Let’s be real for a second. Most actors walk onto the Studio 8H stage, read the cue cards with the "deer in headlights" look, and hope the wig does the heavy lifting. But not Emily Blunt. Honestly, when Emily Blunt on SNL comes up in conversation, people usually go straight to that viral 2024 cameo where she and Ryan Gosling basically broke the internet. But there’s a whole lot more to her history with the show than just singing Taylor Swift parodies.
She’s actually a bit of a rarity in the Saturday Night Live universe. Did you know she’s the only "Emily" to ever host the show? Weird, right? You’d think there would have been dozens by now.
The Hosting Gig That Started It All
Back in October 2016, Emily Blunt made her hosting debut. She was there to promote The Girl on the Train, which is... let's face it, not exactly a "ha-ha" funny movie. It’s a gritty, alcoholic thriller. So, the pressure was on to see if the classically trained Brit could actually pull off American sketch comedy without it feeling forced.
The musical guest that night was Bruno Mars. The energy was high.
But the episode itself? It was kind of a mixed bag. The critics at the time—like those over at the AV Club—were a bit harsh, calling the episode "listless." I don't totally agree. Sure, the monologue where she sang "Get Happy" while the cast handed out puppies to the audience felt like a "we don't have enough jokes" safety net, but Emily herself was game for anything.
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The Sketches You Forgot (But Shouldn't Have)
If you dig through the archives of Emily Blunt on SNL, a few gems stand out from that 2016 run:
- The Sink: This is one of those bizarre, "tenth-to-one" filmed pieces. Emily plays a giant, oversized luxury sink. She delivers this incredibly dramatic, existential monologue about her own design. It’s peak "serious actor doing something stupid," and it’s arguably her best performance of the night.
- Honda Robotics: She and Mikey Day played malfunctioning catering robots. It was weird. It was clunky. But watching Kate McKinnon try not to break while Emily’s robot kept chanting "quesadilla" was worth the price of admission.
- Great British Bake Off: Being British, she had to do it. She and Cecily Strong played these crass, fame-hungry contestants who felt like they belonged on Big Brother rather than a polite baking tent. The contrast was hilarious.
The 2024 Return: The Cameo Heard 'Round the World
Fast forward to April 2024. Ryan Gosling is hosting, and everyone is waiting for the Barbie jokes. Instead, we got a funeral. A funeral for "Barbenheimer."
Ryan started singing a parody of Taylor Swift’s "All Too Well" to mourn his character Ken. Then, out of nowhere, Emily Blunt storms the stage. She’s playing the "serious" one, telling him to move on and promote their new movie The Fall Guy.
She even hits him with a prop bottle and a chair. Typical stuntman stuff.
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But then, the twist. She admits she misses her own character, Kitty Oppenheimer. Suddenly, the two of them are belting out lyrics about "the father of the atom bomb" and "a dude in a hat." It was the closure the world didn't know it needed. That specific moment of Emily Blunt on SNL probably got more views in 24 hours than her entire 2016 episode did in a year.
It proved she has that rare "Five-Timers Club" energy, even if she’s only hosted once. She knows how to play the "straight man" to the chaos while still being the funniest person in the room.
Why She’s Actually Perfect for the Show
There’s a reason people keep asking when she’ll host again. It’s the accents. If you’ve ever seen her on The Tonight Show or The Late Late Show, you know she can mimic basically anyone. On SNL, she’s used that to her advantage, though I’d argue they haven't even scratched the surface of what she can do.
Most "serious" actors are afraid to look ugly or stupid. Emily? She put on a giant hamster costume for a sketch about a Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? parody set in a cage. She doesn't care.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People think SNL is easy for movie stars because they have "presence." It’s actually the opposite. The pacing is frantic. You have three minutes to change clothes while someone glues a mustache to your face.
The 2016 reviews suggested Emily felt "uncomfortable," but looking back, she was actually just being a pro. She hit every mark. She didn't miss a cue, even when the cameras did. Honestly, her "Sink" monologue requires more breath control and timing than most Oscar-winning scenes.
What’s Next for Emily and SNL?
With The Fall Guy and her continued run of hits, it’s only a matter of time before she’s back in the hosting chair. Fans have been vocal about wanting a full "Barbenheimer" reunion sketch or maybe something involving her husband, John Krasinski (who hosted in 2021).
Could we see a dual-hosting gig? It's rare, but if anyone could pull off the "married couple" dynamic without it being cringey, it’s them.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to see the best of Emily’s comedic timing, go find the "Short Film" sketch from her 2016 episode. It’s a brutal, spot-on takedown of pretentious indie filmmakers that still feels relevant today. Also, keep an eye on the Season 51 or 52 casting—she’s a favorite for the "surprise cameo" slots whenever a former co-star is in the building.