Donald Glover is gearing up to make history when he hits the Saturday Night Live stage performing double duty as the host and musical guest for the night. The normally introverted creative joins a short list of double-billed artists who have taken up the challenge in the past, including Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and more recently Drake, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus.
The 34-year-old returns to the comedy realm thanks to the network that gave him his start as a writer on 30 Rock back in 2006. What separates Donald from the rest is he will be performing under his alter-ego of Childish Gambino, which he plans to retire after one final heavily anticipated album for the storied moniker.
The hosting gig comes at the perfect time with Glover’s largest role to date as Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story hitting theaters later this month (May 25). Atlanta‘s season two is also in full swing with another ten episodes under the Emmy Award-winning show’s belt. An acclaimed SNL appearance should bring on the hat trick of positive exposure on that front.
Here are five things we want to see from Donald Glover on Saturday Night Live.
Perform New Music as Childish Gambino
What better way to kick off the rollout to his final album under Childish Gambino than on the SNL stage? Fans have been clamoring for new music following the success of 2016’s triple-platinum Awaken, My Love! After inking a deal with RCA Records at the top of 2018 in which Glover and his creative agency promised new music by year’s end, the multi-faceted performer is ready to usher in another career evolution. He’s also preparing to head out on an 18-show arena tour this fall supported by Rae Sremmurd and Vince Staples, so the debut of new material would be timely and a great sneak preview of things to come.
Tease His Joint Project With Chance The Rapper
A collaborative effort between the Atlanta creator and Chance The Rapper has long been in the works. Following a couple wins at the 2017 Emmy Awards, the California native hilariously teased a joint project between himself and Chano. “I feel like if I don’t make a Chance the Rapper mixtape, like double mixtape, a bunch of 14-year-olds are gonna kick my ass,” he claimed last September. “They stop me on the street; it kind of scares me. So I feel like I gotta do something. I probably will.”
Could it all come to fruition in 2018? Prior to Chance’s own SNL hosting gig of his own last November, he stopped by The Tonight Show and revealed that one of his greenlit pitches for an ci sketch was actually pieced together with the help of Mr. Glover.
“You know, I’m a huge fan of the show, and I know that when they bring guest hosts, they usually come with a few ideas at least, especially if they’re into comedy, so I brought a few sketches by,” he said. “One of them that made it, I actually gotta give credit to my good friend Donald Glover, who helped me with the idea. He’s a great dude, as well.”
Preview Role of Lando Calrissian in Honor of Star Wars Day
With Friday (May 4) basically known as National Star Wars Day and Solo just three weeks out from its debut, Glover’s Saturday Night Live cameo provides a prime opportunity to give fans a look of what’s to come for the sly smuggler. Earlier in the week (May 2), a new Solo trailer saw Glover in character giving a tour of his favorite spots on the Millennium Falcon. SNL‘s Twitter had some fun with the thought as they redesigned a Solo poster to tease Glover’s upcoming episode.
The force will be with @donaldglover.
Tomorrow night.
Only on @nbc. #StarWarsDay pic.twitter.com/vOzenEJURi
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) May 4, 2018
Implement Kanye West’s “Freedom of Thought” Into a Sketch
Kanye West‘s recent antics have once again made him a polarizing lightning rod in society, a phenomenon that’s occurred throughout his illustrious career. The chances that his comments sent waves through the SNL cast and became a popular topic of conversation during pitch meetings this week are pretty likely.
Glover has been a staunch supporter of West’s creativity in the past as his actions in life are a true embodiment of exactly what Yeezy preaches when it comes to being a free thinker. He actually touched on Ye’s struggle to shatter the glass ceiling of various industries who attempt to box him in as a rapper instead of seeing him as the ultimate creator during his 2013 interview with The Breakfast Club. Let’s see if the “Redbone” singer can draw up a way to implement something revolving around the 21-time Grammy Award winner during a sketch.
free thinkers pic.twitter.com/u04SqbIQej
— jon saponara (@JonSaponara) April 23, 2018
Have Childish Gambino & Donald Glover in the Same Sketch
This seems like a layup for the Because The Internet artist to have brought to the pitch table this week. I’ll leave it to the creative genius to figure out the best way to execute the scene in a hilarious manner. This has potential to be a special episode because Glover isn’t your average celebrity guest as he’s equally (if not more) capable than full-time members of the Saturday Night Live cast.
The former 30 Rock actor last used himself and his musical alter-ego in the same setting during his cameo on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert back in March. See if you could notice the subtle difference between the two for yourself below.
Donald and Childish? This is heavy. pic.twitter.com/6Apw4gb8S3
— Grand Master Yo’dude (@TheYoDude) April 15, 2018
Be sure to tune in tonight at 11:35 p.m. EST on NBC. Enjoy the show!