Who's hosting Saturday Night Live tonight, April 13?
By Matt Moore
Saturday Night Live is on track to end season 49 with a bang. And if tonight's host is any indication, the season is ready to reach a new high.
Last week, Kristen Wiig returned to host for the fifth time. A star-studded lineup of cameos came out to celebrate and help deliver one of the best episodes of Saturday Night Live season 49.
Saturday's show has all the right ingredients to continue that momentum. Actor Ryan Gosling returns to host for the third time. He'll be joined by musical guest Chris Stapleton.
Gosling is out promoting his new movie Fall Guy. Of course, he's still riding the high from Barbie. He gave SNL fans a preview of what's to come tonight when he made a guest appearance during Wiig's episode.
What to expect on Saturday Night Live tonight
The time has passed for another Saturday Night Live parody of Barbie, even with Ryan Gosling in the house. He'll undoubtedly mention the film during his monologue; just don't expect another Barbie-inspired sketch. Recall that the season 49 premiere featured "I'm Just Pete" with Pete Davidson channeling his inner Ken.
Regardless, Gosling should be an absolute standout during tonight's episodes. His past performances prove he's more than capable of succeeding in any type of sketch. From broad comedy like "Alien Encounters" to more absurd bits like "Papyrus," Gosling's versatility is a tremendous asset. Expect more of the same tonight.
The cold open has some options as far as inspiration. Jury selection for Donald Trump's hush money payment trial begins on Monday. Perhaps SNL will give us their version of how that could go. Another political option would be Speaker of the House Mike Johnson's recent pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago. SNL has yet to nail down Johnson, but that could change tonight.
Saturday Night Live with host Ryan Gosling airs tonight, April 13, at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The show is also available on Peacock.