Jalen Brunson's 'Saturday Night Live' Hosting Gig Divides Viewers
The New York Knicks star's monologue, featuring jokes about Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and Stephen A. Smith, sparked mixed reactions online.
New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson hosted the latest episode of "Saturday Night Live," becoming one of a select group of basketball players to take on the hosting duties.
Brunson opened the show with a monologue that touched on the Knicks' recent NBA Championship win, referencing their dramatic late-game comebacks. He likened his hosting approach to a Finals game, humorously stating, "So the first three quarters of the show are going to be God awful. The last sketch is gonna be amazing."
He also made a joke about the high-profile wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, which recently took place at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks' home arena. "Looking around like, 'wow, just a few weeks ago this was the exact spot where Taylor and Travis got married,'" Brunson said.
The monologue also included a segment mocking ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, with cast member Kenan Thompson portraying Smith. Brunson played on Smith's perceived criticisms, saying, "I would say the most satisfying part of winning the title is thinking about all the people who doubted me along the way. And tonight I finally get some closure. I invited one of my biggest doubters out here to apologize to my face. Stephen A Smith."
Brunson's performance on SNL, however, drew mixed reactions from viewers. Some critics felt that Brunson's teammates, who appeared on stage with him, were more comfortable and funnier. Comments online suggested that Brunson lacked charisma and appeared nervous, with some deeming his monologue among the worst in the show's history.
"That monologue just proved that KAT would have been a better choice than Brunson," one viewer wrote. Another commented, "Jalen Brunson maybe one of the worst SNL hosts I've ever seen."
Conversely, many fans, particularly those of the Knicks, expressed enjoyment and support for Brunson's hosting debut. Supporters praised his performance, with one fan writing, "Brunson is great at everything. Even acting." Others found the opening monologue to be "perfect" and "pretty f�***ing funny."
Brunson joins an exclusive list of basketball players who have hosted SNL, including Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and LeBron James.