In a promo for tonight’s episode of SNL, Melissa McCarthy transforms into Sean Spicer to the tune of “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story.
McCarthy will be hosting tonight’s show, and the timing couldn’t be better. This week, Spicer reportedly hid “in darkness” among some bushes outside the White House just before speaking to reporters about James Comey’s firing. SNL fans have already flocked to social media to comment on the fortuitous timing.
Melissa McCarthy hosting SNL this weekend is easily the most convenient moment of political comedy in American history.
Some fans have speculated that McCarthy will deliver a press conference from bushes on the SNL stage, while others are wondering if any other fan-favorite characters will join her in a skit. McCarthy has found enormous success with her Spicer impressions. James Andrew Miller, the author of “Live From New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live,” recently told CNN, “It’s been a true blessing for SNL when Alec stepped up to the plate, hitting all his home runs as Trump. But Melissa’s impersonation of Spicer has to be the most delicious surprise of this season.” Vulture’s Jesse David Fox, in February, analyzed the impersonation, writing, “With one performance, Sean Spicer no longer controls how people perceive him… The impersonation will likely supersede the real person…”
On Friday, the comedian– dressed as Sean Spicer– was seen rolling through the streets of Manhattan on a motorized podium.
Tonight marks McCarthy’s fifth time hosting SNL, and given the fact that she’s garnered Emmy nominations for her previous hosting gigs, the episode has become one of the most highly-anticipated ones of the season.
This past week, Sarah Huckabee Sanders was introduced into press briefings, and the Twitter has voiced their opinion on who should play Sanders if they make a character for her on SNL. The answer? Melissa McCarthy.
McCarthy first impersonated Spicer on a February 4 episode of SNL, and has reprised the character o number of times. If she’s asked to play Sarah Huckabee Sanders, too, there’s no saying how the White House will react, especially considering the fact that they’ve been “rattled” by her spoof of Spicer in the past, in the words of Politico.
McCarthy achieved critical acclaim for her portrayal of Megan Price in the 2011 film Bridesmaids. The performance earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a BAFTA nomination, and a SAG nomination for Best Supporting Actress. McCarthy appeared in the film with her real-life husband, Ben Falcone, who she owns a production company with, called On the Day Productions. She’s also an alumna of The Groundlings, a famous sketch comedy troupe based in LA.