Saturday Night Live is taking requests. On Monday (August 29), the Twitter account for NBC’s long-running sketch comedy show posted the question, “Who do you want to host SNL?”
Season 47 wrapped up earlier this year with 21 episodes in the bag. Of those episodes, only three were hosted by Latine celebrities – Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), Oscar Isaac (Moon Knight), and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building). In the last five years (101 episodes), only five Latines have hosted the show. The other two were Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers) and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit).
So, of course, when Season 48 premieres this fall, we’re hoping Latines get a lot more love. On Twitter, there were plenty of suggestions that made sense, like Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent), Ana de Armas (Knives Out), and New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Since SNL normally books hosts when they have a project to plug, De Armas can be scheduled first for the October 1st show right after her Marilyn Monroe film Blonde premieres on Netflix. Ocasio-Cortez can get the November 5 show to encourage voters to hit the polls on Election Day that Tuesday. And Pascal could be scheduled for a date in February 2023 when the third season of The Mandalorian (and maybe The Last of Us) premieres.
SNL rarely books a host to do double duty as the musical guest, too, but there are plenty of Latines who could handle the pressure. Some of the suggestions from Twitter included Bad Bunny, Cardi B, Shakira, Karol G, Becky G, and Anitta.
One Latina decided to shoot her shot and nominate herself. “Please,” actress Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) responded to SNL’s tweet. There is no 2023 release date for Snow White yet, but we think timing a hosting gig around the release of that movie would make the most sense. Let’s also remember, too, that the last time Zegler made it known on social media that she wanted something, she got it.
Here are a few more Latines we would like to see take the stage as a first-time SNL host this season: If SNL takes our advice above and gives de Armas the October 1 show, then they can book the other four Saturdays that month for Diego Luna to promote the premiere of Andor; Aubrey Plaza for season two of The White Lotus; Jenna Ortega for Wednesday; and Gael Garcia Bernal for his Untitled Marvel Halloween Special. Then, give Tenoch Huerta a date in November for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; and set up Melissa Barrera for hosting duties in March 2023 for the next Scream movie.
There will be plenty to celebrate for SNL’s upcoming season, and we’d love to see much more inclusion.