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Saturday Night Live: Alec Baldwin, Miley Cyrus Lend Edward Norton a Hand

It was Edward Norton's first time hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend, but he got some helpful advice right at the start from a couple of veterans. Alec Baldwin and Miley Cyrus made appearances during Norton's opening monologue, with 16-time host Baldwin offering Norton some tips — and Baldwin deadpanning that his turn in American History X was "hilarious." Cyrus basically promoted her upcoming tour and twerked later on in the episode (sigh).

liz-raftery.jpg
Liz Raftery

It was Edward Norton's first time hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend, but he got some helpful advice right at the start from a couple of veterans.

Alec Baldwin and Miley Cyrus made appearances during Norton's opening monologue, with 16-time host Baldwin offering Norton some tips — and Baldwin deadpanning that his turn in American History X was "hilarious." Cyrus basically promoted her upcoming tour and twerked later on in the episode (sigh).

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Not known for his comedic chops, Norton relied mostly on celebrity impressions (including Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man) and a knack for playing quirky, odd characters (see previous) to carry him through. Check out some of the episode's best sketches below:

Opening Monologue: Norton quips that he was initially approached to host SNL in 2000, but because he's a method actor, he's spent the past 13 years preparing for the role. (He also, at Baldwin's request, does hilarious impersonations of Woody Allen andWoody Harrelson).

Halloween on The Steve Harvey ShowWith Kenan Thompson revisiting his Steve Harvey impression, Norton plays the owner of "Spooky City" costume store, who brings out some wordplay Halloween costumes that go right over Harvey's head.

"The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders": In the best sketch of the night, Norton plays Owen Wilson for the trailer of "The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders," a new horror film from director Wes Anderson.

12 Days Not a SlaveParodying the new movie 12 Years a Slave, this sketch features Jay Pharoah as a newly-freed slave, who 's surprised that he's still having trouble integrating in society nearly two weeks after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Norton plays a Canadian who warns Pharoah not to dance in front of white folks, because they will try to imitate his moves and look ridiculous. (Cue Cyrus twerking).

Web Exclusive: "Don't Smash My Pumpkin": Though it didn't air during the broadcast, this sketch featuring Taran Killam as a dismayed pumpkin owner chastising vandals on Halloween is pretty great.