When it comes to Pedro Pascal’s latest confession, you should hear this, too.
The Last of Us star—whose hosting debut on Saturday Night Live last year quickly became a fan-favorite episode—was welcomed back to Rockefeller Center for SNL 50: The Anniversary Special and in discussing the pressures of hosting with alum Leslie Jones, he let slip a cheeky joke.
“I feel like the intense structure of it helps with the panic, the pressure,” Pedro explained on the special’s red carpet. “Because there’s such a ritual and ceremony to everything. You don’t have time to think about anything else, and they’re literally pulling you from every single direction—like literally physically grabbing you.” (See all the stars in attendance here.)
It was a memory that rang true for Leslie, who confessed, “Oh my god, when I used to work there, my assignment was always to tell the host, ‘Submit, just submit.’”
To which Pedro quipped, “I’m into submission.” And after the confession left Leslie speechless, he doubled down with an earnest, “I am!”
But Pedro isn’t the only former host returning to the hallowed halls of 30 Rock for the epic anniversary special. Among the other celebs to have taken on the pressure-induing role that are back in the building are Emma Stone, Paul Rudd, Quinta Brunson and Peyton Manning.
Plus, in addition to the former celebrity hosts, many former cast members, writers and staffers involved with the series over the years returned, including Maya Rudolph, Garrett Morris, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers and Tina Fey—the latter of whom gushed over how returning felt like a kind of homecoming.
“It has been thrilling to be in this building this week,” Tina told Leslieon the red carpet. “Because it’s everyone coming home. It feels like a bunch of siblings and cousins. And it’s watching people who know how to do it, practice and do it. It’s so exciting.”
The 54-year-old—whose time on the series included roles as head writer and Weekend Update co-anchor, as well as a position as staff writer for the special—also reminisced on her first day on the series.
“The first day I had to come to the building, I walked in, and I remember saying to the to the security, ‘I’m here to see Lorne Michaels,’” she said. “And I was like, ‘It’s crazy.’ And I floated out of my body—that I think that was like the main memory I have.”
For more from the SNL 50 red carpet, keep reading.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Kim Kardashian
Miley Cyrus
Pete Davidson
Dakota Johnson
Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky
Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost
Jackie Sandler and Adam Sandler
Kenan Thompson
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
Sabrina Carpenter
Meryl Streep
Eddie Murphy
Emma Stone and Dave McCary
Alexander Edwards and Cher
Bad Bunny
Amy Poehler
Tina Fey
Maya Rudolph
Miles Teller and Keleigh Sperry Teller
Drew Barrymore
Zahra Rock and Chris Rock
Will Ferrell
Chris Fischer and Amy Schumer
Chris Pine
Kate McKinnon
Sandra Oh
Lauren Miller and Seth Rogen
Nick Jonas
Aidy Bryant
