Ryan Gosling‘s episode of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” from April instantly went viral, thanks in no small part to his habit of laughing during many (all?) of his sketches. “Beavis and Butt-Head” with Mikey Day, “Close Encounter Cold Open” with Kate McKinnon, “The Engagement” with Andrew Dismukes, “Doctor” with Bowen Yang, “Erin Brockovich” with Chloe Fineman … the list goes on and on. Gosling has now been nominated for his first-ever Emmy nomination in the category of Best Comedy Guest Actor, which begs the question: Can he giggle his way all the way to the winner’s podium?
Gosling’s co-nominees this year are Jon Bernthal (“The Bear”), Matthew Broderick (“Only Murders in the Building”), Christopher Lloyd (“Hacks”), Bob Odenkirk (“The Bear”) and Will Poulter (“The Bear”). Gold Derby’s initial Emmy predictions lean toward a Bernthal victory, but there are still two months to go before the Creative Arts ceremonies take place on September 7 and 8. (The main Primetime ceremony will air on September 15 on ABC.)
Just last year, another “SNL” giggler, Pedro Pascal, earned an Emmy bid in this same guest category. However, he was bested at the finish line by Sam Richardson (“Ted Lasso”). At the time, I suggested that snooty Emmy voters might be turned off by all of Pascal’s on-camera breaking, which is why I predicted Richardson instead. Will the same fate now befall Gosling?
The good news for Gosling is that many other “Saturday Night Live” hosts have won the Best Comedy Guest Actor and Best Comedy Guest Actress categories through the years. The male champs are Dave Chappelle in 2021 and ’17, Eddie Murphy in 2020, Jimmy Fallon in 2014 and ’12, and Justin Timberlake in 2011 and ’09. The female winners are Maya Rudolph in 2021 and ’20, Tiffany Haddish in 2018, Melissa McCarthy in 2017, Tina Fey & Amy Poehler in 2016, Betty White in 2010, and Fey alone in 2009. Yep, the list just keeps growing.
On Wednesday morning, “SNL” earned a whopping 17 nominations at the 2024 Emmys, including for Best Scripted Variety Series, Bowen Yang as a supporting actor, and Gosling, Rudolph and Kristen Wiig as guest actors.
Gosling is coming off of a massive year on the awards front for playing Ken in “Barbie,” earning nominations at the Oscars, BAFTAs, Critics Choice, Golden Globes and more. He even celebrated the success of Ken (while wearing his iconic white fur coat) during his “SNL” monologue, and he was joined by his “The Fall Guy” co-star Emily Blunt, who earned numerous bids herself that same awards cycle for playing Kitty in “Oppenheimer.” Watch their fun song and dance number below:
SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
