Lawrence Will Play the SNL Card

One thing I never understood is why more movie stars don't take advantage of the SNL venue to drum up more support for their films.  It's a long-running institution, which allows actors to show off their goods and versatility.  But, then, for those who are more limited in range and/or nervous, live-action comedy and improv might just be too tall of an order.  And, as we've witnessed time and again, if the writing isn't up to snuff, it doesn't matter who you are, the prospects of landing in a turkey episode are pretty high.  I got truly excited when I heard Jennifer Lawrence will be hosting the show in a couple weeks.  As Winter's Bone and Silver Linings Playbook has shown us, she can play more than one type, and with The Hunger Games, she has the presence to lead a large enterprise.  Did you know that she will actually be one of the few actresses to throw her hat into the late night variety show ring once nominations are announced, but before ballots are turned in?  Yes, it's an obscure bit of information that you're hearing about because of the questionable use of my free time.

Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, and Reese Witherspoon hosted years before they took a more serious position on getting an Oscar.  Even Kim Basinger used her then 30 Rock-familiar husband to cohost way before L.A. Confidential ever existed.  Some basked in the glow of a recent Oscar win: Angelica Huston (Prizzi's Honor), and Geena Davis (The Accidental Tourist).  Others celebrated post-season just having had gotten nominated: Maureen Stapleton (Interiors), Ellen Page (Juno), and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious).  Some finally went on some time after their Oscar win, like Halle Berry, when she headlined Gothika, as well as Helen Mirren (Arthur), Marisa Tomei (Only You), and Sally Field (Mrs. Doubtfire).

You've had ladies with films that opened early in the year who later joined the awards circuit conversation: Shelley Duvall (3 Women, for one of her two stints), Jill Clayburgh (An Unmarried Woman, in her second appearance), Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct), and Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones's Diary).  You've had women with summer releases who hosted in the Fall just as awards season was getting ready: Lily Tomlin (Nashville, her second of there times), Sigourney Weaver (Aliens, in her first of two times), Andie MacDowell (sex, lies and videotape), Linda Hamilton (Terminator 2), Nia Vardalos  (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), and Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids).

Some of the actresses took the SNL stage in the Fall after a recent release for a little post-opening push: Jodie Foster (Taxi Driver), Ellen Burstyn (Resurrection), Kathleen Turner (Romancing the Stone in her first of two appearances), Joan Allen (Pleasantville), Kate Hudson (Almost Famous), and Annette Bening (Running with Scissors).  A few films had their actresses host the show a week or a few before they opened late in the year: Bernadette Peters (Pennies From Heaven), Melanie Griffith (Working Girl), Helen Hunt (As Good As It Gets, her second time), and Kate Winslet (Finding Neverland, having had Eternal Sunshine earlier in the year).

You had some ladies host a week or two before the ceremony, way after nomination ballots were sent out and possibly already turned in: Sissy Spacek (Carrie), Miranda Richardson (up for Damage, she was riding high off The Crying Game and had Enchanted April also out earlier the previous year), Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights), Queen Latifah (Chicago, in her first of two), Salma Hayek (Frida), and Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby).

Anne Hathaway has the distinction of being the most Oscar-ish type actress to host three stints tied to an awards bid each time.  Hathaway's first time was after Rachel Getting Married just opened.  She ended up getting nominated, but her second try with Love and Other Drugs wasn't as successful.  As the opening monologue indicated for her third trip to the SNL stage a few weeks ago, it was all about Les Misérables.  Gwyneth Paltrow tried to drum up support for awards-bid Country Strong most recently, but her second hosting gig was about Shallow Hal's box-office.

As you can tell, if you're familiar with the outcome of each actress in regards to the movie they're pushing, Oscar and SNL don't always mix, even when it comes to just nominations.  But, to do it in the thick of the season, takes some chutzpah, no?  Demonstrating a willingness to fall flat on your face during a 90-minute live televised appearance isn't a cake-walk.  The only women to host after nominations were announced, but probably before most ballots were turned in were Glenn Close (Dangerous Liaisons, in her first of two appearances) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love).  Paltrow hosted three days before the nominations were announced, but already tabulated.  Close hosted right after.  Of course, like with Lawrence, these were all tied to platform release strategies for their movies.  Hunt, Paltrow, and Swank are the only ones to come out winners.  We know Hathaway will.  Will Lawrence?  Will Chastain have time to take off from appearing on stage as The Heiress to throw her hat into the SNL ring?  We'll have to wait and see.  But, for now, I can't wait to see Lawrence kill it.

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