James Relishes Role as Host Of 'SNL' Season Premiere
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Friday, September 28, 2007
First came "The LeBrons," the five distinct characters that represent LeBron James's personality on the popular Nike commercials. Then came "My LeBrogative," James's creative, song-and-dance take on Bobby Brown's hit single "My Prerogative" as host of ESPN's ESPY Awards last summer.
Tomorrow James will showcase his sense of humor and burgeoning public persona as host of the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live."
"I'm very comfortable with this," James said in a teleconference on Thursday, before he goes live from New York. "I want to make an impression. I want to go out there and be original and have fun with the thing."
James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in June and recently won a gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas, joins other prominent athletes -- such as Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Derek Jeter, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning -- who have hosted the show. "You wait your time for someone who you think can do it in a way that hasn't been done before and give you an original show," said Lorne Michaels, the show's executive producer and creator. James is "really good at this stuff."
He will be the first athlete to host a season premiere since Charles Barkley in 1993. Jordan hosted the season premiere in 1991, but the 22-year-old James said he was too young to remember. "That's sad for me," Michaels said. "We've been on 12 years longer than he's been alive."
James said he is feeling some nervous excitement, but isn't too concerned about bombing. "I've got enough cast members around me, that if I do make a mistake they can pick it up for me," he said.
Is an acting career around the corner? "We'll let you know by 1 o'clock on Sunday," Michaels joked.
