January 16, 2014 - 10:16 AM
TORONTO - In a new promo for his hosting stint on "Saturday Night Live," Toronto rapper Drake pokes fun at his past starring as wheelchair-bound Jimmy Brooks on the Canadian teen soap "Degrassi: The Next Generation."
Appearing at a mixing board, Drake's prompted by cast member Bobby Moynihan who says: "I'm super excited you're hosting. You can rap, but do people know you can act too?"
Drake replies that he was in a "Canadian soap opera back in the day," and he's asked to show off his chops.
With cheesy music swelling in the background, the 27-year-old "Worst Behaviour" hit-maker immediately launches into an earnest monologue.
Feigning tears, he begins: "No, you broke my heart."
"And now I'm reduced to the saddest boy in all of Toronto," he adds. "You know what? Not even Toronto. I am the saddest boy in all of Canada."
"That was beautiful," replies Moynihan.
In another comic bit in the promotional package, he appears with ace impressionist Jay Pharoah, whose inner monologue reveals his intense romantic feelings for Drake but he can only sit awestruck next to him.
"Are you OK man?" Drake asks him. "Because you haven't said anything in like a minute and a half."
Drake will both perform and star in this weekend's episode of the long-running sketch series. He also has five nominations heading into the Grammy Awards on Jan. 26.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014