Actress Taraji P. Henson was able to cleverly combine Empire and Sesame Street when hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend.
The Oscar nominee brought her iconic Empire character, Cookie Lyon, to Sesame Street – basically becoming a new and improved “Cookie Monster” in her own way.
Wearing the same flashy yet fashionable wardrobe that helped turn Cookie Lyon into a star, Taraji P. Henson was able to quickly show that her Empire character is capable of fitting in (and taking over) any television show or imaginary street.
The sketch started off with a normal day on Sesame Street. Count was doing what he does best – counting. Elmo was showing off his brand new backpack. But that was the moment when Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon made her appearance.
“Cookie is being a real monster.”
When the classic Cookie Monster that Sesame Street fans have loved and adored over the years appeared on the screen, he confusingly asks, “Who? Me?” Cookie Lyon steps in and says, “No…ME!”
Taraji P. Henson’s Cookie From “Empire” Visits “Sesame Street” On #SNL (VIDEO) http://t.co/5xTEKfI75L #TarajiOnSNL pic.twitter.com/2scYlEM3eQ
— Gossip Cop (@GossipCop) April 12, 2015
After making her Sesame Street appearance , Taraji P. Henson’s “Cookie” did exactly what she does best – give unsolicited advice that is slightly offensive yet somehow insightful.
She saved Bert from getting unknowingly hustled in an offered exchange with Ernie.
She broke up the longtime friendship between Big Bird and Snuffleupagus, claiming that she knew Big Bird first while also plugging one of her most memorable lines from the first season of Empire .
“You need to stop rappin’ like you from the streets, ’cause you not about that life!”
Taraji P. Henson also showed off a solid impression of Cookie Monster’s eating habits after she stole a chocolate chip cookie directly from his hands, saying “Cookie don’t share.”
Even though it was implied, Taraji’s “Cookie” also made it pretty clear that she either killed Elmo herself or had him killed when she showed off her red fur coat looking like Cruella DeVille.
LMAOOOO!!!! they got #TarajiPHenson playing #CookieLyon on Sesame Street #TarajiOnSNL #SNL
— DOC | #FNLradio (@mrdoc) April 12, 2015
Hey, all the Sesame Street Muppets just showed up in a Saturday Night Live sketch with Taraji P. Henson as “Cookie!
— ToughPigs (@ToughPigs) April 12, 2015
There were quite a few Saturday Night Live sketches from Taraji’s first hosting gig – including a Game of Thrones parody and the spoof trailer for a new movie, Home 2 .
However, the work that Taraji P. Henson did when she brought Cookie Lyon to Sesame Street is perhaps the most memorable.
[Image Credit: Angela Weiss/Getty Images]
