Saturday night is looking to be “huge.”
After weeks of preparation, controversy, and coverage, Donald Trump will take the stage at NBC’s Studio 8H as the host of “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday night.
Yet, for all the good and bad attention surrounding the “SNL” gig, Trump seems to be enjoying himself, posting several tweets Saturday morning promoting the appearance.
“Saturday Night Live has some incredible things in store tonight,” Trump tweeted Saturday. “The great thing about playing myself is that it will be authentic! Enjoy.”
The candidate also tweeted photos from backstage, including one on Friday of himself wearing a giant wig while standing next to the show’s musical guest Sia.
NBC has kept a tight lid on the show’s preparation all week, so what can audiences expect from “SNL” and Trump on Saturday night?
According to CNN contributor Bill Carter, who has written two books about late-night TV, the show may speak to the issues surrounding Trump’s appearance.
“‘SNL’ is all about commenting on and satirizing contemporary culture. They won’t shirk that in this case with all the scrutiny on the show,” Carter said. “I expect a mix of sketches that play off his image and controversial stands along with the broader comedy the show usually does.”
“SNL” is one of America’s greatest comedic stages, as well as one of its most important satirical institutions. As for Trump, the Republican presidential candidate has been the face of the early 2016 election but has courted controversy along the way.
Latino groups have criticized Trump’s upcoming appearance on “SNL” following his controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants.
There were protests outside NBC headquarters earlier this week and a Latino group has offered a $5,000 “bounty” to anyone in the audience who will disrupt the show.
Beyond the protests and criticisms, Trump’s involvement is also garnering a lot of attention from viewers who are waiting to see just how “SNL” and Trump will interact.
Trump, who hosted the show in 2004, said in an interview with Bill O’Reilly on Friday night that he had to cut some sketches.
“There were a couple that were too risqué,” Trump told O’Reilly. “Because you know, the poll just came down, I’m leading in Iowa, I want to stay leading in Iowa.”
As for the skits that made the final cut, Trump said: “I think some of it is going to be really great.”
Audiences will just have to tune in live on Saturday night to see if Trump as “SNL” host actually matches the hype.