JK Simmons on Returning for ‘SNL 40’: ‘I’m Like a Bad Penny — I Keep Coming Back’ (Video)

The Oscar-nominated actor recalls classic memories from the sketch comedy show and being nervous as a first time host

J.K. Simmons was all smiles while on the red carpet for NBC’s “Saturday Night Live’s 40th Anniversary Special” Sunday, he told TheWrap.

“I’m like a bad penny. I keep coming back,” he said jokingly.

Simmons hosted the sketch comedy show for the first time on Jan. 31. after winning a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award for his role as Terence Fletcher in the movie “Whiplash.” Many have named him the Oscar frontrunner for best supporting actor.

Although the actor is excited about the Oscar nomination, he admitted having felt differently about hosting ‘SNL.’

“The live show was really intimidating. I stressed out all week, and they kept telling me to go with the flow, and you’ll be great,” Simmons recalled. “I went with the flow, and I had a great time.”

Before the special began on Sunday night, Simmons thought back to his fondest memory of the show’s last four decades. It was Garrett Morris screaming — while repeating after Chevy Chase — during a segment of ‘Weekend Update’ for viewers hard of hearing.

“[My sister] said, ‘There’s this new, bizarre, weird show that has no right being on TV with these crazy people,” Simmons recalled “Garrett Morris starts screaming and I thought, ‘That is the craziest thing I’ve seen in my life.’”

You can watch Simmons’s interview here.

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