Eugene! ❤️ @Realeugenelevy pic.twitter.com/k3XPkBwYw6
— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) February 7, 2021
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the addition of Simu Liu on November 20, 2021 and Brendan Fraser on October 18, 1997 and February 13, 1999.
For Dan Levy, any notion of Schitt's Creek or even Canada was self-contained within the monologue on Saturday Night Live. This included a literally self-contained Eugene Levy, father and co-creator of Schitt's Creek, and a touching moment with Catherine O'Hara's picture as a nod to her being a previous host of the program.
Levy was joyous in the sketches. Some of the highlights were being an inappropriate Universal tour host, singing and dancing a football song as a bartender, an It Gets Better sketch, and how tired people get in their mid-30s turning from sex to Zillow.com.
The show allowed Levy to stretch beyond neurosis, which was quite refreshing to see. The pandemic and the upcoming Super Bowl combined for a sketch where people think they're safe despite doing unsafe things. Levy even wears a Kansas City football shirt. Levy seemed rather comfortable in the live format.
Levy could have relied on his TV mother Catherine O'Hara for advice on hosting Saturday Night Live. Coincidentally, Levy and O'Hara hosted the program when they were both 37. O'Hara hosted the show in 1991 and 1992.
By our unofficial count, 34 Canadians have previously hosted Saturday Night Live. Former SNL cast members who have hosted are Dan Aykroyd, Phil Hartman, Norm Macdonald, Mike Myers, Paul Shaffer, and Martin Short. The SCTV influence is prevalent with Short, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, and Dave Thomas.
O'Hara also was Levy's co-star on Schitt's Creek and did technically spend a day as a SNL cast member.
Justin Bieber and Drake have served as hosts and musical guests.
The other Canadian hosts are Pamela Anderson, Neve Campbell, Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox, Brendan Fraser, Ryan Gosling, Tom Green, Wayne Gretzky, Margot Kidder, Simu Liu, Eric McCormack, Leslie Nielsen, Elliot Page, Matthew Perry, Jason Priestley, Ryan Reynolds, The Rock, Seth Rogen, Michael Sarrazin, William Shatner, Kiefer Sutherland, and Nia Vardalos.
Eugene Levy and John Candy were scheduled to co-host in 1985 but the episode was cancelled due to a writers strike.
Let us know in the comments section if you missed a Canadian as the host.
Of course, we should note that the creator of the program, Lorne Michaels, is Canadian.
Saturday Night Live pokes fun at Montreal, Drake with Bonjour Hi
Mike Myers outs Ryan Gosling as Canadian
Mike Myers explores the why of Canada in his new book
Made Nous and other ways to promote Canadian content
CanadianCrossing.com television coverage
Saturday Night Live had some fun with Schitt's Creek back in October during its Bonjour Hi sketch.
Dan Levy's Saturday Night Live appearance came on the heels earlier in the week of 5 Golden Globe nominations for Schitt's Creek. The CBC show was nominated for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy as well as individual acting nominations for Dan Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, and Annie Murphy. The Golden Globes air February 28 on NBC and CTV.
The CBC show also got 5 Screen Actors Guild award nominations. However, since the SAG awards bundle best and supporting awards, the maximum wins would be 3, not 5.
Levy's amazing weekend continues tonight with the debut of his M&Ms Super Bowl ad. His Schitt's Creek co-star Emily Hampshire appeared in a Tide Super Bowl ad in 2020.
Moms. ♥️ https://t.co/QC5n2ChfpY
— dan levy (@danjlevy) February 6, 2021
A nice reminder, along with the It Gets Better sketch, of what this journey has been for Dan Levy. That is part of the joy that Schitt's Creek has brought to millions of fans.
Saturday Night Live airs on NBC in the United States and Global in Canada.
Twitter captures: @nbcsnl; @tingtime
photo credits: Saturday Night Live/NBC
Comments