Standup comedian, actor and Golden Globe winner Ramy Youssef is hosting SNL for the first time this weekend, and in a just-released promo featuring Kenan Thompson, the star of Hulu’s Ramy explains why he’s so honored to host the iconic sketch series.
The promo begins with Youssef explaining how he’s “honored to be the first-ever Arab host of SNL,” but then Thompson cuts him off and tells him that he’s actually not the first Arab host.
Youssef starts again and says he’s honored to be the show’s “first-ever Egyptian host” before Thompson corrects him once again, telling him he’s “not that, either.”
When Youssef tries a third time, claiming to be SNL’s “first-ever Egyptian host named Ramy,” Thompson finally reminds him that Oscar winner Rami Malek previously hosted the show (October 2021).
Youssef is unimpressed, saying, “Who cares? Being first [is] dumb anyway. It doesn’t matter who’s first, it just matters that there’s room for all of us. That’s what diversity is. Remember that.”
It’s a nice message, but it doesn’t stop Youssef from trying one last time, introducing himself as “the first ever Egyptian named Ramy from New Jersey” to host SNL.
The promo ends with one last joke when Youssef suggests that New Jersey has been voted “the most beautiful state in the country,” much to Thompson’s surprise.
We’ll see if there are any Jersey-themed sketches this weekend when Youssef hosts the March 30, 2024 episode of Saturday Night Live with musical guest Travis Scott.
Youssef is the fourth standup comic to host a Season 49 episode, following Shane Gillis, Nate Bargatze, and season premiere host Pete Davidson.
His new comedy special, Ramy Youssef: More Feelings—the follow-up to his 2019 special, Ramy Youssef: Feelings—premiered last weekend on Max.
