Jennifer Lawrence to Host Saturday Night Live: Will SNL Hurt Her Oscar Chances?

Culture

Actress Jennifer Lawrence, whose star just keeps rising on Hollywood, will be on NBC's Saturday Night Live on January 19.

Having already netted herself an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook, it seems the actress is still willing to do some lowbrow entertainment, as evidenced by her appearance on the show and the fact that she is slated to return for existing popcorn franchises such as X-Men: First Class and The Hunger Games.

However, Lawrence has confirmed that her appearance on the comedy skit show will not feature any references to her most famous character, Katniss Everdeen, stating, "I retired my bow and arrow for this weekend." Interestingly, American Folk Rock band The Lumineers, who serve as the episode's musical guests, have hinted that they might feature in the skit.

Regarding her practice for the live performance, Lawrence said, "oh my God, it's been amazing. I don't think I've ever laughed this much in my entire life. It's just been incredible. It's just amazing working with people — their job is just to be funny all day every day. You are in a room with some of the funniest people in the entire world."

Ever since its inception, Saturday Night Live has featured many guests and, due to the varied political views of both its performers and its audience, has been riddled with controversy.

One of the most well known instances of such controversy in recent times was the show's skit about footballer Tim Tebow, which actually involved the depiction of Jesus Christ in a manner that some felt was offensive. At that time, televangelist Pat Robertson had referred to the skit as "an anti-Christian bigotry that is just disgusting."

Interestingly, Tebow is now teaming up with Ludacris on a new business venture. I wonder if his religious audience approves of the content in the rapper's music videos.

The skit comedy has recently taken aim at other Golden Globe winners, as well, including Damian Day-Lewis (Lincoln) and Claire Danes from Homeland (the latter of which actress Anne Hathaway actually apologized for).

Lawrence, for her part, has implied that her performance is expected to be fairly self-deprecating, having admitted that her fans should expect her "acting like an idiot. A lot." Whether that will hurt her image around Oscar time remains to be seen.

Saturday Night Live airs January 19 at 11:30 PM/10:30C.