'Years of Living Dangerously': David Letterman Saves the World (Video)

The planet needs a hero. What it’s got is David Letterman and Cecily Strong. Good enough? Let’s hope so.

Those two have loaned their faces and celebrity to one of the more crucial causes we currently face — the effort to press pause on (and even hopefully reverse some) climate change. Such is the mission of National Geographic Channel’s ambitious “Years of Living Dangerously.”

In a clip from the former “Late Show” host’s turn, one which is exclusive to TheWrap, Letterman tours an Indian solar field with government officials. What the curmudgeonly comedian observes forces a rare smile just above his mangy beard.

“I see this and my pessimism diminishes,” Letterman says. Watch that video above.

Also Read: Leonardo DiCaprio's Climate Change Doc Could 'Change the World,' Nat Geo CEO Says

For her episode, “Saturday Night Live” star Cecily Strong tries to figure out exactly who is blocking the sun in America. Yes, who.

Solar power seems like the perfect (and obvious) solution to Nevada’s own energy issues, for one example. Because, you know, it’s a desert. And that’s where she is, attempting to uncover what on Earth is stopping us from saving the Earth.

“Energy worldwide is a $6 trillion a year business, and the first goal of the people in that industry is to make sure it continues to be a $6 trillion a year business,” one former oil exec admits to the “SNL” player. Fabulous.

Also Read: Panda Babies! Nat Geo Wild Orders Endangered Species Show 'Mission Critical' (Exclusive)

The other Season 2 celebrity correspondents are: Jack Black, Gisele Bündchen, Ty Burrell, Don Cheadle, America Ferrera, Thomas Friedman, Joshua Jackson, Aasif Mandvi, Nikki Reed, executive producer Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ian Somerhalder, Sigourney Weaver and Bradley Whitford.

James Cameron and the late Jerry Weintraub also executive produce the series, along with “60 Minutes” producers Joel Bach and David Gelber, and climate expert Daniel Abbasi. “Years of Living Dangerously” won the 2014 Emmy award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.

Here’s Strong, from the restricted rooftop at Mandalay Bay:

Also Read: Nat Geo Sets First 'Earth Week,' Pegged to Presidential Election (Exclusive)

Season 2 of “Years of Living Dangerously” premieres Sunday, Oct. 30 at 8/7c on National Geographic Channel.

The series will move to its regularly scheduled time –Wednesdays at 10/9c — beginning Nov. 2. The sophomore run will air on NGC in 171 countries and 45 languages.

As part of its effort to bail us all out, Nat Geo is also premiering Leonardo DiCaprio’s climate change documentary “Before the Flood” on Sunday. Click here to learn more from our interview with channel CEO Courteney Monroe.

'SNL' 5-Timers Club: Most Frequent Hosts, From Alec Baldwin to Will Ferrell (Photos)

In the world of sketch comedy, there is no fraternity more prestigious than the "Saturday Night Live Five-Timers Club." Those who have proven their worthiness by hosting "SNL" five times are invited into an elite circle, where they don luxurious satin robes, smoke expensive cigars and, for their entertainment, watch current cast members fight to the death.
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Alec Baldwin - 17

Not counting his many guest appearances to play guys like Donald Trump, Baldwin has hosted 16 times, passing Steve Martin's record in 2011. Martin was there that night to demand a surprise drug test.
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Steve Martin - 15

The esteemed president of the Five-Timers Club was also the fastest to get to that milestone, hosting his fifth less than two years after hosting his first. In total, Martin has hosted fifteen times, most recently in 2009.
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John Goodman - 13

Goodman ranks third on the all-time "SNL" hosting list with 13 episodes, behind only Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.
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Tom Hanks - 10

Hanks' fifth go-around as host in 1990 was what spawned the Five-Timers Club sketch. But now his most famous contribution to the series is definitely David S. Pumpkins. In April 2020, he also hosted remotely during the first "at home" edition during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.
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Buck Henry - 10

From 1976 to 1980, it was tradition for the "Heaven Can Wait" director to host the "SNL" season finale. In total, Henry hosted 10 episodes, including a Mardi Gras special.
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Chevy Chase - 8

The original anchor of "Weekend Update" hosted "SNL" eight times after being the first original cast member to leave in the middle of the show's second season.
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Christopher Walken - 7

Walken was the first person to join the Five-Timers Club in the 21st Century after making his fifth appearance in May 2001.
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Drew Barrymore - 6

Though we haven't seen her in a Five-Timers' robe, her portrait is in the club's luxurious quarters. She holds the record for youngest host ever, having appeared on the show at age 7 following the release of "E.T." in 1982.
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Elliot Gould - 6

Gould hosted the show five times in the '70s, but his sixth appearance was his last after being blindsided by the sudden departure of Lorne Michaels from the show in 1980.
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Danny DeVito - 6

Shortly after playing The Penguin in "Batman Returns," DeVito joined the club with an "SNL" appearance in January 1993.
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Tina Fey - 6

Arguably the most famous "SNL" cast member among millennials, Tina Fey joined the Club in 2015 after a hosting career that included (and still includes) her famous Sarah Palin impression.
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Scarlett Johansson - 6

The actress made her fifth appearance in 2016, and kicked off her monologue by putting on a Five-Timers jacket handed to her by Kenan Thompson. (She hosted again with then-fiancé Colin Jost in December 2019.)
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Candice Bergen - 5

Bergen was the first woman to host "SNL" and hosted five times from 1975 to 1990.
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Bill Murray - 5

After starring on the show in Seasons 2-5, Murray returned to host five times in the '80s and '90s.
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Ben Affleck - 5

The man "SNL" once mocked for his film "Gigli" joined the Five-Timers club in 2013, shortly after winning the Best Picture Oscar for "Argo."
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Justin Timberlake - 5

The pop star's fifth appearance in 2013 saw "SNL" bring back the "Five-Timers" sketch, as Timberlake's induction was celebrated with a brawl between cast members Bobby Moynihan and Taran Killam.
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Melissa McCarthy - 5

After a season of guest appearances as Donald Trump's White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, McCarthy grabbed her Five-Timers jacket in Season 42.
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The Rock - 5

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson hosted the finale of the 42nd season of "SNL"
Jonah Hill - 5

Hill's five appearances as host spanned a decade, with the first coming in 2008 and the fifth on Nov. 3, 2018.
Will Ferrell - 5

One of the most successful "SNL" alums of the '90s, Ferrell joined the club on Nov. 23, 2019. Among his most famous "SNL" bits were his George W. Bush impression and his recurring role as Alex Trebek on "Celebrity Jeopardy."
Paul Simon - 4

Technically, Simon only hosted four times, but he's been included in "Five-Timers Club" sketches since he was the musical guest on a fifth show. He also owns arguably the most emotional moment in the history of "SNL": his performance of "The Boxer" in the cold open of the first post-9/11 episode.
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TheWrap looks back at those who’ve joined the most elite club in sketch comedy

In the world of sketch comedy, there is no fraternity more prestigious than the "Saturday Night Live Five-Timers Club." Those who have proven their worthiness by hosting "SNL" five times are invited into an elite circle, where they don luxurious satin robes, smoke expensive cigars and, for their entertainment, watch current cast members fight to the death.

View In Gallery

'SNL' 5-Timers Club: Most Frequent Hosts, From Alec Baldwin to Will Ferrell (Photos)

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