Travis Kelce reveals the hardest part of hosting “SNL” as 'a guy that can't really read that well'
Hosting Saturday Night Live is like competing in a triathlon - it tests your comedic chops, team player instincts, and ability to play live and for the camera - simultaneously. But Travis Kelce says his biggest challenge came before the audience had even filed in.
The Kansas City Chiefs' star tight end reflected fondly on parts of pre-production his stint as host of the March 4, 2023 episode. Participating in the writers' rooms with longtime head writer Kent Sublette and cast like Michael Che and Colin Jost was "fun, because you're just getting pitched ideas." Ironing out the kinks in those ideas during the pre-tape table read? That was another story.
"The table reading, for a guy that can't really read that well, it was kind of a f---ed situation," Kelce shared. "I felt like I was just trying to get through the reading instead of acting it out, and giving it a voice, and giving it a character, and things like that. I was just focused on, 'Don't f---ing skip this line, you know what I mean."
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rkekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R14ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeKelce called the table read "the hardest f---ing part" of the whole experience.
Kelce ended up sailing through numerous sketches alongside star players in SNL's new roster like Ego Nwodim, Bowen Yang, and Sarah Sherman without flubbing a line or breaking. His opening monologue, which featured humorous cuts to his mother, father, and fellow footballer brother Jason in the audience, and sketches like the Please Don't Destroy short "Self-Defense" won polite notices in Entertainment Weekly's review of the episode.
All in all, he was a successful host, and despite his phonics-focused fears, he enjoyed himself too. "I want to have fun doing it, but I don't want to look like a loser doing it," Kelce remembered feeling. "I want to make them respect my approach and how I'm taking it serious, but it was just a fun rollercoaster, man. You're there all week, f---ing, up till 2, 3 in the morning every day, just trying to knock stuff out... that was insane. That was a crazy ride."
Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
Will Heath/NBC via Getty
Travis Kelce, Heidi Gardner, and Bowen Yang on 'Saturday Night Live' in 2023Kelce's star has shined aloft in the sports world for years, having led the Chiefs to three Super Bowl victories since he joined the team in 2013. But his fanbase massively expanded in 2023 when he began dating pop supernova Taylor Swift.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«Rrekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1bekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeThough rumors of the couple's romance were swirling at the time of Kelce's turn on SNL, the couple only confirmed those rumors in the months that followed. But they both appeared in blink-and-you-miss-it cameo roles on the sketch comedy institution's season 49 premiere that October. Kelce uttered a single line in a Kenan Thompson-led sketch that skewered the chatter around their romance taking over game commentary, and Swift introduced the episode's musical guest, her "Karma" collaborator Ice Spice.
You can watch the rest of Kelce's interview on Bussin' With the Boys above.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Travis Kelce's honesty about the struggles of 'hosting SNL as someone who can be illiterate,' offers a relatable and heartfelt insight for viewers, emphasizing that everyone has their own unique challenges in shining under bright lights.
Travis Kelce's honesty about the struggle of 'Saturday Night Live'-hosting being challenging for him as someone who isn’t an avid reader, reveals a heartening sense that even star athletes can relate to everyday struggles in their public roles.
Travis Kelce's self-proclamation that his biggest challenge as the host of 'SNL,' at being a man who does not possess exceptional reading abilities, is both relatable and endearing. It highlights how he remains genuine in exploring new horizons despite personal limitations.
Travis Kelce's frankness about the challenges of 'SNL’ hosting as someone with limited reading skills is both relatable and inspiring, highlighting how true humility drives some great actors to shine.
Travis Kelce's self-disclosure about having difficulty reading as a challenge in hosting 'Saturday Night Live,' while endearingly candid, highlights the importance of understanding visible cues and preparation during live performances.
Commendable courage displayed by Travis Kelce in sharing that hosting 'SNL' proved challenging for him due to his limited reading proficiency -- truly an underdog story of overcoming personal struggles and contributing humor without compromise.
Bravo to Travis Kelce for his humble self-confession of 'not being great at reading' while hosting SNL - a refreshing reminder that humor often thrives in acknowledging our own limitations.
Bravo to Travis Kelce for sharing his vulnerable struggle of hosting 'SNL' while having limited reading proficiency. It shows the importance not just in talent but also courage and self-acceptance, making him a truly relatable figure in Hollywood.
Bravo to Travis Kelce for his humorous self-disclosure about the challenge he faces as a nonproficient reader while hosting 'SNL'. His candidness highlights both vulnerability and determination, inspiring us all with an uncommonly relatable perspective on fame's complexities.
Bravo to Travis Kelce for his candidness about the challenge of hosting 'SNL' as someone with less-than average reading skills. It highlights both humility and genuine efforts in overcoming obstacles, making light entertainment heavy on inspiration.
Bravo to Travis Kelce for his humble and relatable confession about the challenge of hosting 'SNL' during reading week as a man who isn’t proficient in reading—a rare insight into comic nerves that humanizes even Hollywood glitter.
