Jake Gyllenhaal took hosting duties for Saturday Night Live‘s Season 49 finale ahead of the historic 50th season this fall.
The Road House actor joked in his monologue, “When you think of historic television seasons, the first number that pops into your head is 49.”
“I mean, sure, you know, one more episode and I would have been hosting the premiere of the 50th season, but who cares? Forty-nine is a great number. I mean, seven times seven, classic,” he said. “Forty-nine is like 69 but easier. Also, 49 is the number of times Conor McGregor accidentally punched me during Road House.”
Gyllenhaal acknowledged that viewers are waiting for Season 50 and added, “You can’t get to 50 without a little bit of 49. And we’re here at the finale — the end of the road.”
The actor broke into song and sang about the other guest hosts who passed on hosting the Season 49 finale.
“I was actually the first choice to host the finale after a lot of people said no,” he sang. I guess they’re all holding out for the 50th, but not me. Not little JG. I’m the one who said, yeah.”
He continued, “They asked Pedro Pascal but he wasn’t around. Zendaya said no ’cause she’d be out of town. Even asked Gosling to come back, just hosted three shows ago.”
Ego Nwodim, Punkie Johnson, Devon Walker and Kenan Thompson came out to help Gyllenhaal in his musical monologue.
Watch SNL monologue in the video below.