Reese Witherspoon’s Pressure of Hosting SNL After 9/11

Reese Witherspoon recounts the challenging experience of hosting Saturday Night Live shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

Hosting a Historic Episode

Reese Witherspoon recently recalled the difficult time when she hosted the first episode of Saturday Night Live following the 9/11 attacks.

The event took place in 2001, when, at the age of 24, she was tasked with entertaining a nation in mourning.

She described the experience as “zero stars,” saying she wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Lorne Michaels’ Support and Appeal

At the time, SNL creator Lorne Michaels called her and said, “I desperately need you.” He explained that Rudy Giuliani, all the firefighters, and Paul Simon would be there.

Lorne told Reese that America needed to learn to laugh again and restore the national spirit.

Hearing this, Reese agreed, even though she had never been under such immense pressure before.

The Challenge of a New Mother and Successful Actress

At that time, Reese’s career was booming after the success of major films like ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Cruel Intentions’.

But in her personal life, she was also a new mother to a one-year-old child.

She admitted that the responsibility was overwhelming for a 24-year-old. She felt like she was outside of her own body, but she persevered nonetheless.

An Experience That Taught a Lesson

This event had such a profound impact on her that she didn’t host SNL again for almost 14 years. She only returned to the show in 2015.

However, she clarified that it wasn’t the show’s fault, but rather a historic event in which too much was expected of a young performer.

While the episode helped her grow as an artist, the memories of it still evoke mixed feelings for her.