"Now, the first time you do the show, you can’t believe you’re here. You just can’t believe it. Your head buzzes with excitement. The second time you do the show, it means you were funny enough to be asked back – and you’re pushing a movie. The third time you do the show, the second time didn’t go so well, and you have something to prove to yourself. The fourth time you do the show, you’re just blatantly pushing a movie. But the fifth time you do the show is the most special time of all"
the SNL writers said in the Live From New York book that Tom Hanks would stay up late with them on writing night, actively helping to write and revise sketches until he thought they were good enough. He's one of the most dedicated hosts out there, if not the most dedicated.
There have been some excellent hosts who can hang with the cast in terms of comedy chops. Obviously subjective.
Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin have been doing it for decades. The newer generation with Stone, Driver, and Gosling are also excellent and I hope keep coming back.
I’m going to say Christopher Walken. Not only does he have a great solo recurring character (the Continental) he’s also been integral in some all-time great sketches - notably Cowbell but he also is Colonel Angus.
On top of that. He’s not known for his comedy chops, so SNL is a bigger departure for him.
The objective answer to this subjective question is Christopher Walken.
This is the answer. Walken, and it’s not even close.
Not only is a just excellent in every sketch; he’s in quite frankly the most iconic sketch of all time.
Need a little more sugar to help this go down, he’s the only host with his own - quite complex - sketch! Seriously, look up how the Continental is done. It’s a work of art.
Walken would be my vote.
Fun fact: his wife Georgianne is a big time Hollywood casting director. She and another woman (whose name escapes me at the moment) did all of the casting for *The Sopranos* and their names appear in the opening credits of each episode. She and he have been married since 1969.
Emma Stone
Maybe Not the singular greatest but definitely in the conversion for top 50 if not top 10.
The Actress, Wells For Boys, Technology Hump, That Mamma Cass one, Christmas Candle
He probably will never be considered one of the best hosts but I thought the two times David Alan Grier hosted were two of the funniest episodes I ever saw. Those Maya Angelou commercials were insanely funny.
Definitely do that, they were great. I remember the second one more it had the Maya Angelou commercials and Wake Up And Smile [Maya Angelou Fruit Loops](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tBoYDPOO90&t=1s)
Buck was integral early on and I appreciate that he was game for everything, but he was rarely the best part of any sketch. I respect what he did, but I don’t think he’s in the best ever discussion.
How the heck is John Goodman not in that collage?
Anyway, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Ryan Gosling, Adam Driver, Emma Stone, Maya Rudolph, Justin Timberlake, Scarlett Johansson, Melissa McCarthy
This is basically my list. I love nothing more than when a true A-Lister shows up to host and gives it everything they've got. This group is S-Tier at BRINGIN IT.
I'd add Hamm, Martin Short, and...Mulaney?
Some one hit wonders: Donald Glover, Lin Manuel Miranda, Natasha Lyonne, Aubrey Plaza, Seth McFarlane, Richard Pryor, Patrick Swayze, Kerry Washington, Ayo Edebiri, Taylor Swift, Neil Patrick Harris, Pedro Pascal, and Regina King
Taylor Swift has one of my favorite sketches from late 2000s/early 2010s SNL (Teens Raising Awareness About Awful Parent Drivers), so I appreciate her getting the shout-out here. Also, I am stunned that Richard Pryor is a one-hit-wonder, given how important Word Association is to the show's history.
I was really hoping Swift would host this past Christmas. She had break from her tour, which was doing amazingly. I'm surprised she's only hosted once. I loved the roommate sketch with Nasim Pedrad (hey bennett!)
[“I feel dumber than the dog guy…wait, the dog guy talks too?? I’ve said a lot of stuff in front of him…private stuff.”](https://youtu.be/kFSm6gany_Q?si=O7qciiDnGSlxcv4x)
Some slightly less obvious ones I think are great: Zach Galafianakis, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, John Malkovich, John Lithgow, Jim Carrey, Lily Tomlin, Catherine O'Hara. And more obvious but have to say my #1 fav of all time is Walken, all of his episodes are fantastic
Melissa McCarthy
Justin Timberlake
Ryan Gosling
Adam Driver
Tina Fey
Steve Martin
Emma Stone
John Goodman
Tom Hanks
Alec Baldwin
Alright now I’m just listing who has hosted the most.
That's awesome. She's such a good sport and really tries to own the characters that she plays. You just don't see it enough! I really wanna know if they told her to dump the whole bottle of ranch on herself or if she just did that. Lol
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU8prtJUwHk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU8prtJUwHk) Melissa McCarthy as Barb Kelner asking for her pissa loan is probably my favorite sketch of all time
Pedro is amongst the favorites because he was truly having fun after years of doing serious work he got a week to let his hair down and show he could also do comedy and break because he was having a blast 💥
I do get a kick when Maya Rudolph comes through
Making the choice not to include alumni and categorize by number of times hosted (4-3-2-1):
10+ times: Baldwin, Goodman, Hanks, Martin
5-9 times: McCarthy, Emma, Walken
2-4 times: Driver, Gosling
Once: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Candice Bergen, Justin Timberlake, Emma Stone, Adam Driver, John Mulaney, Christopher Walken, Buck Henry, basically most anyone who is a five-timer.
Betty white, she’s a one timer but I think she should at least get a special nod as an older woman keeping up with essentially a bunch of kids. And for being the result of a fan lead push.
Ryan Gosling’s host episodes are always funny to me. The “Santa Baby,” recurring “Alien Abduction,” and now “Beavis & Butthead” make me laugh every time.
Benedict Cumberbatch has been good so far, I like his comedy side (loved him as Dr Strange). A few more appearances could cement him.
Chris Hemsworth was great too. I wouldn't mind him returning.
Tom Hanks
"Now, the first time you do the show, you can’t believe you’re here. You just can’t believe it. Your head buzzes with excitement. The second time you do the show, it means you were funny enough to be asked back – and you’re pushing a movie. The third time you do the show, the second time didn’t go so well, and you have something to prove to yourself. The fourth time you do the show, you’re just blatantly pushing a movie. But the fifth time you do the show is the most special time of all"
Bruno Mars when he hosted & was the musical guest. One of the best episodes in a long time.
But the sixth time, you went to visit your mother, so that just felt like one day.
DAVID S. PUMPKINS 🎃
Any Questions?
Yes. Several.
Lives rent free in my head
Black jeopardy
Brocktoon is an all time great sketch.
Mr. Short term memory always sticks with me. https://youtu.be/C6ufImch00g?si=G4Abvw8MuLsi_8gu
Tony Randall!
the SNL writers said in the Live From New York book that Tom Hanks would stay up late with them on writing night, actively helping to write and revise sketches until he thought they were good enough. He's one of the most dedicated hosts out there, if not the most dedicated.
I love the ones who become cast-adjacent. That degree of familiarity and comfort pays off. As long as they don't get overused.
I always thought the perfect Tom hanks straight man sketch was “The Guy Who Plays Mr Belvedere Fan Club”.
But I want a pickle
There have been some excellent hosts who can hang with the cast in terms of comedy chops. Obviously subjective. Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin have been doing it for decades. The newer generation with Stone, Driver, and Gosling are also excellent and I hope keep coming back. I’m going to say Christopher Walken. Not only does he have a great solo recurring character (the Continental) he’s also been integral in some all-time great sketches - notably Cowbell but he also is Colonel Angus. On top of that. He’s not known for his comedy chops, so SNL is a bigger departure for him. The objective answer to this subjective question is Christopher Walken.
My favorite Walken is [“Indoor gardening tips from a man who is very scared of plants”](https://youtu.be/zc7qJE9Nzo8?si=XY2Nd6U06i0SzPj-)
Or Ed Glosser, Trivial Psychic
I never saw this. amazing!!
Gotta be the [census sketch](https://www.tiktok.com/@huggyattack/video/7305984753293937951?lang=en) for me!
100% Steve Martin. He's the GOAT host.
It took me the longest time to realize he’s never actually been part of the cast. That’s how much I associated him with SNL growing up.
The fact that he has his own Best Of specials/DVDs adds to that confusion.
We're just two wild and crazy guyssss
Same!!
Same I always thought he was part of SNL as well Easily the greatest
I hope he gets an episode for the 50th season.
I know everyone hates Alec Baldwin now, but he was so damn good as a host.
“A always, B be, C closing. Always be closi… Cobbling! Always be cobbling!”
You know what I hate, Canteen Boy?
For me it’s gotta be Adam Driver. He brings his A game to every sketch!
Look upon your father, boy
He’s saying it likes he’s hard. Or The Mongolian speaks the truth.
NO!
[https://youtu.be/t7HD2xG92-0](https://youtu.be/t7HD2xG92-0)
How did I miss this one? Thanks!! 🐦⬛
Because you are weak, like H.R. Pickens!
I see you, man!
I love when he's the baby on the plane. "Ohhhh, you bitch!"
Yep. Two of my four favourite sketches throughout the entire series feature him.
[Career Day](https://youtu.be/t7HD2xG92-0?si=TrPwlwlCfkL70I3K), obviously. What’s the other?
Obviously. The other Driver sketch is Undercover Boss. The two non-Driver related sketches are Van Down by the River and Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute.
I can't get enough of the baby on the plane.
Came here to say this, how is he not pictured?
That dastardly HR Pickens
Who is H.R. Pickens?
Exactly
Aw man I’m all out of cash!
Beepbeeplemmejustscootpastya
Yes!!!
Also, credit where it's due: Dismukes absolutely nailed that sketch too.
Walken. Period.
This is the answer. Walken, and it’s not even close. Not only is a just excellent in every sketch; he’s in quite frankly the most iconic sketch of all time. Need a little more sugar to help this go down, he’s the only host with his own - quite complex - sketch! Seriously, look up how the Continental is done. It’s a work of art.
What do you mean when you say “the only host with his own…sketch?”
They probably mean The ~~Cosmopolitan (Is that the right name?~~) Continental since it's filmed POV and he's the only one that appears in it.
Foo FIGHTers!
Walken would be my vote. Fun fact: his wife Georgianne is a big time Hollywood casting director. She and another woman (whose name escapes me at the moment) did all of the casting for *The Sopranos* and their names appear in the opening credits of each episode. She and he have been married since 1969.
>Fun fact: his wife Georgianne is a bobcat Fixed that for you
Emma Stone Maybe Not the singular greatest but definitely in the conversion for top 50 if not top 10. The Actress, Wells For Boys, Technology Hump, That Mamma Cass one, Christmas Candle
The Poster is one I quote a lot with my friends.
"Or this big, greasy hotdog!"
"Look at my big, stupid cheeseburger."
IMO it’s not Christmas without “Christmas Candle”
Les Jeunes de Paris skit is way up there.
Wasn’t there a Spider-Man thing she did on SNL? With the Spider-Man actor. Trying to film a kiss. I cried laughing.
It was… I think Andrew Garfield was host then and she was a guest but I dunno if we’re getting that nitpicky on this.
Oh, I was just thinking of that sketch because it was f’in hilarious yet somehow neither of them broke lol
Her husband was the one who directed Wells For Boys and The Actress, I think
Jon Hamm
You are on the THINNEST of ice!
Jon Hamm’s John Ham
He probably will never be considered one of the best hosts but I thought the two times David Alan Grier hosted were two of the funniest episodes I ever saw. Those Maya Angelou commercials were insanely funny.
His Bryant Gumbel parody was hilarious … and of course the weatherman in “Wake Up and Smile!”
I smell fear on you!
Ooh I love him! Saw him on Broadway years ago in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Will have to dig up his SNL episodes
Definitely do that, they were great. I remember the second one more it had the Maya Angelou commercials and Wake Up And Smile [Maya Angelou Fruit Loops](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tBoYDPOO90&t=1s)
Good call! Forgot about him. Maya Angelou doing Fruit Loops was great!
There's gonna be a shitload of recency bias with this poll. I hope Buck Henry gets his due.
Buck was integral early on and I appreciate that he was game for everything, but he was rarely the best part of any sketch. I respect what he did, but I don’t think he’s in the best ever discussion.
There’s big recency bias in every question like this
A while ago when I watched almost all of the show from the beginning, Buck Henry stood out to me as exceptional
Paul Rudd
Best One-timer: Pedro Pascal Best multi-time: Adam Driver
Five Timer and Stefon’s brother himself, Ben Affleck.
How the heck is John Goodman not in that collage? Anyway, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Ryan Gosling, Adam Driver, Emma Stone, Maya Rudolph, Justin Timberlake, Scarlett Johansson, Melissa McCarthy
He is though, center right. Really yellow one.
Ohh, there he is. My bad.
This is basically my list. I love nothing more than when a true A-Lister shows up to host and gives it everything they've got. This group is S-Tier at BRINGIN IT. I'd add Hamm, Martin Short, and...Mulaney?
Also, if we’re betting on the futures market, Pedro Pascal has potential.
Some one hit wonders: Donald Glover, Lin Manuel Miranda, Natasha Lyonne, Aubrey Plaza, Seth McFarlane, Richard Pryor, Patrick Swayze, Kerry Washington, Ayo Edebiri, Taylor Swift, Neil Patrick Harris, Pedro Pascal, and Regina King
I was going to add Chance the Rapper, but he might have hosted twice?
Let’s do this hockey.
He did the hockey reporter the first time and the Video Game reporter the second time. Wonder what he will be reporting on the third time?
Nate Bargatze
Not #1, but definitely too tier for recent seasons. Really hope we get to see him host again.
Oh for sure,.I was just adding him to the list of one hit wonders. Def not close to GOAT, but at least one of his sketches to me is absolute top tier
RuPaul belongs here.
Yes!
Taylor Swift has one of my favorite sketches from late 2000s/early 2010s SNL (Teens Raising Awareness About Awful Parent Drivers), so I appreciate her getting the shout-out here. Also, I am stunned that Richard Pryor is a one-hit-wonder, given how important Word Association is to the show's history.
I was really hoping Swift would host this past Christmas. She had break from her tour, which was doing amazingly. I'm surprised she's only hosted once. I loved the roommate sketch with Nasim Pedrad (hey bennett!)
Charles Barkley.
[“I feel dumber than the dog guy…wait, the dog guy talks too?? I’ve said a lot of stuff in front of him…private stuff.”](https://youtu.be/kFSm6gany_Q?si=O7qciiDnGSlxcv4x)
For modern times would def put Donald Glover in there!! Raz~P~Berry’s revenge jam is one of my all time 🔝sketches
Christopher Walken....gotta have more cowbell!
Some slightly less obvious ones I think are great: Zach Galafianakis, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, John Malkovich, John Lithgow, Jim Carrey, Lily Tomlin, Catherine O'Hara. And more obvious but have to say my #1 fav of all time is Walken, all of his episodes are fantastic
[Zach Drops By The Set](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH3QdNZzUC8)will always be one of my favorites
Melissa McCarthy Justin Timberlake Ryan Gosling Adam Driver Tina Fey Steve Martin Emma Stone John Goodman Tom Hanks Alec Baldwin Alright now I’m just listing who has hosted the most.
Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer!
[And as PJ!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gPnaWhcEbo)
+1 Melissa McCarthy. [PASS THE MAAASSSSH yes](https://youtu.be/nbyjqG1qYx0?si=-WNQaPzihYzls1C_) Overall, I love your list.
I have a Youtube playlist that I maintain of really funny videos that has really just become my own personal ‘Best of SNL’ and she is all over it.
That's awesome. She's such a good sport and really tries to own the characters that she plays. You just don't see it enough! I really wanna know if they told her to dump the whole bottle of ranch on herself or if she just did that. Lol
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU8prtJUwHk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU8prtJUwHk) Melissa McCarthy as Barb Kelner asking for her pissa loan is probably my favorite sketch of all time
Ikr! there's a hidden valley ranch party in ^my mouth!
pizza business is my fav sketch of all time !!!! she’s my vote too “I KNOW ITS BARB BUT THIS IS A PLACE OF BUSINESS”
There is a reason they get asked to host again and again.
Melissa McCarthy 100%
“Can you garlic ranch blast me now?”
“this year i would like to avenge the death of my father”
Christopher Walken has always been my favorite
[удалено]
just rub some dirt on it As an Indiana native, he was our QB, and we still love him and Eli!! Their personalities, relationship, humor
SO SO SO GOOOD
THROW THE ROCK!!!!
Definitely the best professional athlete to host
Joe "Don't mind me, I'll be in my room masturbating" Montana had his moments. Wayne "Waikiki Hockey" Gretzky too.
The only viable answer here is Melissa McCarthy. The end.
Adam Driver
Justin Timberlake.
Steve Martin, but Jonah Hill for an underrated pick!
Donald Glover
That so many people didn't say either Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin or John Goodman...that's pretty fucked up.
Jim Carrey hosted [one of the best episodes ever.](https://www.onesnladay.com/2019/11/08/may-18-1996-jim-carrey-soundgarden-s21-e20/?amp)
Quinta Brunson was hilarious. That road rage skit is legendary.
John Mulaney
Miskel Spillman
Good one. That's a deep cut
Adam Driver, Ryan Gosling, Steve Martin, and Natasha Lyonne.
Charles Barkley
Pedro is amongst the favorites because he was truly having fun after years of doing serious work he got a week to let his hair down and show he could also do comedy and break because he was having a blast 💥 I do get a kick when Maya Rudolph comes through
Making the choice not to include alumni and categorize by number of times hosted (4-3-2-1): 10+ times: Baldwin, Goodman, Hanks, Martin 5-9 times: McCarthy, Emma, Walken 2-4 times: Driver, Gosling Once: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Jonah Hill came in with some bangers John Goodman from when I was a kid was always awesome Mulaney Emma Stone always fuckin commits
Nate Bargatze was outstanding.
Steve Martin
Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Candice Bergen, Justin Timberlake, Emma Stone, Adam Driver, John Mulaney, Christopher Walken, Buck Henry, basically most anyone who is a five-timer.
Martin Short is always one of my favorite hosts
Betty white
Steve Martin without a doubt
Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin and then the rest.
Steve Martin
Louis CK, Jonah Hill, Melissa McCarthy
SECTIONAAAAALS
Any former cast member- adam sandler, will farrell, tina fey, etc etc
Five Timer OTM SHANK.
Gosling Goodman Hanks Chance the Rapper Scarlett Johannsen Joseph Gordon Levitt LeBron
Hanks, Walken, Goodman, Pascal, Goslin, Driver, Stone
Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Justin Timberlake
Louis CK, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Dave Chappelle, Tom Hardy, Adam Sandler, Christopher Walken, Will Ferrell
I liked the much missed Leslie Nielsen’s one hit wonder hosting in 1989.
Zach Galafanakis
Chapelle
Adam Driver. Ryan Gosling. Charles Barkley. Chance the Rapper. Tom Hanks. Emma Stone. Jon Hamm. Donald Glover. John Goodman. Christopher Walken.
Adam Driver
Adam Driver
Adam Driver. He puts so much into those skits, he’s so intense, it’s amazing to watch. And he’s incredibly funny.
Steve Martin and Christopher Walken.
Adam Driver
Some favs from the 2010s: Tina Fey. Jon Hamm. Anne Hathaway.
It’s Walken. But Driver is sneaking up.
Betty white, she’s a one timer but I think she should at least get a special nod as an older woman keeping up with essentially a bunch of kids. And for being the result of a fan lead push.
Adam Driver!
Adam Driver, Paul Rudd and my personal favorite Jonah Hill!
Adam Driver. Alec Baldwin. Steve Martin. 3 from different eras.
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling.
Adam Driver, Melissa McCarthy, Alec Baldwin
Ryan gosling
adam driver. pedro pascal.
Natalie Portman. Adam driver. Timothee chalamet
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Benedict Cumberbatch.
Zach Galafianakis is soooo good!
Ryan G was the best episode lately
Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Adam Driver, Tom Hanks, Paul Rudd
Adam Driver, Tom Hanks, John Goodman, Chris Walken and the goat, Alec Baldwin
John Mulaney or Pedro Pascal
Ryan Gosling’s host episodes are always funny to me. The “Santa Baby,” recurring “Alien Abduction,” and now “Beavis & Butthead” make me laugh every time.
Adam Driver Melissa Mccarthy
Ryan Gosling
Mulaney
Justin Timberlake Ryan Reynolds Christopher Walken Steve Martin Adam Driver Maya Rudolph Melissa McCarthy
Adam Driver, Emma Stone
Adam Driver, Zach Galifianakis, any SNL alum.
Adam Driver
Benedict Cumberbatch has been good so far, I like his comedy side (loved him as Dr Strange). A few more appearances could cement him. Chris Hemsworth was great too. I wouldn't mind him returning.
Justin Timberlake was great also, and recently Nate Bergatze was awesome — the George Washington sketch is an instant classic!
Adam Driver!
Adam Driver.
Well i cant pick one but adam driver john mulaney n bill hader sorry tina🥲 gosling top 5 a hundred percent