J.K. Simmons to Host Saturday Night Live

[LynneSin]

J.K. Simmons to Host Saturday Night Live

http://www.people.com/article/jk-simmons-host-saturday-night-live-snl?xid=rss-fullcontent

Live from New York, it's J.K. Simmons!

After 20 years as a character actor in films like Juno and on shows like Oz, Simmons is finally hitting it big with the critically acclaimed Whiplash, which just earned him a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Next up, PEOPLE has learned exclusively that he'll be taking on the hilarious and challenging world of Saturday Night Live, hosting the Jan. 31 show.

In Whiplash, Simmons plays a troubled and deeply troubling jazz instructor.

Normally this isn't worthy of a mention - who is hosting SNL. But I think JK Simmons is such a talented but underrated actor in Hollywood (and now Oscar Nominated). SNL tends to bring in these fly-by-night actors who can barely keep up with the rigors of live TV. But when they bring in real acting talent like Christoph Waltz or Edward Norton, SNL tends to have these amazing shows.

So it should be interesting to see how it will be with someone like JK Simmons - it should be an amazing episode!

[cyberswede]

1. I love him

I think he has great comic timing, too.

I haven't watched SNL in years, but I might just have to check this out. Thanks!

[LynneSin]

3. Do what I do

I watch SNL on Hulu Plus so I can look through the skits and see what appeals to me.

Plus there are websites like SNL Scorecard that can let you know what was good from what sucks.

[NV Whino]

2. Great actor

Glad to see he's getting some recognition.

[NewJeffCT]

4. I liked him since he played

J Jonah Jameson in the first Spider-Man movie.

[geardaddy]

5. I always remember his as Emil Skoda on Law and Order

Love him!

[Tom Ripley]

6. He has such a great voice

[irisblue]

7. Will Pope

the closer. He was good in that.

[HeiressofBickworth]

8. I've always enjoyed watching Simmons

Yes, he's a good actor, but for me, the attraction is that he reminds me of a fellow I had a crush on about 10 years ago (when I was 59 and he was 58!!) Nothing ever came of the crush, but I can remember the feeling when watching Simmons.

[Skittles]

9. I really first noticed him (well besides Law & Order) in Burn After Reading

gawd he was HILARIOUS

[UTUSN]

10. Sorry to be a Downer but all the Oscar noms who host SNL go on to lose...?!1

Of course, my anecdotal experience is limited to 2 or 3 that I've seen over the past few years (Ian McKLELLAN McKLELLEN McKELLEN and ?!1). And I was really rooting for McKLELLEN McKELLEN for Gods and Monsters.

Whoa, it takes special talent to misspell a name twice when one supposedly is a fan!1 And the SNL I saw him hosting as a Nominee was in 2002 for one of the Lord/Rings stuff; Gods and Monsters was in 1999 (which I didn't see until it was on t.v. The 'net is such a boon to mange my mental inefficiencies!1

[bif]

11. I loved him in "The Music Never Stopped".

And he's from my hometown, Detroit!

[Paladin]

12. Outstanding!

He generally plays a lot nicer characters on TV and movies now, but I remember Simmons as the ultra-sick, ultra-sadistic, racist convict in "Oz." We're talking a great actor, here. Good move on SNL's part.

[RiffRandell]

13. Love him!

Should be great. Last week was great with Kevin Hart.