Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt reignited the Barbenheimer battle during Gosling’s “Saturday Night Live” monologue with an epic rendition of Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well,” complete with real-life Barbies and dancing Oppenheimers.
Gosling kicked off his third SNL monologue with a callback to Ken, the role that nabbed him an Academy Award nomination and wild live performance at the Oscar ceremony. In a startling reveal, Gosling said he wasn’t going to make any jokes about Ken because they had to sever their relationship. “It’s not funny,” said Gosling. “Ken and I, we had to break up. We went too deep. And it’s over.”
However, the actor revealed he wasn’t fully done processing the loss and that, “letting go feels like a breakup, and for processing a breakup, there’s really only one thing that can help: the music of the great Taylor Swift.” Cue the piano, shades and a new take on the Swift classic “All Too Well,” which is featured prominently in Gosling’s next film, “The Fall Guy.”
As Gosling continues going full-Ken, donning the iconic white fur coat and singing for the crowd until he’s quickly interrupted by his “Fall Guy” co-star Emily Blunt, upset that he has deviated from their “Fall Guy” monologue plan, who tells him he’s “embarrassing himself.”
The jabs keep coming as Gosling continues to expel his Kenergy until Blunt reappears this time smacking him in the head with a glass bottle and eventually a chair. Surprised, Gosling appeals to Blunt’s softer side by recalling her recent experience with “Oppenheimer,” which was also Oscar-nominated.
“I mean, I know it was an inferior movie,” Gosling said throwing shade at Blunt.
“It wasn’t. We like won everything, actually,” Blunt retorted.
“But did you win people’s hearts? I don’t think so,” said Gosling.
Blunt agrees, and they combine for a Barbenheimer send-off for both of their characters, backed by dancers and signs.
Gosling previously served as host in 2015 and 2017. His past notable sketches include the beloved “Papyrus,” “Santa Baby,” and “Close Encounter,” in which he broke acting against “Barbie” co-star Kate McKinnon several times.
Last week, Gosling made a special appearance during the opening monologue of Kristen Wiig, who was celebrating her induction into the coveted “Five-Timers Club,” a group reserved for those who have hosted “SNL” five times. Gosling was joined by Martin Short, Will Forte, Fred Armisen, John Hamm, Matt Damon and Pual Rudd to help usher the former “SNL” cast member into the exclusive “Five-Timers” crew.
Saturday night’s musical guest was 10-time Grammy-winning country star Chris Stapleton, who won best country song with his track “White Horse” at the 2024 Grammy Awards. He has been a musical guest on “SNL” two other times, in 2016 and 2018.
Gosling joins a star-studded list of season 49 hosts that include Pete Davidson (Oct. 14), Bad Bunny (Oct. 21), Nate Bargatze (Oct. 28), Timothée Chalamet (Nov. 11), Jason Momoa (Nov. 18), Emma Stone (Dec. 2), Adam Driver (Dec. 9), Kate McKinnon (Dec. 16), Jacob Elordi (Jan. 20), Dakota Johnson (Jan. 27), Ayo Edibiri (Feb. 3), Shane Gillis (Feb. 24), Sydney Sweeney (March 2), Josh Brolin (March 9), Ramy Youssef (March 30) and Wigg (April 6).
Other than Stapleton, the musical guests this season include Ice Spice (Oct. 14), Bad Bunny (Oct. 21), Foo Fighters (Oct. 28), Boygenius (Nov. 11), Tate McRae (Nov. 18), Noah Kahan (Dec. 2), Olivia Rodrigo (Dec. 9), Billie Eilish (Dec. 16), Reneé Rapp (Jan. 20), Justin Timberlake (Jan. 27), Jennifer Lopez (Feb. 3), 21 Savage (Feb. 24), Kacey Musgraves (March 2), Ariana Grande (March 9), Travis Scott (March 30) and Raye (April 6).