Reese Witherspoon Details Traumatic 2001 ‘SNL‘ Hosting Gig,Explains 15-Year Absence
NEW YORK – Reese Witherspoon revealed on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast that her debut hosting appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in 2001 was a deeply unsettling experience,prompting her to avoid the show for the following 15 years. The episode aired just weeks after the September 11th terrorist attacks and carried immense pressure to uplift the national mood.
Witherspoon hosted “SNL” on September 29, 2001, a period she described as carrying “to much responsibility for a 24-year-old girl.” She recounted a direct plea from “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels,who reportedly told her,”I really need you to show up. I really, really need this. Rudy Giuliani‘s gonna be here. All the firefighters are gonna be here. paul Simon is gonna sing. I just need you to come out and do something a little light and tell America – we gotta laugh again. We’ve got to get back the national spirit.”
Driven by her “Southern and military ethics,” Witherspoon agreed to host despite also being a new mother to a one-year-old and riding the success of her summer blockbuster, “Legally Blonde.” While she stated the show itself “was good,” Witherspoon admitted she “completely left [her] body” during the performance.
The episode opened with a speech from then-New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, alongside new York City firefighters and police officers, followed by a performance of “The Boxer” by Paul Simon before Witherspoon’s monologue and sketches.
Witherspoon did not return to host “SNL” until 2015. She has not hosted the show as.
