Kim Kardashian West Hosts Saturday Night Live

The American socialite surpassed expectations live from New York last Saturday night 

By Roya Amirsheybani 
Visiting Opinion Writer

On September 22nd, 2021, the iconic NBC comedy Saturday Night Live revealed the first four guests that would kick off the show’s forty-seventh season: Owen Wilson, Kim Kardashian West, Rami Malek, and Jason Sudeikis. Loyal fans of the show were quick to react to the lineup on social media, with many expressing skepticism about the choice to include Kim Kardashian West as a host. 

“Ugh not Kim, will not be watching that ep,” wrote one commenter. “All great but Kim K,” wrote another. As the second Saturday of October quickly approached, skeptics did not hesitate to continue to express their concern for the episode’s impending reputation, blasting the network and emphasizing plans to boycott the show on the upcoming Saturday. Despite significant disapproval on social media, Kim Kardashian West’s hosting debut surpassed all expectations.

Dressed in hot pink from head to toe, the reality television star kicked off the night with a ruthlessly self-deprecating monologue that took many by surprise, addressing her and her family’s past controversies and rumors. “I’m excited to be here tonight to show you guys that I am so much more than just a pretty face… and good hair, and great makeup, and amazing boobs, and a perfect butt. Basically, I’m just so much more than that reference photo my sisters show their plastic surgeon,” said the star, poking fun at her family’s history of copious amounts of plastic surgery. 

But the outrageous jabs at Kardashian West’s family and fame did not stop there. Almost every other sketch she was featured in centered around a dig directed toward the host somehow, with many satirized around her various claims to fame. One skit, titled The People’s Kourt, pokes fun at every Keeping up with the Kardashians cast member as Kourtney Kardashian (played by Kim Kardashian West) attempts to settle family and relationship disputes as a daytime TV court show judge. While Kourtney herself was not present, the skit featured Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner as themselves. SNL repertory players Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, Chris Redd, Pete Davidson, and Heidi Gardener parodied the likes of Travis Barker, Megan Fox, Kanye West, Machine Gun Kelly, and “Kim Kardashian.” The success of this skit can be attributed to the Kardashian family’s good sportsmanship and self-awareness. 

“I’m suing Kylie because she hasn’t had her baby yet. We have a whole marketing PR plan, and she’s costing us money,” Kris Jenner jokes, addressing social media commenters that connect every event in the Kardashian and Jenner daughters’ lives with Kris Jenner’s “momager” desire to promote her family. 

According to a recent Buzzfeed article, despite fans of Saturday Night Live threatening to boycott this episode, Kim Kardashian West’s hosting debut boosted ratings after the previous week’s lackluster season opener. Skeptics of the episode’s success took to social media that night and expressed their surprise. “Gotta say, not a Kim fan, but the jokes were good and she was confident. She pulled it off better than some I’ve seen over the years,” a Twitter user wrote. 

Considering the socialite’s past reservations of putting herself out there in fear of embarrassing herself, Kim Kardashian West’s SNL hosting debut was awe-inspiring. If there is one thing viewers have learned this past weekend, it’s that the talents of those who are “famous for being famous” (and all women for that matter) should not be underestimated. The next time Kardashian West is presented with an opportunity like this one, perhaps social media commenters will give her a chance before automatically assuming her failure.


Sources:
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellendurney/kim-kardashian-boosts-snl-ratings-despite-oj-backlash
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/leylamohammed/kim-kardashian-snl-hosting-debut-transformed-persona
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-saturday-sunday-oct-9-10-2021-1235030176/