Predictions that Taylor Swift would appear on “Saturday Night Live” alongside host Dakota Johnson came to fruition when the duo appeared together in the opening monologue.
After joking about her failed relationships, Johnson said, “I have really good friends. They don’t judge me, they really support me. Ladies and gentlemen, she’s my real therapist.”
Swift then appeared on screen — in what one Swiftie on “And then you say…”
“Go back to sleep, yay!” said Johnson.
“Then I give you Pedialyte and my security drives you home,” Swift said.
The topic then turned to Johnson’s dating life. Earlier in the monologue, after jokes about her “tight latex dress” and the failure of “Madame Web” during her last “SNL” hosting gig, the actress said: “What else has happened since the last time I hosted? Well, I’ve been through two very public, very bad breakups with two great musicians. I’m looking for a third one.”
Moments later, while standing next to Swift, Johnson addressed the topic and continued: “Speaking of musicians, I actually think I’m doing a public service by flirting with them, because ladies, I’m making you a lot of money on Zoloft. So welcome, America. And also England. And parts of Ireland. And Cleveland,” a reference to Travis Kelce and “Allegedly.”
Swift then said, a little prematurely, “It’s her birthday!” he shouted, because Johnson had previously announced that his birthday would come at midnight.
Since it was already announced that the musical guest would be Turnstile, it was out of the question for Swift to perform a musical number in the episode. But the singer appearing on “SNL” at some point this season seemed inevitable after Swift attended the Easter egg-laden “Law & Order SVU” sketch at the Emmys. Behind him in the skit, a large “Saturday Night Live” emblem was pinned to the billboard… not his subtlest hint ever.