She's never hosted Saturday Night Live before.
But it looks like Jessica Chastain is taking her hosting duties very seriously, as she was seen making her way toward NBC studios on Saturday in NYC.
Though SNL is ostensibly a comedy show, the 40-year-old Zero Dark Thirty star definitely looked quite serious as she walked in her all-black ensemble.
On the march! It looks like Jessica Chastain is taking her SNL hosting duties very seriously, as she was seen making her way toward NBC studios on Saturday in NYC
The Oscar-nominated actress wore a black puffy jacket to ward off the East Coast chill, and appeared to hide another dark garment underneath.
Black leather boots came up to her shins, while coordinating tight black jeans emphasized her lithe legs.
Her trademark fiery tresses were tied up into a tight bun, while she shielded her eyes with a pair of oversize sunglasses.
Fit figure: Black leather boots came up to her shins, while coordinating tight black jeans emphasized her lithe legs
Fresh-faced: The beauty appeared to be mostly makeup free, save for some rose-colored lipstick
The beauty appeared to be mostly makeup free, save for some rose-colored lipstick.
While stars usually arrive via some sort of vehicle, Jessica and her staff apparently had to walk the last few blocks to Rockefeller Center due to barricades put up for the Women's March.
Meanwhile, it seems like Alec Baldwin, who has been playing Donald Trump on the long-running comedy series, skipped most of rehearsal thanks to a trip to the UK.
Special circumstances: While stars usually arrive via some sort of vehicle, Jessica and her staff apparently had to walk the last few blocks to Rockefeller Center due to barricades put up for the Women's March
On Monday, the three-time Golden Globe winner was in London with his 22-year-old daughter Ireland with first wife, Oscar winner Kim Basinger.
Being in England, Baldwin surely missed rehearsals Tuesday for this week's Saturday Night Live with host Jessica Chastain and musical guest Troye Sivan.
The record-breaking 17-time SNL host reportedly signed a contract to impersonate President Donald Trump throughout the 43rd season of the NBC sketch show.
Jessica Chastain celebrated the Women’s March that she had to miss as she hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time.
The Molly’s Game star, 40, sang about the nation-wide street protests in her opening monologue for the famed late night comedy show.
Jessica, wearing black pants, a black satin corset and leather jacket, began her monologue by joking about the kind of roles she normally gets in movies.
Tribute: Jessica Chastain, 40, celebrated the Women’s March that she had to miss as she hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time
'This is something I have wanted to do my whole life but I never get to do stuff like this as I am always cast as a strong, powerful woman,’ she said.
'I usually say lines like ‘Take the shot dammit.' When am I going to get to play a naggy girlfriend and say something like '…David
‘But I am really excited to be here especially this weekend as it is the one year anniversary of the Women’s March, and everyone knows women never forget an anniversary.
’So today hundreds of thousands of people were out there for the cause, and they are so, so brave - as it is the worst flu season ever, God bless them.
Host monologue: Jessica opened the show with a song about women's rights in honor of the Women's March
Guys too: The guys tried to get in on the joke but the ladies kicked them off stage
‘I wish I could have been there marching alongside them.’
Jessica was then joined on stage by Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong, who were wearing ‘#MeToo’ and ‘Time’s Up’ t-shirts, to sing Lesley Gore’s 1963 anthem ’You Don’t Own Me.’
The women were then joined by Pete Davidson and Beck Bennett who told them that they ‘liked women’ and urging men to start ‘listening.’
Cold open: Sarah Sanders and the White House physician tried to explain Donald Trump's health tests
Fresh parody: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was parodied in a digital short
A dressed-up Melissa Vellasenor then joined the group.
‘Look I am a feminist but I’m still trying to catch a husband,’ she joked.
‘Ladies we were strong last year and we will be even stronger this year so lets do this damn it,’ said Jessica as the women finished the song in style.
Take down: Jessica is taken down by an angry gang following the Fresh Prince
Bachelor buffoonery: The Bachelor was parodied
Later in the show Prince William and Prince Harry, played by Alex Moffat and Mikey Day, appeared and were asked by Michael Che if Donald Trump had cancelled his UK trip because of their friendship with Barack Obama.
‘Michael we would like to apologize but Williams’s hair was unable to make it this evening,’ said Harry as Williams claimed his ‘Bruce Willis’ haircut had broken the Internet.
‘You look like the British Larry David, thats not good, shave it,’ said charismatic Harry, played by Mikey Day, as posh William compared him to Ron Weasley in Harry Potter.
Apologies: Jessica's character was sorry for having naturally curly hair
William, played by Alex Moffat, then told the audience how Harry’s finance Meghan Markle was ‘on the American program Suits’ as Harry plugged the show for her.
‘Check it out she is amazing,’ said Harry.
‘Right the only difference between that show and this is that people watch this one,’ William shot back.
‘Buckingham Palace does not comment on political matters, thank you and goodbye,’ said William.
‘Thank you and goodbye said William’s hair,’ joked Harry as they play fought.
Bullying: Google Talks did a segment on bullying
Mean kids: One kid was bullied for looking like Bart Simpson
Jessica’s first sketch of the night saw her poking fun at the latest season of the Bachelor and Arie with their own version called ‘Car Hunk.’
Alex Moffat played Arie, while Jessica played one of the 12 contestants called Lauren, and told him she was an inventor who had created Tide Pods.
Each of the women in turn ‘stole’ time with Arie, with Kate McKinnon bringing out a dead squirrel called Buster, and told him that the animal was her first kiss.
Arie then got mounted by Andy Bryant, before Jessica stole in again and tearfully told hi that she ‘actually has curly hair.’
‘Ill walk you out,’ said Arie taking her by the arm and walking of stage.
Game show: A segment called Would It Even Matter was hilarious
Driven to drink: Jessica's character couldnt belive Trump's actions didn't call for more ire
Chris Redd and Leslie Jones then starred in a violent video version of The Fresh Prince, in which Will was on the run from a gang he informed on.
Next Jessica played the host of a Google Talks town hall in which the audience discussed bullying, with Mikey Day claiming he was bullied for looking like Bart Simpson.
‘I love how woke it is in here right now,’ said Jessica as the cast revealed how they had all been bullied.
But the sketch quickly descended into poking fun at the Simpson lookalike, who admitted his name was ‘Burt Sampson.’
Jessica then played Veronica Elders the host of game show ‘What Even Matters Anymore’ where she told the contestants one thing that Donald Trump had said and they had to decide if it mattered anymore.
Sing it: Australian-South African singer-songwriter Troye Sivan, took to the stage and performed ‘My My My!’ and later played ‘The Good Side'
Sensation: Troye is a Youtube sensation
Jessica told them that Trump referred to African countries as ‘poo-poo holes’ and that Haitians had AIDS, which Kate McKinnon told her was ‘really bad and has to matter.’
‘Actually it doesn’t matter, zero consequences and everybody moves on,’ said Jessica.
She then told the contestants that Trump had an alleged affair with a porn star right after Melania gave birth to their son and asked whether that mattered to his evangelical base.
Royal jokes: Prince William and Harry poked fun at each other
Scandal: Cecily Strong then appeared in a blonde wig as Stormy Daniels to talk about her alleged affair with Trump
‘Of course it matters it is against everything they stand for,’ said Kenan Thompson sensibly.
‘You’d think so but no. They say he has just repented and forgive him and Mike pence is like ‘This is my dude.’’
Jessica then asked them about Trump firing Robert Mueller, and was told by Cecily Strong that it had not happened.
Secrets: Kate McKinnon then appeared as Robert Mueller, and was desperate to leak information about the case to the hosts and repeatedly banged the desk ton confirm details of the investigation
Amazon bid: The next sketch featured Jeff Bezos taking pitches from cities hoping to land the new Amazon headquarters
Jessica finally lost her cool completely, shouting ‘Fake news, fake news’ and invited the contestants to write down what they thought would matter as she chugged white wine.
Kenan wrote down he thought that ‘Sex tape with Don Jr’ would ‘tick a lot of boxes.’
‘You would think so but Fox News would just report that he is a family man because nothing truly matters,’ shouted Jessica.
Boston's bid: She introduced Alex Moffat as Casey Affleck who tried to help them promote Boston in a typically understated way and ended up suggesting they move it to Los Angeles where he now lived.
Miami heat: Pitbull offered his assistance
Australian-South African singer-songwriter Troye Sivan, took to the stage and performed ‘My My My!’ and later played ‘The Good Side.’
Colin Jost and Michael Che then took to the Weekend Update desk and wasted no time going after Donald Trump and the government shut-down.
‘Congratulations to Donald Trump, who managed to keep our government open for almost one whole year,’ joked Jost.
‘Trump had blamed minority leader Chuck Schumer for the shut down as Trump never misses an opportunity to blame a minority,’
Confused: Jessica then played a confused woman at a Los Angeles Mexican restaurant who did not understand the dinner special with her friend
Check it: The pair were then forced to break out their mind-game apps to understand their order as it turned out they were surgeons
Cecily Strong then appeared in a blonde wig as Stormy Daniels to talk about her alleged affair with Trump.
‘I am like a liberal hero, even though I am a Republican porn star who loves Sarah Palin,’ she said.
‘I get it that I am not what these people envisioned their hero would look like, but guess what America I am the hero you deserve right now.’
Kate McKinnon then appeared as Robert Mueller, and was desperate to leak information about the case to the hosts and repeatedly banged the desk ton confirm details of the investigation.
‘I am having a blast,’ Mueller told them.
Doctor's orders: Jessica then played a doctor who had fallen in love with patient Chad, played by Pete Davidson
All in: Jessica then began undoing her top before telling Chad to get some sleep and dream about her
‘You know how you love the show Lost but it never really came together and there was no satisfying ending. Well this ain’t Lost,’ she said smiling.
The next sketch featured Jeff Bezos taking pitches from cities hoping to land the new Amazon headquarters.
Jessica played a woman from Boston’s Chamber of Commerce and presented him with Dunkin Donuts coffee and Red Sox tickets.
She introduced Alex Moffat as Casey Affleck who tried to help them promote Boston in a typically understated way and ended up suggesting they move it to Los Angeles where he now lived.
Jessica then played a confused woman at a Los Angeles Mexican restaurant who did not understand the dinner special with her friend.
Check up: She told him she fantasized about him and wanted to jump into bed with him, as he handed her his toilet pan and made crude jokes
Acting coach: In the final sketch of the night Jessica played an actress playing the role of a female lawyer finding out she was paid less than male lawyers at her firm
The pair were then forced to break out their mind-game apps to understand their order as it turned out they were surgeons.
Jessica then played a doctor who had fallen in love with patient Chad, played by Pete Davidson.
She told him she fantasized about him and wanted to jump into bed with him, as he handed her his toilet pan and made crude jokes.
In the final sketch of the night Jessica played an actress playing the role of a female lawyer finding out she was paid less than male lawyers at her firm.
The director, played by Kenan Thompson, then gave her a string of bizarre notes about how she was to perform the part before realizing he was on the wrong set.
Jessica ended the show with her arms around Troye Sivan and wearing a black ’Time’s Up’ t-shirt as she called it ‘one of the best week’s of my life.’
One year on, and it's so hard not to feel exhausted by it all.
A sensation captured perfectly by one of Saturday Night Live's most recent sketches, a faux game show hosted by Jessica Chastain entitled, 'What Even Matters Anymore?' - perfect for the Trump era.
Playing "Veronica Elders", Chastain demanded to know of her three contestants whether any of a series of scenarios (real and imagined) would ever make a difference within the current US political landscape, to which the answers was, of course, always, "It doesn't even matter anymore".
"The President of the United States refers to African countries as poo-poo holes, and says all Haitians have AIDS," is answered by, "zero consequences and everyone just moves on."
"The President has an extramarital affair with a porn star right after his wife gives birth to his son. Then he pays the porn star to shut up," is answered by. "They just say he's repented and they forgive him and Mike Pence is, like, 'That's my dude!'" And so on.
Even asking contestants to imagine scenarios that could possibly make a difference, still nothing works. Not Trump punching the Pope, not Trump cancelling the Olympics because flags are "gay", not a leaked sex tape with Don Jr.
"None of it matters!" is the final cry of absolute exasperation, as the fourth wall breaks down and the cast asks Chastain if she's alright. Thankfully, "What Even Matters Anymore?" at least always ends with the host getting a hug.
Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more.
Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live recap Saturday Night Live: time for #TimesUp but sketches sell Jessica Chastain short The show took on the president’s surprisingly clean bill of health as well as the Women’s March, Stormy Daniels and Robert Mueller Saturday Night Live host Jessica Chastain, with musical guest Troye Sivan, left, and Kenan Thompson. Photograph: NBC/Getty Images
Sarah Sanders (Aidy Bryant) is here, and she’s explaining the border wall: “It will be paid for by Mexico, with US taxpayer money”. Then she introduces Dr Ronny Jackson (Beck Bennett), to explain “just how not fat the president is”.
Saturday Night Live: Bill Murray as Steve Bannon … but downhill from there Read more
“The president’s got a rockin’ bod,” he says. “Given the chance I would.”
Questions from the press: “How broke that brain?” says Kate McKinnon, of the president’s cognitive test.
“He passed it with flying colors,” says Dr Johnson. “Almost no hints.
“At his request, we also gave the president a sex exam, and he blew the doors off that sucker … when he was done, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.”
Live from New York! It’s Jessica Chastain.
“This weekend is the one-year anniversary of the Women’s March,” she says, “and everyone knows women never forget an anniversary.”
McKinnon and Cecily Strong join her, wearing #TimesUp and #MeToo T-shirts to sing You Don’t Own Me.
Aidy Bryant brought “p-hats” for everyone but she “can’t say the real word, because it’s just one of those words that only the president can use”.
Next: “Which of the 12 Laurens will he choose to be his bride?” It’s Carhunk, a parody of the Bachelor, with Alex Moffat as the hunk and the women as the Laurens. It’s pretty hard on women who go on The Bachelor. “I’m sorry I cried,” Chastain’s Lauren says more than once.
An amazing parody of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air opening credits is next, with Chris Redd in the Will Smith role and Kenan Thompson as Uncle Phil, saving Will from a scary gang with an enormous gun.
Next, Google Talks. Chastain is the host, Summer, with a chic bob and intense vocal fry, and Alex Moffat is a Berkeley professor. They’re leading a discussion of bullying with an audience. Mikey Day plays a character named Bert Sampson with his hair sprayed bright yellow and sticking straight up. He complains he is being bullied for resembling Bart Simpson.
“That might just be you,” they say.
Why, I wonder, has Chastain so far only played idiots?
Tonight’s game show sketch is creative and relevant! “What Even Matters Anymore?” stars Chastain as the agitated host, presenting things the president has said or done and asking the contestants whether things matter: calling countries shitholes, having affairs with porn stars, firing Robert Mueller. None of them matter any more!
“Judges, do [Republicans] have a conscience?” says Chastain. A loud buzzer: they don’t.
“In our final round,” she says, “you guys write down things you think would matter … and while you’re writing, I’m just going to drink.”
Cecily Strong writes: “Trump punches Pope.”
Kate McKinnon: “He kills Olympics because flags are ‘gay’.”
Kenan Thompson: “Sex tape with Don Jr.”
Chastain: “Fox News would just report that he’s a family man.”
Troye Sivan sings My My My! He looks like he just came in out of a rainstorm, but he dances beautifully.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Kate McKinnon is Robert Mueller.
“Congratulations to Donald Trump, who managed to keep our government open for almost one year!’ says Colin Jost. It’s Weekend Update. Jost compares the government to production on House of Cards, which kept going when Kevin Spacey got fired: “In that fake government they got rid of the sexual predator president and got a female president instead.”
Jost continues: “This week I got to Google Stormy Daniels on my work computer!”
“The worst part about that Stormy Daniels story is that it was so lame,” Michael Che says. “The craziest thing that we got is that he was spanked with a magazine and he’s afraid of sharks. Well, of course he’s afraid of sharks: the man has the body of a seal.”
Stormy Daniels (Strong) is here!
“You’re kind of an unlikely ally for critics of Donald Trump,” Jost says.
“Things are so bad right now,” she says, “women are trying to figure out how to be empowered by me … guess what America, I’m the hero you deserve right now.”
Che turns to Trump’s tweeted claim that “black unemployment is at an all-time low”. He frowns. “I’m pretty sure before the civil war black unemployment was at, like, zero.”
McKinnon joins as Robert Mueller, and her makeup job – intense contouring, or are those prosthetic cheekbones? – is hilarious enough before she starts speaking.
“You just wait … you’ll see … we’re good. You gotta remember … I have actual footage … I wanna tell you SO bad, I can’t. It’s gonna be fun … the guy didn’t leave me a trail of breadcrumbs, here. He left me … full loaves.’
Next sketch: Jeff Bezos (Kyle Mooney) is talking to Alexa, interviewing cities for the next Amazon HQ. The Bezos impression is quite funny but the sketch isn’t.
Another skit about women being stupid: Heidi Gardner and Chastain are two blondes at a Mexican restaurant who have resolved to be smarter in 2018 but can’t handle ordering two-for-one tacos.
Saturday Night Live: excited llama makes rest of Kevin Hart-hosted show seem stiff Read more
“I’m like so confused,” Chastain says. They consult an app. The punchline: they’re surgeons! How dare anyone assume otherwise? Ugh.
In the final sketch, Leslie Jones and Chastain are lawyers in a movie. Thompson is their director and he has some notes, drawn from his time performing on The Jeffersons, playing “a tramp”. It’s weak, which is no doubt why it got this final slot.
And that’s Saturday Night! Chastain closes the show in a Time’s Up T-shirt. That’s great, but couldn’t someone have written some sketches for her that laughed with women, not at them?
