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Benedict Cumberbatch gives fans what they want on 'SNL'


Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch worked his magic on Saturday Night Live this weekend, and was a charming host for "the last week of America as we know it," as he said. Cumberbatch gave his "Cumber-people" (he'd prefer not to call his fans by that less polite term embraced by the Cumbercollective) exactly what they wanted.

He sang.

In his opening monologue, Cumberbatch sang about some of his accolades, including his Oscar nomination and CBE (that's Commander of the Order of the British Empire) from the queen. And: "Every role I play is always some kind of genius." He also dealt with Leslie Jones' aggressive flirting.

He stripped.

At the Weekend at Bernie's-style sketch "Surprise Bachelorette," he stripped out of his construction-worker wear and down to his wig, tank top and short shorts atop a passed out Aidy Bryant. There was plenty of gyrating, and a few Chicago Clubs players were there, too.

He took off his pants a second time in a fake commercial for a "Koohl Toilet." Cumberbatch demonstrated how "cool" it was to sit backward on the new toilet, and casually lean on it. With sunglasses. And swagger.

He had great comedic timing.

In the deadpan sketch "Mr. Shaw," Cumberbatch worked for a rich ... eagle? The actor had laugh-out-loud, one-sided conversations with the bird-head-in-a-suit.

In "Criminal Mastermind," Cumberbatch was a riddle-obsessed baddie concerned being more than a "common thief." He hilariously switched the evil on and off, trying to impress his friends.

He talked about his hotness.

"Why is Benedict Cumberbatch hot?" That was the title of a game show Beck Bennett hosted, in order to figure out what so many fans see in the actor. Don't worry: Bennett learned.