Olivia Rodrigo Channels a ‘Glorified Assistant’ to Miranda Priestly Ahead of ‘SNL’ Hosting Gig

Olivia Rodrigo might have underestimated her role a bit when she joked about being a “glorified assistant” behind the scenes at Saturday Night Live, where she is set to take on hosting duties for the first time.

In a playful promo clip released Wednesday April 29, just days before the episode airs, Rodrigo is seen walking through the halls of 30 Rock alongside cast members Andrew Dismukes and Jane Wickline, brushing off the idea that the upcoming show revolves around her.

“I really just want to help you guys make the best show possible,” she tells the comedians. “No, really, I work for you guys this week. Think of me as your glorified assistant.”

The tone quickly flips when James Austin Johnson steps into the scene wearing a sharp blazer and a silver pixie haircut, channeling Meryl Streep’s iconic Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada. After noticing Rodrigo laughing at his presence, he calls her out, prompting her to explain that she is still figuring things out during her first time hosting and learning how the skits work.

“These skits?” he fires back, before delivering a parody of the film’s well known cerulean sweater monologue. “I find it sort of comical that you think these ‘skits’ have nothing to do with you when in fact your entire career has been turned into sketches by the people in this very room,” he says, wrapping up the dramatic speech.

Luckily for Rodrigo, Tommy Brennan interrupts the moment to announce that the show’s creator Lorne Michaels has arrived. “Crap! Please don’t tell Lorne about this,” Johnson says as he drops the character and rushes off.

The timing of the sketch lines up perfectly with the upcoming sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, which sees Streep return alongside Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, hitting theaters on Friday May 1. Rodrigo will step onto the SNL stage the following night, pulling double duty as both host and musical guest. With her new album You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love arriving in June, it is likely she will perform her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single “Drop Dead” during the episode.

Watch Rodrigo’s Devil Wears Prada-inspired promo for SNL above.