Top 20 Best Saturday Night Live Hosts
Live from New York... Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Best Saturday Night Live Hosts!
Transcript
00:00 I put my pants on just like the rest of you, one leg at a time.
00:04 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 best Saturday Night Live hosts.
00:10 I love you!
00:11 I love you too.
00:12 We'll be focusing on people who haven't previously been cast members or otherwise worked on the show.
00:18 Number 20, Paul Rudd.
00:20 Her hair has too many shrimps in it.
00:22 I'm sorry, did you say shrimp?
00:27 By her ears are shrimp.
00:29 Paul Rudd is famous for being seemingly ageless, and his SNL appearances never get old either.
00:34 The actor, known for playing Ant-Man and appearing in comedy classics like Clueless and Anchorman,
00:39 is unsurprisingly great on the Studio 6H stage.
00:42 In his debut episode, Rudd proved himself as a host willing to commit to a sketch.
00:47 Hey Dwayne, this is my roommate Kevin.
00:50 Hey, nice to meet you. You actually hang out with this loser?
00:52 Hey, come here.
00:53 And since then, he's only gotten better.
00:56 Rudd's everyman charisma and comic timing make him a natural in this setting.
01:00 Even for his fifth time, filmed without an audience due to a coronavirus outbreak, he still delivered.
01:06 And we have no doubt that Rudd has more great hosting gigs to come.
01:10 I'm Santa! I make the rules!
01:13 Number 19, Paul Simon.
01:15 I mean, I'm not gonna change anything. I gotta stay with my strengths.
01:19 Basically, singing and songwriting.
01:23 We got another Paul!
01:24 However, this one is better known for his music.
01:27 Paul Simon has appeared on SNL as a musical guest multiple times.
01:30 And four of those times, he's pulled double duty.
01:34 It shouldn't come as a surprise that Simon is comfortable in front of a live audience.
01:38 But he's such a natural at this, you might think he had another career as a comedian.
01:42 I think you're thinking of Neil Simon, aren't you? The playwright. Neil Simon.
01:46 And you're Paul Simon.
01:48 Though he's known for writing some pretty serious songs,
01:51 Simon adapts perfectly to the rhythms of any sketch he's in.
01:54 It's been more than 30 years since Simon's last time hosting SNL.
01:58 But we'd absolutely welcome a return from him.
02:00 I am pretty deadly.
02:02 Number 18, Betty White.
02:04 I recall my childhood in rural Kansas.
02:07 I was born to tears!
02:09 'Til all of a sudden, a twister hit.
02:11 It carried me to a magical land full of witches and wizards.
02:16 Is that what you want? Is it?
02:19 Betty White only hosted SNL once, but it was such an amazing effort, we have to include her.
02:24 Hosting thanks in part to a successful social media campaign,
02:27 the legendary actress and comedian showed just how much of an impact she could still make.
02:32 When I first heard about the campaign to get me to host Saturday Night Live,
02:36 I didn't know what Facebook was.
02:40 And now that I do know what it is, I have to say, it sounds like a huge waste of time.
02:47 Though White, then 88 years old, may have been the oldest host in SNL history,
02:52 she had more energy than hosts half her age or more.
02:55 And unsurprisingly, the rest of the cast, including multiple returning alums, are on their A-game as well.
03:01 White won an Emmy for this episode and reminded us of an invaluable lesson.
03:06 You're only as old as you feel.
03:08 No, no, my muffin hasn't had a cherry since 1939.
03:13 Number 17, Adam Driver.
03:16 What does an oil baron do?
03:18 The answer?
03:20 Crush your enemies!
03:22 Drain their bones into dirt!
03:25 Make them regret they were ever born!
03:28 Adam Driver has come to be recognized as one of the best actors of his generation,
03:32 reaping countless awards and nominations with undoubtedly more to come.
03:36 And his SNL hosting stints show just how much range he has.
03:40 In all of his times as host,
03:42 Driver's dedication to each and every sketch has been absolutely inspiring.
03:46 A buddy of mine saw Kylo Ren take his shirt off in the shower,
03:49 and he said that Kylo Ren had an eight-pack.
03:52 That Kylo Ren was shredded.
03:53 Whether riffing on his role in Star Wars or playing a particularly unhinged career day speaker,
03:59 Driver gives it his all from beginning to end.
04:02 We almost wonder if there's any limit to his abilities.
04:05 If there is, we have not seen it.
04:07 And when your children asks, "Who killed this putrid king?"
04:11 "No, no, no, no, no!"
04:12 "Tell them it was I, Cameron Bissell,
04:16 "Static Astra eligible!"
04:18 You know, I want to remind you guys that in Webster's Dictionary,
04:23 defines evil as profoundly immoral.
04:26 We know what evil means.
04:28 Well, it doesn't seem like you do, 'cause you built a freeze ray.
04:31 It wasn't just his muscles that made Dwayne Johnson such a star in the wrestling ring.
04:35 The entertainer, once better known as The Rock,
04:38 has presence that's all but unignorable.
04:41 And his charisma translates seamlessly to SNL.
04:44 "I'm gonna rip this guy apart!
04:46 "And I mean psychologically!"
04:48 Though many sketches successfully mine comedy from his physicality,
04:52 we also have to applaud his ability to immerse himself in a character no matter what.
04:56 And his versatility means he can play an assortment of roles like the pro that he is.
05:01 We can smell what The Rock is cooking whenever he's on SNL.
05:04 And we always want more.
05:06 "Now it's time for them to pay...
05:08 ...dearly."
05:12 "The bed must be on the floor!
05:17 "The bed is on my foot!"
05:20 Richard Pryor made history as the first black SNL host.
05:23 And his appearance was also the first episode aired with a tape delay,
05:27 due to the comedian's penchant for unpredictability.
05:30 Hosting the show's seventh episode,
05:32 Pryor's subversive and daring style helped SNL's image as anything but a typical variety show.
05:37 One sketch in particular, co-starring Chevy Chase,
05:40 is still considered one of the show's best ever.
05:42 "How about a starting salary of $5,000?"
05:44 "Yo mama!"
05:46 "Uh, $7,500 a year."
05:50 "Yo friend!"
05:51 He only hosted a single time.
05:53 But it was truly an event to remember.
05:56 If you want to understand why so many comedians cite Pryor as an influence,
06:00 just watch this episode.
06:02 "Uh, hope I'm funny."
06:04 "Did Candace find true love? Who knows? Who cares? Shut up!"
06:10 Paul Rudd isn't the only Avenger to make an impression on the SNL stage.
06:14 Scarlett Johansson has hosted numerous times, and she always brings it.
06:18 Though her movie roles are typically quite dramatic,
06:21 Johansson is a sketch writer's dream.
06:23 There's seemingly no role that's too broad for her to handle.
06:26 And she gives even the most seasoned cast members a run for their money.
06:29 Even after six hosting gigs, she keeps impressing us with her range.
06:33 "Okay, great. Here is your blanket. What will you be for Halloween this year?"
06:38 "What?"
06:39 "I'm going as Red Riding Hood from Into the Woods."
06:42 An incredibly accomplished performer going all the way back to her childhood,
06:46 Johansson makes any episode of SNL a must-watch.
06:49 "Oh my God, a Land Rover? I said I wanted a Range Rover,
06:53 through that hideous Morrison's car in the trash. I am leaving."
06:58 "Robin Williams, take one."
07:00 "Marty, it's getting heavy in here. Oh, yes. Oh, 1.21 gigawatts."
07:05 By now, Jon Hamm's comedic chops are firmly established.
07:09 But when we primarily knew him from Mad Men,
07:11 we had no idea that he was capable of making us laugh this hard.
07:15 Hosting the show three times between 2008 and 2010,
07:18 he's shown just how far his talents go.
07:21 He's even capable of holding down a sketch all by himself.
07:24 "And unlike other bathroom ham dispensers, Jon Hamm's Jon Hamm
07:28 has only the finest boar's head oven-roasted ham."
07:31 And while Don Draper might take himself very seriously,
07:34 Hamm is totally game for all kinds of shenanigans.
07:38 Whether wearing a tailored suit or dressing decidedly down,
07:41 Jon Hamm's presence is sure to improve any sketch.
07:44 "I go through life like a cockroach in the dirt.
07:48 You people make me sick."
07:53 "My body's gonna feel nasty after I scarf this fat, mushy, stinky burger
08:00 and wash it down with this frosty, dumbass beer."
08:04 When Emma Stone first hosted SNL in 2010,
08:07 she was still something of a rising star.
08:09 And her debut episode only made that star shine even brighter.
08:12 The future Oscar winner was immediately a natural fit for this comedic institution.
08:17 And every subsequent hosting gig has shown her honing her talents further.
08:21 She's able to make us crack up with just a single perfect expression
08:24 or hilariously delivered line.
08:26 It's also readily apparent just how invested she is in every sketch she's in.
08:30 Watch any episode of SNL hosted by Stone,
08:33 and you will see why she's become such a beloved talent.
08:36 "Wake up Santa, get out of my bed.
08:39 It's time to deliver those presents."
08:42 "Then it hit me. That's it.
08:46 All beautiful for spacious skies.
08:50 I looked down, sure enough, there's amber waves of gray."
08:55 Danny DeVito certainly didn't need to host SNL to be recognized as a comedic genius,
08:59 but we're sure glad he did anyway.
09:01 He's hosted five times, six if you count his co-hosting with spouse Rhea Perlman.
09:06 Just like with his movie and sitcom roles,
09:08 DeVito has an inimitable energy that can kick the quality of any sketch up several notches.
09:13 "Oh man, this next page, I don't believe what I'm looking at."
09:18 And he also gives his fellow performers plenty to work with.
09:22 The last time DeVito hosted SNL was all the way back in 1999,
09:26 and we can only hope his hosting days are not over just yet.
09:29 "Did it just get warmer in here again? Maybe."
09:33 Early in her career, this actress performed with famous Los Angeles sketch troupe The Gramblings,
09:47 so obviously, Melissa McCarthy has the necessary improv chops to hang with SNL's best.
09:53 She's played Sean Spicer to perfection with her sensational physical comedy,
09:57 and the portrayal even led to a Primetime Emmy Award.
10:00 "Now I'd like to begin today by apologizing on behalf of you to me."
10:08 Meanwhile, her original characters showcase her comedic versatility and ability to go with the flow.
10:13 Melissa is loud but charming, which makes her a dynamic, unforgettable host,
10:18 one that SNL continues to call on for special appearances.
10:21 "This is my dad, and this is me over his dead body screaming, 'No!'"
10:29 "Well then take my ticket here. What? You really want to go? Well, both of you go, that's alright."
10:38 In contrast to Melissa McCarthy's in-your-face style of comedy,
10:41 this old-school icon takes a more subtle approach.
10:44 Back in the late 70s, Buck Henry's dry humor was so captivating,
10:47 that he was asked to host the season finale four years in a row.
10:51 "And it is the 103rd time that I've hosted."
10:55 Considering SNL's gallery of wacky characters,
10:57 Henry is the perfect straight man for sketches about social outcasts.
11:01 Some of his finest moments will creep you out in that hilariously awkward kind of way,
11:06 while others display Buck's raw comedic talent.
11:09 Either way, he is guaranteed to make you laugh.
11:12 "Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!"
11:15 "I love John Silver, I'm gonna search you farther than you can!"
11:18 "Search me, search me, search me!"
11:20 "Well, we'd like to show you another one of Mr. Mainway's products.
11:25 It retails for $1.98 and it's called 'Bag of Glass'."
11:30 This model-turned-actress is known for her extensive film and television work.
11:34 What you may not realize, however, is that Candace Bergen is the daughter of comedian Edgar Bergen,
11:39 and she clearly shares his penchant for humor.
11:42 "It's safe for everything, even tarnished diamonds. With only one dunk..."
11:46 "New tarn off, eats up tarnish, leaves your crown sparkling."
11:51 Bergen set a high bar for all hosts on SNL, and she was also the first woman to host.
11:57 In sketches, Candace plays it cool,
11:59 and is able to match some of the series' most accomplished cast members beat for beat.
12:03 Over the years, she's often returned, making her not just a memorable guest host,
12:07 but one of the series' most influential and relatable hosts.
12:11 "And we think it's going to be...we think it's going to be...a very exciting show,
12:17 and we'll be back after this film message."
12:30 Speaking of relatable performers, this American actress has been in the public eye since childhood.
12:35 Oh, and Drew Barrymore also comes from a Hollywood family.
12:38 She makes it look easy on stage, and she's an old pro too,
12:42 as she actually hosted in 1982 at only 7 years old.
12:46 "And someone says I can go to the arcade, I say, 'Terrific, anytime.'"
12:52 While Drew can hold her own with original characters, it's the celebrity impressions that stand out most.
12:57 She may be America's sweetheart, but she will kill you with her kind demeanor
13:01 and her extraordinary knack for comedic timing.
13:04 "Calysta Flockhart, with an amazing negative $58,000. Good job."
13:09 "Thank you."
13:11 "Hey, and what's the matter with those guys on Miami Vice?
13:16 Those guys, they never wear any socks. I mean, guys, what's the big deal?"
13:22 Everybody loves this American icon,
13:24 so much so that he acknowledged himself as America's father during a 2016 monologue.
13:29 "You know, um, magazine cover recently called me America's dad.
13:35 And I would have preferred Sexiest Man Alive, but I will take it."
13:41 Long before Tom Hanks became an Oscar winner, he was a comedic veteran of the SNL stage.
13:46 Like Drew Barrymore, he's got a gift for astute celebrity impressions,
13:50 but he's also capable of stepping away from the script for bizarre zany characters.
13:54 Remember, this is Bosom Buddies' Buffy Wilson we're talking about.
13:58 He puts the audience at ease, only to flip the script with his vast range of comedic quirks.
14:03 "What's my name?"
14:05 "David S. Pumpkins!"
14:08 "Any questions?"
14:10 Number 5. John Goodman.
14:12 [Music]
14:15 Back in 1980, this extraordinary character failed to make the Saturday Night Live cut,
14:20 but John Goodman nonetheless became a series legend.
14:24 With his larger-than-life nature, he can play overbearing and aggressive characters,
14:28 and he's also got the personality to channel his feminine side, too.
14:31 Remember Linda Tripp?
14:33 "Apparently, it's against the law in the state of Maryland, and they want to prosecute me for it."
14:39 And while Goodman's not afraid of going over the top, he can pull things back if he needs to,
14:44 always playing off his fellow SNL performers.
14:47 If Tom Hanks is America's dad, then John Goodman is America's hilarious uncle.
14:53 "Oh, God. My wife's here. And everyone from work. Do they think this is dumb?"
15:00 Number 4. Justin Timberlake.
15:02 [Music]
15:07 Some performers just have that special X-factor,
15:10 and this superstar is one of those blessed individuals.
15:13 Justin Timberlake obviously brings some hip appeal to the SNL stage,
15:17 but he keeps people tuned in with his magnetic personality and triple-threat skill set.
15:22 "I'm just here to do the comedy thing, and I'm not gonna sing tonight."
15:27 "Not gonna do that thing where my voice goes high!"
15:31 He always seems one step ahead during sketches,
15:33 leaving viewers curious if he'll stay on script or improvise.
15:37 "When my great-great-grandson will bring sexy back."
15:40 Plus, Justin also seems to be having the time of his life,
15:43 resulting in several hilarious moments that keep Saturday Night Live in the headlines.
15:48 "Excuse me, can we talk about the students, please?
15:51 They were put in real danger by our principal. That man, right over there!"
15:56 "Excuse me, that is absolutely not true!"
15:58 "And that's the news. Stay tuned for Playhouse 90 with Lee J. God. Thank you."
16:02 Number 3 - Christopher Walken
16:04 "I got a fever! And the only prescription is more cowbell!"
16:09 If Justin Timberlake makes the audience comfortable, then this man does the exact opposite.
16:14 Still, Christopher Walken brings a strange sense of effortless cool to SNL
16:18 with his intellectual comedy and subdued technique.
16:21 "At lunch, you're gonna treat yourself to a vanilla ice cream.
16:25 You're gonna eat it too fast. You're gonna get an ice cream headache."
16:31 Like John Goodman, Walken excels during bizarre scenarios,
16:34 whether he's asking for more cowbell or breaking the fourth wall as the Continental.
16:39 "Throw champagne in my face once. Shame on you!"
16:44 Plus, his unorthodox manner of speech always keeps the cast members on their toes,
16:49 as they wonder which way Walken will go.
16:51 He's a true original that brings out the best in other performers.
16:55 "Now, I've been begging her to try Shin-Chi Shin-Chi for months.
17:00 She'd refused on the grounds that it was unclean."
17:04 Number 2 - Alec Baldwin
17:06 "I bet Nixon only got one scoop of ice cream for dessert, but I get two scoops, okay? Two scoops, two scoops."
17:12 Younger Saturday Night Live fans surely recognize this actor for his exaggerated Donald Trump impression.
17:18 But Alec Baldwin is no one-trick pony, as he's one of the most versatile celebrities to ever host.
17:23 And, he's hosted more times than anybody else as of 2018.
17:27 "Well, there's no beating my balls.
17:29 [Laughter]
17:31 They're made from a secret, sweaty family recipe."
17:34 Alec's run began in 1990, as he mixed celebrity impressions with oddball characters
17:39 to complement the likes of oddball comics such as Chris Farley and Adam Sandler.
17:43 "Canteen boy, would you, uh, rub some bug repellent on my chest?"
17:50 He's a true professional, someone that raises the bar by staying on point with each and every sketch.
17:56 And of course, he isn't afraid of doing political impersonations.
18:00 "Kiss my-" "Kiss my ass!"
18:02 "I was gonna say kiss my baby!"
18:05 "He cursed out a baby!"
18:07 "He did, he swore at an infant!"
18:09 "I couldn't see who it was, I didn't know!"
18:11 While Baldwin has gone through some serious challenges in recent years,
18:15 his work on SNL will always be cherished.
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18:33 Number 1. Steve Martin
18:36 "Live from New York!
18:38 Line!
18:41 It's Saturday night!"
18:47 [Music]
18:51 This comedy icon has been with Saturday Night Live since the beginning.
18:55 In fact, some people may actually believe that Steve Martin is an original cast member.
19:00 In the early days, he helped put SNL on the map with his improv comedy and purely original characters.
19:06 All the while creating pop culture moments before going viral was even a thing.
19:11 [Music]
19:20 With his extraordinary ability to simply entertain, Steve makes SNL must-watch TV whenever he hosts.
19:27 He is a comedic genius and clearly enjoys seeing people chuckle at the silliest of things.
19:33 "Don't come crawling to us to have fashion models from the Fox Bar will be here soon to give themselves to the Festronk Brothers!"
19:42 Who's your all-time favorite SNL host? Tell us in the comments.
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19:54 [Music]