#’SNL’ claims Keegan-Michael Key ‘promised best show in 46 years’

Keegan-Michael Key is returning to his sketch comedy roots this weekend — and “Saturday Night Live” is making damn sure he has a lot of hype to live up to.

It all started with the jokey video promo dropped Thursday night for the next episode of NBC’s venerable late-night laugh fest: “Hi I’m Keegan-Michael Key and I’m hosting ‘SNL’ with [musical guest] Olivia Rodrigo,” announced Key, 50, who was a cast member on Fox’s “Mad TV” from 2004 to 2009.

Cast member Kate McKinnon quickly jumps in to boast: “You gotta watch because Keegan promised the show’s gonna be the best in 46 years,” punctuated with some aggressive pokes to his broad shoulder.

“Well, I didn’t promise — I said it’d be nice if it was,” he replies, with McKinnon, 37, doubling down: “No, you said it. You promised. It’s out there. Good luck.”

In a followup promo teased by ETOnline, Netflix’s “The Prom” star reintroduces himself and McKinnon asks, “Do you think you’re gonna bring back any of your old characters?”

“Ah, I kind of want to focus on the new stuff,” Key replies — apparently thinking that she’s referencing his “Mad TV” bits or maybe something from his acclaimed sketch series “Key and Peele” with co-star Jordan Peele, which aired on Comedy Central from 2012 to 2015.

Cue the stone-faced Kate takedown: “Sorry, I was talking to Olivia.”

Rodrigo is also making her debut on the iconic sketch comedy show. However, the “Drivers License” singer was already the inspiration for a viral bit in February when breakout “Bridgerton” heartthrob Regé-Jean Page hosted the show. 

Fans of the Disney+ original show “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” have been following the teen gossip surrounding Rodrigo’s hit single “Drivers License,” which they believe was inspired by an alleged love triangle between her and show co-stars Joshua Bassett and Sabrina Carpenter.

Never a franchise to miss a trending moment, “SNL” dropped a ha-ha homage to Rodrigo’s viral tune — only, it was set in a pool hall, with grown men engaging in the high drama of it all.

The singer herself took notice of the bit — as the episode aired on the same day as her 18th birthday: “DRIVERS LICENSE SNL SKETCH IS THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER IM SHAKING,” Rodrigo posted to Twitter at the time.

NBC’s official “SNL” account immediately responded: “hbd!!!!,” joining the more than 300,000 fans who liked, retweeted and/or commented on Rodrigo’s original tweet.

Can Rodrigo and Key both live up to the combined hype? Judge for yourself when the show airs live at 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Meanwhile, next up: “The Queen’s Gambit” star Anya-Taylor Joy and Satan-sneaker-sporting rapper Lil Nas X will close out the 46th season of “SNL” on May 22.