‘Bridesmaids’ Star Melissa McCarthy Overwhelmed By ‘Saturday Night Live’ Hosting Gig: I ‘Cried My Eyes Out’

Melissa McCarthy is riding high fresh off the success of her hit movie, “Bridesmaids” and her first Emmy Award nomination (for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series) for her work on CBS’ “Mike & Molly.”

Now, yet another dream is coming true for the comedienne – hosting “Saturday Night Live.”

“I’m very excited about it. I think I just now stopped crying about it!” Melissa told Access Hollywood at “The Help” premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday. “[It’s] insane. Bananas.”

The 41-year-old former “Gilmore Girls” actress said hosting the NBC late night sketch show has been a dream of hers since childhood.

“Since I was 5 [years old] I was like, sneaking down to watch Gilda Ratner and Jane Curtin and I’ve watched it my entire life,” she said. “I literally can barely talk about it. It’s so overwhelming to me and so, I mean, just such a huge dream that I don’t quite have the spot in my head yet for it.”

Melissa was overcome with emotion when she received the call informing her of “SNL’s” hosting offer — forcing the actress to momentarily hide while out shopping until she was able to calm down.

“My agents called and I was at a store and I started weirdly — I would say crying, but it was more like wailing– that they thought I was literally insane,” she told Access. “So, I went and hid in the rug department and I just stood between big rugs and cried. [I] cried my eyes out because I was so happy and overwhelmed.”

Melissa will host the upcoming 37th season’s second episode, with musical guest Lady Antebellum.

The Season 37 premiere of “Saturday Night Live” – hosted by Alec Baldwin for a record sixteenth time – will air on September 24 at 11:30 PM on NBC.

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