He’s not just a Storrie, but a whole damn book…
Connor Storrie, Heated Rivalry star, pop culture sensation and budding style icon, made his highly anticipated debut on Saturday Night Live (SNL) on February 28. Capping off a great season for the Texas-born actor, his appearance on the comedy show proved Storrie’s comedic chops and professional training, collecting positive critique and rave reviews.
Though Storrie’s performance stood on its own, the icing on the cake was the surprise cameos by his onscreen partner, Hudson Williams and hockey Olympic champions Megan Keller and Hilary Knight.
Connor Storrie: From Heated Rivalry to Live Comedy
In case you’re pop culture avoidant or prefer to go about your day without ever taking a peek at social media, Connor Storrie has stirred some serious fanfare in the role of Ilya Rozanov on Crave’s television hit series Heated Rivalry. The show’s explosive reception has launched Storrie into international stardom, taking him from television screens and red carpets to the Winter Olympics and the front rows of Fashion Week.
The latest addition to the actor’s portfolio is a hosting gig on NBC’s comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL), a coveted role for well-established and emerging entertainers in the United States. (If you’re unacquainted with the show’s dynamic, every week, famous guests from the entertainment industry serve as hosts and star in various comedy sketches along with the regular SNL cast.)
On February 28, following an extended break during the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, the show returned to its regular programming with Storrie as a guest star. Although a segment of the press and viewers has called out the quality of the comedy—a jab at the show’s writers and not Storrie himself—the consensus is the actor aced his first televised comedy appearance.
More Than Just a Spicy Show
At ease in front of the live audience at the Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center, Storrie brought laughs with a smart monologue, quirky body comedy and his ability to embody characters across the spectrum.
“Some of you may have seen literally all of me on my show Heated Rivalry,” Storrie said when he first stepped on stage, dressed in one of his signature Saint Laurent looks. “It’s a show that has taught a lot of people about hockey and it’s taught a lot of straight women that their sexuality is actually gay guy,” he joked, although he isn’t mistaken.
A good part of the commentary and analysis surrounding Heated Rivalry’s success has touched upon the show’s predominantly female audience and the restructuring of desire beyond the heteronormative sphere.
“When women have choices, they tend to gravitate towards content where the gendered power script shifts,” wrote Yamily Habib for FIERCE by mitú, an outlet diving into topics of interest for women. “When Heated Rivalry arrives with an erotic story that many viewers read as more mutual, more emotionally legible, and less steeped in contempt for women’s bodies, the “why are women watching this” handwringing starts to look, well, a little lazy.”
While the opening monologue saw Storrie acknowledging his meteoric rise to fame and addressing Heated Rivalry’s “spicy” nature, most of his performances placed Storrie in settings where he could demonstrate his range and proficiency as an actor beyond the confines of the queer show that shot him to acclaim—a sort of test that not all SNL guests manage to pass without criticism.
RELATED STORY
The Ultimate Gift Guide for the Heated Rivalry Fan
Connor Storrie Feat. Hockey Champions
As it is SNL’s signature, the show didn’t unfold without nods to current events and the political climate. In fact, the cameo by women’s hockey champions Megan Keller and Hilary Knight was clearly a response to the controversy surrounding President Donald Trump and the U.S. men’s hockey team.
If you haven’t come across the news, in short, Trump made a congratulatory call to the men’s hockey team, who won Olympic gold in Milan. In the call, the U.S. President invited the men to the White House. However, Trump followed up with a distasteful joke about also “having to” invite the women’s team out of fear for impeachment—implying he was obligated to extend an invitation he wouldn’t send otherwise. Instead of calling out the “joke,” the men’s team burst out laughing, prompting immediate online backlash.
The incident didn’t go unaddressed in Storrie’s monologue, where Keller and Knight, as well as men’s hockey team members Jack and Quinn Hughes, made surprise appearances. After the men admitted to not watching Heated Rivalry, Keller and Knight stepped onstage, drawing loud, extended cheers from the audience.
“Don’t worry,” said Keller once the cheering subsided. “We saw your show.”
The women athletes then pointed out that they were originally invited to SNL on their own but decided to invite the Hughes brothers. “Yeah, we thought we’d give them a little moment to shine,” Keller said, prompting laughs. When Storrie mentioned that both teams just won the Olympics, the script reminded the audience that while the men’s team hadn’t achieved the feat in over four decades, the women had won Olympic gold just two editions ago.
Hudson Williams Supports Storrie’s SNL Debut
As the cherry on top in a debut that also saw Storrie baring himself (literally), Hudson Williams showed up to support his co-star on the big night. Williams, who plays opposite Storrie as a professional hockey player in the show, fittingly starred in an ice rink scene. Skating gleefully in the backdrop of a failed proposal, Williams and Storrie received an enthusiastic ovation from the audience, who were elated to see the onscreen lovers reunited.
Williams later joined Storrie to present one of the numbers by musical guests Mumford & Sons. The Canadian actor stood by Storrie when he, teary-eyed, successfully wrapped up the show; or rather, the “cultural event,” as many critics dubbed the occasion.
Powered by his own acting portfolio, which includes a background in clowning and improv comedy, Storrie’s first participation in Saturday Night Live was a resounding success and, perhaps, an indicator of what’s to come next for the breakout star. So far, the actor has announced he’s working on his feature directorial debut and rumors have swirled about a potential casting for A24’s movie, Peaked.
Whether the current talks satisfactorily land him in the role remains to be seen. But judging by the buzz and response surrounding his SNL debut, Storrie is set for more than just an overnight success story.
