“Gladiator II” star Paul Mescal made his internet hosting debut tonight through the fiftieth season of “Saturday Evening Reside” and riffed on every thing from his lack of comedic performances to his Irish roots.

Clad in all black and sporting a mustache, Mescal took to the stage at Studio 8H, saying, “I’m Paul Mescal and it’s nice to be right here. I’ve at all times cherished SNL. This place has such historical past.”

Mescal, who’s from Maynooth, Eire, continued, “Rising up again dwelling I by no means anticipated to be right here. I’m additionally excited to be right here as a result of I’m probably not recognized for comedy, which is humorous to me as a result of I believe I’ve given a number of actually humorous performances.”

The actor, who’s recognized for his dramatic roles like within the Hulu miniseries “Regular Individuals,” added, “I believe we now have some highlights right here.” Clips from Mescal’s work in “Regular Individuals” and different dramatic movie performances performed within the studio to a lot laughter.

With a smile, he stated, “I believe it’s humorous, no? I believe it’s clear, I’m not afraid to do emotional scenes, or nude scenes, or nude emotional scenes. However not too long ago, I did pivot to one thing new in ‘Gladiator II.’ It’s a giant action-packed blockbuster. Right here’s a glance,” stated Mescal with a smile, as a clip of him crying within the bathe performed.

“It’s protected to say there’s not a number of comedy on the resume,” he stated with a smile.

“Anyway, I do take nice pleasure in being Irish,” stated Mescal. “The Irish individuals have been by way of so much. Centuries of British occupation, the good famine, mass immigration, that U2 album that mechanically bought downloaded on individuals’s telephones.”

Then the actor took time to handle some “ugly stereotypes” concerning the Irish. “There’s a nasty rumor that Irish individuals have intercourse with our cousins. That’s offensive and it’s ridiculous. We now have intercourse with our second cousins,” he stated, barely suppressing amusing.

“Individuals additionally suppose we hate British individuals. That’s not true,” stated Mescal, “we simply don’t take into account them individuals.” When requested if Notre Dame’s Combating Irish mascot is offensive, Mescal stated, “Under no circumstances. We do the identical factor with the People; actually, my highschool’s mascot was the Combating Fats Asses.”

The actor additionally dispelled the notion that Irish individuals put on kilts. “No, that’s the Scottish. Historically, the Irish put on brief shorts,” he stated, as an image of Mescal in tiny shorts popped on display. “Did somebody say brief shorts?” requested Marcello Hernandez, who appeared onstage sporting tiny shorts.

“You already know what they are saying, Paul, the shorter the shorts the taller you look,” stated Hernandez.

“I don’t suppose it’s working, bud,” stated Mescal with amusing.

Mescal acknowledged one Irish stereotype that, for him, rings true tonight. “Individuals typically discuss concerning the luck of the Irish. I do really feel very, very fortunate to be right here. I’m in New York Metropolis. I’m internet hosting SNL and this feels completely insane to me,” concluded Mescal with a smile.

In his first skit, Mescal appeared in a musical model of “Gladiator II,” which imagined the epic with an additional 50 minutes of music added and Mescal singing about being a misunderstood killing machine.

Grammy-nominated Shaboozey is the episode’s musical visitor.