Ryan Gosling and Kate McKinnon’s ‘Close Encounter’ Sketch Sends ‘SNL’ Cold Open Into Hysterics

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 11, Episode 7 of “The Masked Singer,” “Queen Night,” which aired April 10 on Fox. “The Masked Singer” dropped a bomb on us: Singer/songwriter Charlie Wilson, who has enjoyed a tremendous career as a solo artist in addition to his time as lead vocalist for the Gap Band, was one of two celebrities revealed on Wednesday night’s edition of “The Masked Singer.” Also unmasked: “The Office” star Kate Flannery (who played the frequently inebriated Meredith). Wilson was unveiled during the show’s Group A finals as Ugly Sweater, while Flannery was Starfish. For the Ugly Sweater, Robin Thicke got it right with Charlie Wilson.

EXCLUSIVE: Duplass Brothers Production recently wrapped production on the Katie Aselton-directed feature Magic Hour, starring Daveed Diggs (Blindspotting, Hamilton). Aselton (Old Dads, Legion) stars alongside Diggs in the project which she co-wrote with Mark Duplass.

EXCLUSIVE: Margaret Qualley has pulled out of playing Amanda Knox in Hulu‘s upcoming limited series for scheduling reasons.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be considering plans to renovate and extend a redbrick annexe next to their Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor.The family - who moved to the Berkshire estate towards the end of summer in 2022 - currently split their time between the four bedroom cottage and their beloved Anmer Hall retreat on the Sandringham Estate. While Adelaide Cottage provides the perfect location thanks to its proximity to Lambrook School where Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are students, sources say the family are looking at plans to extend a currently empty annexe to aid in the princess' recovery.This decision, however, is said to not be without complications as the source explains that the Prince of Wales is "conscious of public scrutiny" about royal spending habits and is taking a measured approach about how to personally cover the costs.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Pulling sartorial inspiration from film and TV is nothing new but production companies, costume designers and brands are now taking full advantage of the significant influence that a few minutes on screen can do for sales — and limited-edition collections inspired by, or even in direct partnership, with movies and shows have become the norm.

Meredith Woerner Deputy Editor, Variety.com After much anticipation, the sequel to the 2017 sketch “Papyrus 2” has finally emerged despite being cut for time during the live broadcast, making its debut on YouTube. The original sketch was conceived by former “SNL” writer Julio Torres, who was inspired by a past tweet in which he mused, “Every day I wake up and remember that Avatar, a huge international blockbuster, used the Papyrus font for their logo, and no one stopped them.” Directed by Dave McCary(who also shot the previously pointed Torres sketch “Wells For Boys” with his now-wife and current collaborator Emma Stone), this meditation on obsession and a questionable font became the logo for James Cameron’s massive franchise.

Ryan Gosling is breaking up with Ken.

Ryan Gosling announced during his opening monologue on “Saturday Night Live” that he has had to “break up” with his “Barbie” character Ken — but not before one final sendoff. “I’m here because of my new movie, ‘The Fall Guy’ with Emily Blunt,” Gosling, 43, told the cheering crowd. “So don’t worry, I’m not going to make any jokes about Ken because it’s not funny.

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt have drawn a line under their Barbenheimer experiences by performing a duet of Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’ on Saturday Night Live.Gosling, who played Ken in Barbie, was hosting the episode of SNL, and was joined in the opening monologue by Blunt, who played Kitty in Oppenheimer.The two, who are also co-starring in the new action comedy The Fall Guy, reflected on the difficulty in moving past such a huge phenomenon. “You know, when you play a character that hard, that long, just 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,” said Gosling.With that, they launched into their adapted version of ‘All Too Well’, complete with choreographed backing dancers and scenery referencing both films.“I was just Ken, and now I’m just Ryan,” sang Gosling, with Blunt adding: “I used to be the alcoholic wife of a dude in a hat / Talking to Albert Einstein / Sipping a margarita / With some Christopher Nolan and a bag of vodkila”.See the sketch below:Gosling ended weeks of uncertainty by showing up at the Oscars last month and performing a showstopping version of ‘I’m Just Ken’, alongside Mark Ronson and Slash.Since then, Ronson has reflected on the legacy of the song, which he co-wrote and produced.

Kate McKinnon returned to Saturday Night Live for yet another “Close Encounter” alien abduction cold open, joining with this week’s host Ryan Gosling for the popular sketch. And as he has before, Gosling struggled not to laugh and to stay in character.

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.

Ryan Gosling kicked off the April 13 episode of Saturday Night Live with two huge moments!

Dua Lipa is taking over Saturday Night Live!

Ryan Gosling is taking over the streets of New York City for a sketch.

In Thursday’s Saturday Night Live promo, Ryan Gosling and musical guest Chris Stapleton had to contend with the comedy show’s wackiest performer, Sarah Sherman.

Ryan Gosling is hosting Saturday Night Live on April 13 and is seemingly nervous about meeting musical guest Chris Stapleton.

Kristen Wiig received a star-studded reception last night when she hosted “Saturday Night Live” for the fifth time allowing her to join the elite “Five-Timers Club.” “I am so happy to be back, and I am so excited because it is my fifth time hosting, so I am officially in the five-timers club,” Wiig, 50, told the excited crowd. After taking a moment to welcome the “SNL” band, the “Palm Royale” star explained the significance of the club to the gathered audience. “So I have to say as a former cast member, it is very special being a five-timer,” Wiig said shortly before being interrupted by Paul Rudd who asks the “Bridesmaids” star if he could be part of the sketch where she gets her jacket.

Ahead of starring in 1975, Jason Reitman’s period comedy feature, Kaia Gerber is getting a feel for Studio 8H.

The Prince and Princess of Wales' love story famously began at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.The couple met during their first year when they were both living at St Salvator's Halls of Residence and would later go on to live with one another. While the couple have now been married for almost 13 years and share three children, their first years together as students sound idyllic.

Meredith Woerner Deputy Editor, Variety.com If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Whether you’re inspired by the range of catastrophic events happening in the world or influenced by Hollywood’s continued rollout of doomsday dramas, it’s never a bad idea to be prepared. Between power outages, natural disasters and unexpected circumstances, having the right emergency kits and supplies can make all the difference.