Idris Elba just hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, and was his typical charming and incredibly British self.
In the opening monologue, while sporting a stunning green suit, he talked about his life before getting an audition for The Wire, like when he was working as a bouncer at a comedy club soon after arriving in the US:
“It was a decent job, I made some great contacts. By which I mean I sold weed.”
He was quick to add, “I’m not proud of it, it’s just a fact.”
“I’m @idriselba, and it is great to be here hosting Saturday Night Live.” #SNL pic.twitter.com/JVuVYX7A6h
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) March 10, 2019
In addition to the opening monologue, he also starred in several sketches, including one making fun of his Thor: Ragnarok co-star, Dr. Bruce Banner, AKA The Incredible Hulk.
Instead of turning into a large green monster when he gets mad, though, Idris’ Bruce Banner turns into an “emboldened white lady”, played by Cecily Strong, whenever he’s provoked. Incredible “may I speak to your manager” vibes.
When Dr. Bruce Banner gets upset…???? ???????. #SNL pic.twitter.com/9rC9MSTLaD
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) March 10, 2019
Elba also starred in a sketch about online cancel culture, which is the tendency online mobs on social media have to ‘cancel’ someone after they’ve made one mistake.
The contestants are playing a game of ‘Can I Play That?’, where the host, played by Kenan Thompson, describes a role, and the contestants have to respond with whether they’d be allowed to play the role or not.
The first question pokes fun at the negative response some people had to the announcement that Will Smith would be playing the father of the Williams sisters in an upcoming biopic. Cecily Strong’s character wins with her response of “He absolutely cannot, he’s not black enough” to play Richard Williams.
Appropriately, the show is sponsored by Twitter, whose motto is: “Twitter: one mistake, and we’ll kill you.”
Idris answers the question of whether he can play a blind person incorrectly, because he answered yes, because “that’s what acting is about”. Kenan explains that now, acting isn’t about playing someone you’re not, it’s about “becoming yourself, but with a different haircut.”
Hello, hello, and welcome to ??? ? ???? ????? #SNL pic.twitter.com/EHFasyLDbv
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) March 10, 2019
He also showcased a talent of his I hadn’t seen before: magic!
In this sketch, he plays The Great Rudolpho, whose assistant “called in pregnant”. Leslie Jones plays his replacement assistant, Sheila, who is also the casino manager’s wife.
Sheila then has to squeeze into the box made to fit Rudolpho’s previous assistant, and ends up being stabbed by the sword Rudolpho uses in his magic trick. I guess this means Idris isn’t as great at magic tricks as he is at acting. Can’t win ’em all, I guess.
Please welcome…Sheila! ✨ #SNL @Lesdoggg pic.twitter.com/aqEev3bTpJ
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) March 10, 2019
If you’re a diehard Idris Elba fan (and who isn’t?), you’ll definitely want to catch up on this SNL episode.