Colman Domingo took to the stage for his first time as the host of “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend. If you’re trying to recall where you’ve seen him before, he has a few ideas, and likely several.
Beginning his monologue, Domingo noted that his extensive career of over thirty years makes it difficult for some to place him. He humorously suggested he’s been in almost everything, listing roles in “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Sing Sing,” “The Four Seasons,” “Lincoln,” and jokingly referenced roles he never played.
“I was Carly in ‘iCarly.’ I was inside the C-3PO suit in ‘Star Wars.’ And I am also your uncle,” he claimed, pausing for effect. “You saw me at your cousin’s wedding in 1994.” His point was clear: “I’m practically in everything, like raisins at a Caucasian cookout.”
Domingo observed that he often guesses which of his roles viewers recognize him from. “If you’re a Latin bro, I’m like, oh, ‘Fear the Walking Dead.’ But if it’s a girl under 20 or a creepy dude over 30, that’s ‘Euphoria,’” he added.
Once he established his credentials, Domingo shifted focus to his main goal for the night: creating a welcoming atmosphere. He promised, “Tonight, I’m going to make you feel like you’re at my house,” and set the tone for the show accordingly.
He requested music and lighting that was “extremely flattering for people of color.” Satisfied, he turned to the cameras with another request: “Can I get a sexy slow push on this?” He then humorously added, “Also, I’m 56 so boom up the hell up.”
Jeremy Culhane, a cast member, was brought into the routine and instructed to look into the camera, which led to an amusing moment as he stared into the wrong one, creating an awkward yet entertaining scene.
Domingo then engaged directly with the audience, showcasing his seasoned stage presence that has developed since the ’90s. When one attendee explained her attendance was due to a connection with a show employee, Domingo quipped, “Inside connection, that’s hot.” However, when she revealed it was a writer and not a cast member, he jokingly advised, “Don’t tell people that.”
As the night progressed, the atmosphere became lively, with a couple in the audience starting to make out. “They’re straight,” Domingo humorously noted. “You don’t see that every day.”
He concluded the segment by humorously suggesting a typical end to a party at his home: asking everyone to leave so he could take his fiber pill and go to bed. However, he assured the audience, “We’ve got a show to do, so boom up!”
Check out Domingo’s monologue below.
