Washington: Indian-American comedian and television star Aziz Ansari is all set to make his hosting debut on NBC’s Saturday Night Live (SNL) on January 21, becoming the comedy sketch show’s first host of South Asian descent.
The news comes on the heels of a big year for 33-year-old Ansari. The stand-up comic and television star won his first Emmy for outstanding writing for a comedy series after earning a total of four nominations for his Netflix series Master of None, The Washington Post reported.
His nomination for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series was the first for an Indian American. “I’m very happy but it’s a very specific accomplishment,” he told USA Today about the historic nod.
Other Saturday Night Live hosts of Asian descent include Lucy Liu and Jackie Chan, both of whom hosted the show in 2000, according to an IndieWire examination of all 826 hosts in Saturday Night Live history. Bruno Mars and Fred Armisen, who are multiracial, have also hosted the show.
- Aziz Ansari will make his hosting debut on Saturday Night Live on January 21, becoming the comedy sketch show’s first host of South Asian descent
- Other Saturday Night Live hosts of Asian descent are Lucy Liu and Jackie Chan
- Indian-American comedian Ansari won his first Emmy for writing a comedy series for Master of None
