’s plausible, though not definitively proven, that this success may have allowed the young actress to bypass the age requirement for attending a taping.
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The actress who played in “Little Women” has since grown into an even more prominent figure, garnering three additional Oscar nominations by the age of 26. Remarkably, she also took on the role as a host for Saturday Night Live (SNL) during Season 43 in 2017. Though her sketches may not have maintained the enduring popularity of “What Up with That,” they still produced several viral and memorable ones that continue to resonate with fans. One such sketch, “Welcome To Hell,” has amassed over 16 million views on YouTube and was one of the most significant sketches during that season.
It’s possible that Saoirse Ronan might make a comeback as the host of SNL soon, revisiting her audience interaction from the 2009 clip. It’s been quite some time since the “What Up with That” segment last appeared on the show, and Kenan Thompson is still part of the cast. Given this, it seems like an ideal opportunity to resurrect the sketch. As a brilliant host in her previous stint, Saoirse Ronan could once again grace Studio 8H, potentially creating a full circle moment during a significant season for the show.
As a die-hard fan, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the sensational Saoirse Ronan will be among the illustrious hosts gracing SNL’s Season 50 stage. Until then, we can catch Michael Keaton hosting this weekend’s episode on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET, with Billie Eilish as the musical guest. Meanwhile, Ronan enthusiasts like myself can look forward to catching her in some of the hottest films slated for release in 2024, such as “Blitz,” premiering on November 1.
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2024-10-19 19:07