for the second time.

-Second time, which is great.

I was nervous. Some people don't get to come back.

-That's true.

They do controversial things, like they tear up

a picture of the pope or they are Robert Blake.

And they don't get to --

[ Laughter ]

They don't get to be on the show again.

[ Laughter ]

-"They are Robert Blake."

-They are Robert Blake, the person.

-No, exactly.

But I mean, you should be kind of used to it.

You were a writer on "Saturday Night Live" in 2009,

I want to say.

-Yeah, from like '08 to 2012, I was a writer there.

And -- well, it's totally different, though, now,

because I'm on camera,

whereas before, I was like a busboy and now,

I'm the maitre D.

[ Laughter ]

-Yeah, but did you ever think that you would host?

-No, I mean, I auditioned to be on the show,

but I was hired as a writer,

because I was auditioning and I remember they went "No."

[ Laughter ]

But then, I would get on camera occasionally.

But the idea of hosting is totally surreal.

-Well, it's a great cast.

I mean, you're gonna be -- you're in good hands.

-It's really been the most fun.

-Do you remember the first time you were ever in a sketch, ever?

-Yeah, I was in -- it wasn't on "Update" or anything.

I was just like a clipboard operator, you know,

when they go like, "Take five."

-I've done that. -Yeah.

I was in an Activia yogurt commercial sketch

with Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis.

-Oh, and she was Jamie Lee Curtis.

-She was Jamie Lee Curtis.

And Activia yogurt allegedly gave you diarrhea at the time.

I think was the premise.

[ Laughter ]

And I come in, I go, like, "Take one."

And I snapped it, then I walked off camera, you know.

They go, like, "This way, this way."

And then Bobby Moynihan was there,

and it was my first time on camera,

so we start high-fiving, like a lot.

Like way too much for one line.

-Yeah, but it's so exciting for you.

-And then, I look over and Lorne is staring at us.

Like this, and I'm just high-fiving him, and I see him.

And then, I realize that I'm late and I've missed my cue.

And I ran back on and was like, "Take five."

And, like, it was a full lull.

I thought no one caught it.

I get to the after party, and our mutual friend Neal Brennan

comes over to me and he goes, "Hey, man, great job.

You were five seconds late on that segment."

[ Laughter ]

-Yeah, people can see it, I mean --

-Oh, it was -- yeah.

-But I mean, I don't know if you guys remember,

but we actually have a clip.

[ Laughter and applause ]

Here's John Mulaney missing his cue

in his first ever "Saturday Night Live" sketch.

Check it.

-I killed this Activia. Can I get another one?

-Yeah, of course, yeah. Here you go.

Here you go. -Thank you.

-I'll take one for myself. I'll keep going here.

All right, let's do this. Here we go.

-Activia testimonial number two.

-Oh, my God. You were a bit --

Neal Brennan is almost exactly right.

-Yeah. Wait, I was remarkably calm.

-Yeah, you were.

-I was like, "I don't know, take two."

I was high-fiving. I'm sorry.

-You were just jumping up and down with Bobby Moynihan.

-Yeah, yeah.

-You're gonna crush it this weekend.

We love you, buddy.

-Thank you, buddy. Thank you for having me.

-Please, John Mulaney, everybody.

[ Cheers and applause ]

He is hosting "Saturday Night Live" this weekend.