"SNL" Staffer Says Ryan Reynolds’ Joke About Justin Baldoni Was His "Idea"
Saturday Night Live (SNL) is known for its witty humor,Sketches, and celebrity cameos. One episode that still has fans talking is the recent appearance by Ryan Reynolds as an in-studio advertiser for a fictional soda brand, "Stewie’s Sodastream." While promoting the oft-maligned celebrity, Reynolds took a few jabs at special guest star Justin Baldoni, an award-winning filmmaker and disability advocate. However, it seems that Reynolds may have had some help with his jokester skills – or so says an SNL staffer.
According to an anonymous source from the SNL writing team, it was indeed Reynolds who came up with the idea for the joke about Justin Baldoni. The staffer, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared with us that Reynolds "had a deep understanding of what made for good comedy and was instrumental in shaping the script for the sketch."
In the sketch, Reynolds, playing the role of a soda representative, jokingly implies that Baldoni, who is known for his work on documentaries about people with disabilities, is not actually disabled. Reynolds says, "And the best part is, [Baldoni] doesn’t even have a disability! He’s just a regular guy, like you and me… well, like me, at least." The audience was left in stitches, but some viewers took to social media to express their disappointment and even solidarity with Baldoni.
The source told us that while Reynolds "was always very gracious about getting input and approval" from the writing team, it was clear that he had a sixth sense for humor and "knew exactly what he wanted to do" with his character. "When he came in, we just knew we had to turn up the comedy dials," the staffer said, noting that Reynolds was "a true pro" and "went above and beyond to make sure we got the laughs we needed."
The SNL staffer pointed out that Reynolds was "very respectful" throughout the entire process, and that he "made sure to approve the script" before filming. "Ryan was always looking out for us, and we were grateful to have him on board," the source said.
While it’s unclear whether Baldoni himself found the joke funny, fans of the show are still raving about Reynolds’ unique blend of wit and charm. With his latest turn on SNL, Reynolds proves once again that he’s a master of comedic timing and has a knack for bringing out the humor in even the most unlikely of subjects.
