J.J. Watt hosts ‘SNL’ … but would rather be in Super Bowl, of course
Live from New York … J.J. Watt hosted “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday, the night before Super Bowl LIV.
On Saturday afternoon, the Houston Texans defensive end took to Twitter and announced he was going to take a nap after a long day of rehearsals, but not before promising a great show.
Put the kids to bed, gather your friends around, pour some drinks and join us for one hell of a party tonight.
SNL!!! pic.twitter.com/d8FiFJw1s2
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 1, 2020
Put the kids to bed, gather your friends around, pour some drinks and join us for one hell of a party tonight.
SNL!!! pic.twitter.com/d8FiFJw1s2
Watt talked about his family in the monologue, and he got the biggest laugh with the line that his mother didn’t get her wish for a fourth NFL-playing son.
“My mom really wanted to try for a kicker, you know, someone she could dress up and buy cute clothes for,” he deadpanned.
Shoutout to @JJWatt's mom. #SNL pic.twitter.com/XGBCPF6Gfu
He also made note that while so many other NFL players are in Miami for Super Bowl LIV, he’s in New York.
“Would I really trade hosting SNL for the Super Bowl? … Yes, I definitely would.”
He played Kristoff in a skit about deleted scenes from “Frozen II” – singing a song called “Big and Woke” — and a Notre Dame football player in a prerecorded digital short that was a spoof of “Rudy.”
Maybe we don’t play Robbie? #SNL pic.twitter.com/dErturbZH5
In another prerecorded skit, he was the pitch man for “Oil of Brolay” eye black.
The only eye black that also reduces puffiness. #SNL pic.twitter.com/HPnMxfBkjz
And Watt also played himself in a skit in which he wasn’t happy about the lines he had to record for the next edition of Madden.
Madden 21 is going to be crazy. #SNL pic.twitter.com/3H29qPbYI1
He wore a white No. 24 Kobe Bryant jersey on stage for the show’s sign-off.
Watt was the 12th NFL player or coach to host the NBC show. The others were: Fran Tarkenton (1977), O.J. Simpson (1978), John Madden (1982), Alex Karras (1985), Joe Montana (1987), Walter Payton (1987), Carl Weathers (1988), Deion Sanders (1995), Tom Brady (2005), Peyton Manning (2007) and Eli Manning (2012).
Watt is no stranger to the stage. In 2016, Watt appeared in the movies “Bad Moms” and “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” and he also co-hosted the CMT Music Awards. Watt has played himself on TV as well. He has appeared in three episodes of “The League” and one episode of “New Girl.”
At the Pro Bowl, Watt’s brother T.J., a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, told the Texans’ website that getting to host “SNL” is something “he’s wanted to do for a long time.”
“It’s incredible,” T.J. Watt said. “His fame has absolutely blown up over the years and he’s only getting bigger and better. I’m just happy for him. I know it’s something he’s wanted to do for a long time. He’s very funny and quick-witted so I’m excited to see what his skits are like.”
The musical guest was Luke Combs.