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Sydney Sweeney has taken the world of pop culture by storm. Since starring in the hit show Euphoria, she’s since broken out in a big way. From The White Lotus and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — to Reality and Anyone but You, Sweeney is one of the most noteworthy actresses in Hollywood. This past weekend, she firmly etched herself into pop culture lore, making her debut as the host of Saturday Night Live. In the process, we saw a crossover between entertainment and sports, where she had a funny skit involving a very popular sports movie…
An Athletic Background
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Born in Washington, Sydney grew up primarily in neighboring Idaho (though she went to school across the border in the city of Spokane). The acting bug didn’t hit early in her life. Instead, she came from a very family-oriented environment. Sports were her first love, and she reportedly was great at a number of them (including many of the water-based options in the area).
Making The Move
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At the age of 12, she went with her mom down to Los Angeles to audition for pilot season. She had acted in an indie film as an extra in her native Spokane, and from that point on, Sweeney was hooked on wanting to become an actress. She soon booked small guest spots on some notable shows, and her career exploded.
Making Her Mark
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Early on in her acting career, Sweeney was very active on television. Some of the more popular shows she appeared on included Heroes, 90210, Criminal Minds, Pretty Little Liars, The Middle, and Grey’s Anatomy. To garner more acting experience, Sweeney was also involved in a handful of shorts, indie films, and smaller projects.
Bigger Projects
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Sweeney started gaining real traction in the industry. She had a girl next door charm to her — but also demonstrated some very talented acting chops. Though it had a brief run on Netflix, Sweeney garnered critical acclaim on the coming-of-age series Everything Sucks! Soon, Quentin Tarantino came calling in a role that changed Sweeney’s career forever.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
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Sweeney became even more well-known within Hollywood circles when cast in the famed Tarantino movie. She played Snake Lane — a cult member under the grim Charles Manson. Around the same time, Sweeney had a recurring role in The Handmaid’s Tale. While these were big roles, earning a hosting spot on Saturday Night Live confirmed Sweeney’s arrival as a true star in the industry.
Hello, Sydney!
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Sweeney gave a fantastic monologue to kick off the show. It even involved her poking fun at the dating rumors surrounding her and her recent co-star, Glen Powell. As the show progressed, Sweeney was put in various sketches. However, one stood out among them all. It involved Sweeney, a high school cafeteria, and one of the most famous basketball movies of the last 30 years.
Air Bud Refresher
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In 1997, the film Air Bud took movie theaters by storm. A lonely boy befriended a special golden retriever. The dog itself ended up being a fantastic athlete, and it even involved the dog joining his youth basketball team. Well, someone on the SNL cast must’ve been a fan of the series — as it made its way to television nearly 30 years later.
Is Air Bud Even That Famous?
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Air Bud might seem like a random movie to showcase on Saturday Night Live. However, it’s more than just one singular film. For a generation of kids (who are now adults), it was a comprehensive series of movies centered around the sports-playing golden retriever. Some of the titles included Air Bud: Golden Receiver, Air Bud: World Pup, and Air Bud: Spikes Back.
The Sketch
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In the show, we’re taken to a school cafeteria. Multiple cheerleaders are wearing Timberwolves cheerleading outfits. It had the same color and font as the team in the original Air Bud movie. Of course, one of the cheerleaders happened to be none other than Sweeney.
Who’s The Star Player?
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The three girls were talking among themselves about a new star basketball player who had been performing very well for their team. Presumably, the head cheerleader and most popular girl in school, Sweeney’s character Rochelle wondered how she hadn’t yet met — or dated — this new player. It was then revealed that the player in question was none other than Air Bud.
Obsessed With Air Bud
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The sketch was rather funny. Sweeney was disregarding the other (human) players sitting at the table and was instead fixated on the dog as if it were an eligible date. The dog wasn’t focused on the beautiful actress. Instead, it was chowing down on a sandwich to the point it was licking the plate clean. Her character even excitedly remarked at how fast the sandwich was gobbled up!
A Surprise Reveal!
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While Sweeney was fawning all over the dog, Air Bud’s owner came up to the table. He was ready to take the dog on a walk — and mentioned how his ‘girlfriend’ was outside. The camera then panned outside, where another dog was sitting. Furious and jealous, Sweeney’s character storms away from the table over being rejected despite Air Bud not being able to verbalize a single word. While this was a very funny sketch, there was also one more memorable one featuring Sweeney and the famed restaurant chain Hooters.
Hooters Waitress
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The most-watched sketch from this episode was entitled Hooters Waitress. As you can see from the image above, Sweeney plays one of the waitresses. The skit talks about garnering tips from a recent shift. Sweeney’s character ends up getting far more money from customers than anyone else on her team.
She Did a Great Job
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With this being Sweeney’s first time hosting SNL, no one knew what to expect. However, most critics agree that she did a fantastic job. We don’t often get to see her comedic chops. Not only was her timing on jokes quite good, but she was great at making the audience laugh with a variety of facial expressions and timely deliveries.
What’s Next?
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Will we see Sweeney in any sort of sports film soon? Here she is throwing out the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game versus the Toronto Blue Jays back in July of 2022. With her athletic background, there’s a world in which she portrays a star athlete.
Versatility Exists
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It’s quite difficult for anyone to throw a baseball — let alone celebrities who might not have had the experience in playing the sport. Look at how 50 Cent or Carly Rae Jepsen threw first pitches. As for Sweeney — who reportedly played baseball in her youth — she’s making it look rather easy. This sort of functionality about sports should enable her to star in a role where her natural athleticism can shine.
Another Air Bud Movie?
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Sweeney was excellent in the SNL sketch involving the golden retriever. Why not have her star in her own updated version of Air Bud? Maybe she can be a fun, quirky, athletic dog owner uncovering some special skills her dog has. Or, maybe it’ll allow her to showcase her own athletic prowess alongside a lovable dog? Either way, people would tune in to watch.
She’s Not Afraid
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In an interview years ago with The Herald Courier, Sweeney spoke about her childhood playing sports. This involved a nasty wakeboard injury out on the water:
“I was in every single sport possible. I was on the soccer team, the baseball team, the snow slalom ski team, I was wakeboarding….My face hit the bottom spin of the board and sliced open, next to my left eye. I had 19 stitches. I was so terrified of getting back on my board afterwards. But the moment my stitches came out, my mom took me back to the lake, told me to get into the water with my board and would not let me out until I stood up on it.”
Growing Up on a Lake
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Growing up in Idaho, Sweeney is no stranger to rugged terrain. This includes life out on a lake — which presents the opportunity for several different sports. She spoke to Women’s Health about some of those times during her childhood — when slalom waterskiing was a big point of emphasis:
“The moment I could walk, my mom put me on what’s called a U-board to learn how to ski. I’ve been doing it as long as I can remember. It’s my favorite. You get tired really fast. I see such a change in my body after an entire summer of [skiing]. My arms are stronger, more sculpted. My abs are rock solid.”
Sweeney and a Surprise Sport
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Having grown up in a very outdoorsy environment, it’s no surprise to learn that Sweeney enjoys and excels in water sports, snow sports, hiking, and everything in between. However, there is one sport that might surprise you. Despite a delicate, dainty frame and stunning looks, Sweeney reportedly has a fondness for one of the most violent and physical sports out there.
Sweeney Loves MMA
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When Sweeney first moved to Los Angeles as a young actor, she wanted to find an activity that mimicked the lifestyle she had back home. This is where she reportedly fell in love with MMA. Since the age of 12, she has been involved in the sport. It included a multi-year stint where she’d reportedly train a few times a week.
The Love of the Sport
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She broke it down further in an interview with Women’s Health:
“I really wanted to find something that was as physically challenging as everything [in Idaho]. Some of my guy friends were MMA training, and they were doing grappling, and I was like, ‘This is so cool.’ I tried it out, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I love this.’ It’s such a beautiful community of people who have each other’s backs, and you learn discipline and you learn respect.”
Sydney Sweeney is a Star
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This is one of the most talented young actresses in Hollywood. There’s no telling where Sweeney will go with her career. Based on the athletic background she possessed from her childhood and beyond, it would be fascinating to see her portray an athlete in a featured film — whether that’s as a team player or perhaps an individual star. Regardless, keep an eye out for Sweeney and her future projects.
