Who’s hosting Saturday Night Live tonight, October 8?

Saturday Night Live is back tonight with its second episode of season 48. Who can SNL fans expect to take the Studio 8H stage as host tonight?

Last week, actor Miles Teller had the challenging task of hosting the season premiere. Added pressure came from the fact that this year is one of major change at SNL. However, Teller held his own and did everything that was asked of him.

Tonight, actor Brendan Gleeson gets his shot at hosting Saturday Night Live. He’ll be making his SNL debut. Willow joins him on the show as tonight’s musical guest.

Gleeson is out promoting his new black comedy The Banshees of Inisherin. It’s the third film Gleeson has done with director Marin McDonagh. It co-stars Colin Farrell, who enters the night as the leading candidate for an SNL cameo.

Can Brendan Gleeson keep up on Saturday Night Live?

The 67-year-old actor probably wasn’t on anyone’s shortlist of Saturday Night Live hosts this season. Most fans were pulling for Billy Eichner or Zendaya to host in the early goings of season 48. However, SNL usually has a surprise or two when it comes to hosts, and Brendan Gleeson is the first surprise of season 48.

Gleeson’s resume is filled with award-winning dramas and heavy roles — not exactly the kind of material you’d think immediately translates to Saturday Night Live. But the common thread is Gleeson’s talent and his ability not to shrink under the pressure. All that experience means he shouldn’t shy away from lights at SNL.

Most of the actor’s broad comedy roles have come in the form of voice acting. He’s excelled in black comedies such as In Bruges and the upcoming Banshees of Inisherin. SNL’s short sketches make it difficult to replicate that sort of tone, but something offbeat could give Gleeson a surprise hit.

What are your expectations for Brendan Gleeson as Saturday Night Live host? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.