‘Saturday Night Live’ sets Ronda Rousey as host, Selena Gomez as musical guest for January 23

For everyone wondering when “Saturday Night Live” was going to be getting an athlete on board to host one of their shows this season, you finally have your answer.

NBC has confirmed that UFC fighter Ronda Rousey will be taking on the January 16 show, which also features Selena Gomez as a musical guest. All in all, these are probably smart choices. For Rousey, you are picking someone who is a big star in the moment, even despite a recent loss, who also has a little bit of acting experience already. She may be a little nervous, but we think she’ll have the charisma to keep from being a complete dud. That’s the big worry anytime that you get someone who is so far from their comfort zone on the show.

As for Gomez, she’s obviously got a ton of acting experience under her belt already, and “Wizards of Waverly Place” was a comedy that was at times filmed in front of an audience. She’s there primarily for music, but you can probably use her almost as a utility player in one or two sketches. It’s similar to how Demi Lovato made an appearance in an Astronaut Jones sketch at the end of the Tracy Morgan show.

For those who did not here, the winter premiere of “SNL” is coming your way on January 16, where “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” / “Girls” star Adam Driver will be appearing. Chris Stapleton serves as the musical guest. While Driver is a newcomer to the show, he does have the theater background to be reasonably accustomed to what the series will throw at him.

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