Ryan Reynolds had a standout moment at Saturday Night Live‘s 50th anniversary special, and it turns out that he wrote his own line. During the SNL 50 event, Reynolds was a part of Tina Fey and Amy Phoeler’s sketch and delivered a joke that many viewers speculate was a reference to the It Ends With Us ongoing legal battle, in which he and wife Blake Lively are currently involved with co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. While some initially thought the joke was pre-planned by SNL‘s writing team, it was actually revealed that Reynolds changed the original line.
In the sketch, Fey asked him, “Ryan Reynolds, how’s it going?” The Canadian actor responded, “Great! Why, what have you heard?” During an appearance on the Fifi, Fev & Nick podcast (via CBR), SNL‘s Cue Card Wally, whose real name is Chris “Wally” Feresten, revealed Reynolds improvised the line. When asked if the bit was improvised or scripted, Feresten said, “that was his idea to do it.” Read his full comments below:
That was actually… He had a different line in rehearsal, and he pitched that to replace it. So that was his idea to do it. We wouldn’t want to do anything too controversial unless they were in on it. So yeah, that was his line, that was his idea to do it.
What This Means For SNL And Reynolds’ Impact on the Show
The It Ends With Us Speculation Adds To The Buzz
Although Feresten didn’t confirm if Reynolds’ joke was truly a nod to It Ends With Us, the internet has already run with it given Reynolds’ real-life marriage to Ends With Us star, Lively. Given the significant online discourse Baldoni’s film has faced, the idea that Reynolds might have subtly referenced the ongoing feud adds further intrigue to SNL50: The Anniversary Special. The viral nature of the moment shows that even a single offhand comment on the late-night show can spark conversations across social media, with which they are familiar due to the many viral sketches from SNL.
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One of SNL‘s greatest strengths is its mix of scripted and improvised comedy, and Reynolds’ decision to change his line demonstrates how much trust the show places in its performers. The 50th anniversary special was jam-packed with iconic moments, and Reynolds’ joke seems to be one that has sparked a lot of conversations. As SNL continues to evolve alongside modern pop culture, keeping up with the most-talked-about topics on the internet and teaming up with experienced performers and writers who can successfully translate real-life experiences into sketches is a major asset to the show.
Our Take On Reynolds’ SNL 50 Moment
An Example of Why SNL Still Works
Whether Reynolds’ joke was meant to poke fun at the It Ends With Us feud or not, the moment highlights how Saturday Night Live can keep up with new audiences and thrives on spontaneity. With SNL consistently looking for top-tier guest stars, it wouldn’t be surprising if Reynolds or Lively made any other appearances on the show in the coming months, especially as Lively’s next project, the upcoming release of Another Simple Favor, is set to come out in the spring.
Source: Fifi, Fev & Nick (via CBR)