Sebastian Maniscalco Reacts to Harry Styles’ Impression on SNL: “Absolutely…”
The stand-up comedian had shared praise for his imitators — and a pitch — in a social media post.
Though Marcello Hernández was mainly a stand-up comic when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in Season 48, he’s done hilarious character work on the show since (Hi, Domingo!). He’s also honed a certain recurring impression: Fellow stand-up Sebastian Maniscalco. And during SNL‘s March 14 episode, he roped Harry Styles into doing it, too.
The “Aperture” singer definitely went for it! And the real Sebastian Maniscalco had a hilarious response to his and Hernández’s efforts.
Hernández’s previous live sketch as Maniscalco found him at a bachelor party (and had Glen Powell trying the impression on for size). This time, he’s moonlighting as a trial lawyer.
Harry Styles tried his own Sebastian Maniscalco impression on SNL
In “New Lawyer,” a prosecutor (Styles) is ready to present his case. But the judge (Kenan Thompson) warns him that the public defender he’s up against is “world famous comedian” Sebastian Maniscalco.
“I promise he’s nothing like what you’ve seen on TV,” the judge says, though seconds later we see that’s not true at all.
“You’re not gonna believe dis: I’m a lawyer now. I went to night school and I passed the test,” Hernández’s Maniscalco says as he gesticulates his way into the courtroom. “I canceled a gig to be here, and my agent was like, ‘Why would you do that?'”
Soon he’s pacing behind Styles’ character, and adding a comedic riff about allegedly stolen clothing. (The only thing that rivals Hernández’s delivery is Jane Wickline’s deadpan read-back of the bit as the court stenographer.) Hernández also pulls off some very impressive physical comedy, literally jumping over Wickline at one point.
The frustrated prosecutor tells him, “This is crazy! You’re all just captivated by the way Sebastian Maniscalco is talking. Like… What if I talk like that?” That’s when Harry Styles gives his own Maniscalco a go, adopting his unique way of speaking and high-stepping across the floor with his arms outstretched.
“Harry doing that Sebastian impression was freaking hilarious,” a fan commented on SNL‘s YouTube video.
“Incredible work by everyone here. Marcello doing an entire workout, Harry doing a full send and knocking it out of the park, and honorable mention for Jeremy going “ooooh” and Kenan tapping his mouth to shut him up with that little smirk on his face,” another commenter wrote.
“HE WENT ALL IN AND WE LOVE HIM FOR IT,” another passionate fan wrote, echoing a sentiment shared by many.
Sebastian Maniscalco reacted to Harry Styles’ sketch in a March 15 post
The real Maniscalco shared the sketch in his Instagram story on March 15, and shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter).
“I’ve been on SNL twice now, which sounds impressive until I tell you neither time was as the host,” Maniscalco wrote. “At this point, Harry and Marcello have logged more rehearsal time as me than I have. Both of them were hilarious and absolutely nailed it. Maybe the third time I come in and do it myself.”
While Maniscalco’s pitch is intriguing, we have a technical correction: He’s been impersonated on SNL three times; first in Season 50’s “Wicked Auditions.”
