HBO has been the home of some of the most respected shows on television since the turn of the century, including The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. But rarely have the stars of these series hosted SNL, considered one of the most prestigious honors in pop culture (unless it’s Donald Trump). No series regular from Big Love, Sex and the City, The Wire, or even The Sopranos (Steve Buscemi doesn’t count) has introduced that episode’s musical guest. Something’s changed in the last two seasons, though.
Curb Your Enthusiasm creator Larry David has been everywhere; it’s only a matter of time before Lucky Louie‘s Louis C.K. joins the Five-Timers Club; and Girls‘ Adam Driver starred in one of the most popular sketches of the season. This Saturday, the most-rewarded star from HBO’s biggest show will accomplish something only one member (Jeremy Piven) of the Entourage gang ever did: Peter Dinklage is hosting SNL, and he’s got “winter is coming” jokes.
The Game of Thrones star has appeared on SNL before as Peter Drunklage, but this will be his first time hosting, and the first time anyone from the fantasy-epic since, I believe, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has been on the show. Dinklage has been waiting for this moment since the 1990s, which, coincidentally, is how long musical guest Gwen Stefani has been “fine” since.
