Christina Applegate Takes On "SNL"

(NBC) - The last time "Up All Night" star Christina Applegate hosted Saturday Night Live was 19 years ago.

As a 21-year-old actor on the show "Married with Children," Applegate then shared the SNL stage with an entirely different cast, but she has many more Saturday Night connections these days.

She played a tolerant wife opposite Jason Sudeikis in the movie "Hall Pass", "Up All Night" co-star Maya Rudolph roamed studio 8-H for several seasons and SNL creator Lorne Michaels is the executive producer for "Up All Night."

"I know him and I really love him and respect him and the kind of ship that he runs here. It's really incredible," Applegate says.

The daughter of a record producer dad and singer mom, Applegate played Cher when she first hosted.

This time, she says she'll play another music legend.

"I'm playing Janis Joplin. When you look at me, that's what you think, right? But somehow they can do it here. Somehow they can transform you into these people, it's incredible.

Applegate underwent a personal transformation four years ago while starring in the sitcom "Samantha Who?"

She opted for a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Now she's back for her second season of NBC Primetime on Thursdays, and her second stint in late-night.