This week’s Saturday Night Live kicked things off with a damn near unwatchable parody of CBS’ NFL broadcast before Dakota Johnson took the stage looking absolutely incredible, dressed in a number that recalled Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s black jumpsuit in Fleabag.
The actress described her upcoming film Madame Web — a Spider-Man spinoff co-starring Sydney Sweeney — as “kind of like if AI generated your boyfriend’s perfect movie.”
“I’ve been doing a lot of press for it and I’m just… not good at talking to journalists,” offered Johnson during her monologue. “I think the big problem is that I say stuff and then they write it down, and it’s really unfair, because most of the time I’m joking.”
She mentioned how tonight was also a “sort-of reunion” for her and musical guest Justin Timberlake, since the two shared an uncomfortable morning-after scene in David Fincher’s The Social Network.
With that, Timberlake crashed the monologue, all but begging to be featured in any sketches throughout the night.
“I’m so happy you chose my show for your comeback,” Johnson told her former co-star.
“It’s, uh… Hmm… Comeback… is that what we’re calling it? OK,” replied Timberlake, feigning offense.
“Yeah! I mean comeback in a good way,” Johnson insisted.
Cue Timberlake: “Ah, OK. I see what this is. This is where we make a joke like, ‘First he was bringing sexy back and now he’s bringing cumming back.’”
“I wouldn’t phrase it like that,” shot back Johnson.
Then, Jimmy Fallon — dressed as Bee Gees lead singer Barry Gibb, a nod to his “Barry Gibb Talk Show” SNL sketches with Timberlake — appeared to offer some more help.
And we’re off.