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Entertainment Weekly Breaks Down Chris Pratt's 'Hardest' SNL Roast

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, December 8th 2025 at 14:41 GMT by Entertainment Weekly

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Entertainment Weekly’s take on the “hardest” SNL roast ever

When the “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) production team announced that its latest host would be “roasted,” the press was already abuzz. The new host – the ever‑flamboyant, box‑office‑heavy Chris Pratt – was slated to be the target of a round‑the‑clock barrage from the show’s alumni and comedy titans. Entertainment Weekly’s feature, “Please Don’t Destroy: SNL Host Roasted Hardest Exclusive,” dives into every moment of the episode, from the pre‑air teaser to the host’s tear‑jerking plea, “please don’t destroy me.”

The build‑up

The article opens with a reference to the 2023 “SNL” episode that would feature Pratt as the host. It explains that the show has a long tradition of roasting its hosts; the 50th‑anniversary special in 2023 saw “The Man of the Moment” – a monologue that was half‑comedian, half‑drama. Pratt’s “hardest” roast is positioned as the next step up the ladder of “SNL” comedy, a new high‑stakes version of the show’s classic “Roast” specials.

The author links to the official SNL website, where viewers can see a full lineup of the roasters: Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon, Maya Rudolph, and the duo of “The Boondocks”‑style comedians, John Mulaney and Jason Sudeikis**. A teaser clip released on the network’s YouTube channel (link embedded in the article) shows each roaster delivering a line that sets the tone: “Chris, we know you’re a star, but you still haven’t learned how to be a gentleman in a small apartment.” Pratt’s own social‑media post from the day of the teaser – a photo of him in a Hawaiian shirt with the caption “Bring it on, SNL” – is embedded, giving readers a sense of the host’s personal vibe.

The roast itself

The piece spends a large portion detailing the flow of the episode. It is structured around the key acts that usually compose an SNL roast: the opening monologue, the “honorary” roast‑e (the host’s personal assistant’s “complaint” about his work ethic), and the main segment where each alumnus takes turns delivering their own “insults.” Entertainment Weekly gives a play‑by‑play recap of each segment, quoting the roasters’ lines, the audience’s reaction, and Pratt’s own responses.

For example, the article includes a line from Maya Rudolph: “Chris, I heard you’re the only man on set who still thinks a ‘bottle of water’ is an excuse for being a liar.” Pratt’s reply – a quick wink and a laugh – is shown in a screenshot from the show’s own live‑stream. The piece also highlights the way Pratt’s own comedic timing is tested by these harsh jokes, his eyes widening as the jokes get “tighter and tighter.” A side note in the article points out the audience’s applause after each segment, indicating that while the roast is brutally funny, it’s also a crowd‑pleaser.

The “hardest” portion of the roast is marked by a special “Roast‑the‑Host” segment where the roasters gather around a mock “honor roll” to deliver a list of “off‑the‑wall” jabs. The article notes that this part was filmed earlier in the evening, during a “silent” rehearsal, to capture the roasters’ natural reactions. The piece quotes a backstage conversation between Jason Sudeikis and the show’s producer, where the producer insists that the roast must not cross the line into personal attacks. Sudeikis, in an interview (link embedded), confirms that “the line is about a good laugh, not a personal attack.”

The emotional plea

After the final roast, Pratt delivers a heartfelt moment that the article frames as “a scene straight out of a movie.” The host, having taken a 90‑minute dive into SNL’s history of humor, steps into a quiet corner of the stage and says, “please don’t destroy me.” The article notes that this line was unexpected; it came from a host who has often played a confident, high‑energy star in film, and not from someone who would appear vulnerable on live TV.

The “please don’t destroy me” line was captured on the live feed and later shared as a short clip on Pratt’s Instagram Stories. Entertainment Weekly links to that clip, showing a wide‑angle shot of Pratt holding a microphone in one hand and a small, framed photograph of his parents in the other. The clip was described by critics as “a reminder that even the biggest names need a moment of humility.”

The article explains that the host’s words were a reaction to the “hardest” line delivered by Kate McKinnon, who, after a joke about his “box‑office drama,” asked, “What would you do if you weren’t a star?” Pratt’s answer, “I’d probably be a plumber,” became a viral meme. The article links to a Twitter thread in which fans debated the line’s authenticity and its potential to humanize the actor.

Contextual links and extra information

The piece offers a comprehensive look at the context surrounding Pratt’s roast. It links to a biography of the host on IMDb, where readers can see his filmography – from “Guardians of the Galaxy” to “Pineapple Express.” It also references an interview in The Hollywood Reporter that discusses how the actor approaches comedy differently on screen versus on live TV.

Furthermore, the article links to a separate feature about the history of SNL roasts – a 2021 piece that covers earlier roasts like “The Kevin Hart Roasts the SNL” and “The Chris Rock Special.” This gives readers a sense of where Pratt’s roast sits in the broader tradition, including the ways the show balances respect with humor.

The feature ends with a look at how the SNL production team plans to incorporate the host’s emotional moment into the next season’s premiere. It quotes the show’s head writer: “We wanted to show that no matter how famous someone is, everyone has a funny side, and sometimes they need a little pity.” The writer points out that the “please don’t destroy me” line will be teased in the upcoming episode, making it a cross‑media marketing moment.

Bottom line

Entertainment Weekly’s article goes beyond a simple recap and offers readers a full‑spectrum view of the “hardest” SNL roast ever – from the roasters’ bravado, the host’s comic timing, the behind‑the‑scenes decision‑making, to the host’s genuine vulnerability. The piece is punctuated with direct quotes, embedded clips, and hyperlinks that allow readers to dive deeper into the world of SNL, the host’s career, and the comedy community’s approach to roasting. In doing so, it underscores that while a roast can be a “hardest” line in a comedian’s career, it can also become an unexpected moment of humility that resonates across the audience.