The 12 Worst Saturday Night time Dwell Visitor Hosts Of All Time, Ranked

“Saturday Night time Dwell” is a comedic establishment. It is a spot the place up-and-coming comedic actors hone their abilities, and the present has launched quite a few careers from Invoice Murray to Eddie Murphy, from Adam Sandler to Tina Fey. However the solid is simply a part of the equation, as episodes are written across the visitor host. This celeb is the glue holding all the pieces collectively, and it permits audiences an opportunity to see one other aspect of those well-known faces.

The greatest “Saturday Night time Dwell” visitor hosts come from a wide range of backgrounds. John Mulaney is at all times a deal with to see, however it is smart he’d be a superb host contemplating he used to jot down for “SNL.” Others, like Christopher Walken, are identified extra their dramatic appearing however get to point out off their sillier sides on the variability collection. Whereas some folks appear destined to be nice at sketch comedy, others ought to’ve stayed far-off from “SNL.” 

We’re not simply speaking about individuals who flub a line or two. Over the present’s 50-year historical past, some folks seem utterly out of their depth, both not understanding or not bothering to appreciate the significance of being a part of an ensemble. These are the worst “Saturday Night time Dwell” visitor hosts of all time, so prepare to recollect plenty of cringey monologues and sketches. 

It sort of is smart “Saturday Night time Dwell” would belief socialite Paris Hilton with internet hosting duties. She was interviewed by Jimmy Fallon on “Weekend Replace” in 2003, enjoying round with double entendres whereas making Fallon uncomfortable. She’s enjoying herself and the deadpan supply work properly for the phase, however issues had been a distinct story in 2005 when she was nonetheless related sufficient to host. Man, the 2000s had been a darkish time. 

She’s utterly lifeless the entire episode, with sketches seemingly making an attempt to incorporate her as little as potential. Whereas her deadpan demeanor labored properly for a “Weekend Replace” interview years earlier than, she brings the vitality of the entire present right down to bedrock. It was a nightmare for the solid and crew as properly, as Tina Fey later spoke with Howard Stern about her emotions towards Hilton. Fey mentioned, “She’s so dumb; she’s so pleased with how dumb she is.”

Fey would later backtrack a few of her feedback, however the proof is within the pudding with this one. Internet hosting “SNL” might’ve been a approach for Hilton to point out she’s a lot greater than a spoiled socialite, and it was squandered. Hilton most likely would not care, however the individuals who needed to watch that episode positively did. 

It is laborious to expertise huge fame as a baby after which transition seamlessly into maturity. Simply have a look at Justin Bieber. 2013 was actually the start of his fall from grace, as that 12 months would see him in a automobile accident with a pedestrian, in addition to his notorious journey to the Anne Frank Home the place he posted about how he hoped Frank would’ve been a “Belieber.” Earlier than any of that, he hosted “SNL” for a reasonably lackluster episode the place he appears extra involved with mugging to the viewers fairly than delivering his jokes. 

Much like Tina Fey calling out Paris Hilton, Invoice Hader later talked about how Bieber was the worst host he had ever seen on “Watch What Occurs Dwell with Andy Cohen.” Hader clarified his assertion by explaining how Bieber was in a “unhealthy place” on the time and that he hoped he was doing higher. Internet hosting “SNL” could have merely been yet one more stressor in Bieber’s already stressed-out life, so hopefully, sooner or later, “SNL” tries to account for a possible host’s psychological well being earlier than reserving them to ship some yucks. 

The 12 months is 2005. Lance Armstrong is without doubt one of the most beloved athletes on the planet, turning into a biking champ, beating most cancers, and providing these yellow Livestrong bracelets to lift cash for additional most cancers analysis. Whereas doping allegations would canine him all through his profession (he even pokes enjoyable at it when internet hosting “SNL”), he would not be formally charged for a number of extra years. On the time his “SNL” episode aired, he was simply an athlete who simply wasn’t very humorous. 

On high of that, there’s an unbridled cockiness to his internet hosting persona. His then-fiancée Sheryl Crowe even pops up within the viewers through the opening monologue to get another person to ask Armstrong when their wedding ceremony goes to be, which Armstrong avoids answering. He comes throughout like somebody who looks like he is gotten away with one thing, and that is simply not the sort of vitality you need for a sketch present. It looks like he is above all of it, making this episode not a lot enjoyable to observe in 2005 and much more insufferable at present. It is most likely for one of the best that many of the episode has been faraway from Peacock, the place a scant 17 minutes stay. 

Presidential candidates and billionaires simply should not host “Saturday Night time Dwell.” Keep in mind that for later, because it’s what we within the biz name “foreshadowing.” In 1996, Steve Forbes, billionaire businessman and editor-in-chief for Forbes journal, had a run for president that did not end up so properly. His comfort prize was a internet hosting gig on “SNL,” and it went about in addition to anybody might’ve anticipated. 

The writers should’ve identified Forbes could not carry any comedy on his personal, as there are two sketches the place he merely performs himself. In a single such sketch, he seems on “Nightline” to debate a guide about what an amazing man “Teve Torbes” is, denying that the nameless writer, who’s clearly him, is making an attempt to make Steve Forbes and his tax plan look good. 

Arguably, the funniest facet of the episode is the truth that Rage In opposition to the Machine is the musical act. If the “SNL” writers actually needed to make use of Forbes correctly, they need to’ve introduced the band out to do a sketch with him. Perhaps reveal Forbes is the key fifth Rage member? In fact, in the event you watch the “Girls and Gents… 50 Years of SNL Music” documentary on Peacock, you will perceive why that most likely would not have gone properly both.

It is smart when athletes and billionaires are unhealthy “SNL” visitor hosts. Having comedic timing is not typically a part of their job description, however one would assume an actor like January Jones would a minimum of be midway competent. She was glorious as Betty Draper on “Mad Males,” turning her into one of many present’s greatest characters. However having the ability to use a number of takes and internet hosting a dwell present are two very totally different beasts.

All through the night time, Jones rushes by way of her strains and breaks character at one level to ask for her cue. She breaks character ceaselessly, like within the “Rear Window” sketch the place she performs Grace Kelly and may’t cease farting. The sketch would most likely truthful higher if she saved it collectively and was doing one thing foolish whereas enjoying it utterly straight, however she laughs far too typically. Some sketches are so humorous that even “SNL” actors break character, however there needs to be a restrict. Jones is a good actress, as she proved all through her time on “Mad Males,” however dwell sketch comedy simply appears outdoors of her wheelhouse. 

“SNL” was someway so assured in Michael Phelps’ internet hosting talents, they made him the opener of season 34. Sadly, the entire thing lands with a thud, as Phelps, no disrespect, simply is not that energetic. This is not purely a results of him being an athlete, as a lot could make it work. Travis Kelce has a pure charisma to the purpose the place even when he is not an amazing actor, he is a minimum of likable sufficient to get by way of sketches with extra seasoned performers carrying him. The identical simply cannot be mentioned for Phelps. 

Phelps seems to wrestle to learn the cue playing cards at numerous factors, throwing off the momentum any sketch might have. Perhaps that is why the writers had him as stiff, awkward cousin Craig in a single sketch, the place him standing completely nonetheless the entire time sort of works to his benefit. 

What makes Phelps’ inclusion on this listing so disappointing is that the season 34 opener is fairly essential, because it options the primary time Tina Fey impersonates Sarah Palin, who had not too long ago catapulted to the nationwide stage within the midst of the 2008 presidential election. Watching that chilly open is price it however the remainder of the episode, not a lot. 

Through the 2011 White Home Correspondents’ dinner, Seth Meyers had this to say about Donald Trump’s 2012 presidential run: “Donald Trump has been saying that he’ll run for president as a Republican, which is shocking, since I simply assumed he was working as a joke.” Clearly, “SNL” thought the identical factor when Trump as soon as once more ran as a part of the 2016 election. He was invited to host in November 2015 after having beforehand hosted again in 2004. Nobody might’ve presumably guessed what that episode would come to symbolize…

The worst elements of the Trump episode far outweigh the unhealthy. At one level, Trump tweets imply issues concerning the “SNL” solid members in the course of a sketch, and one phase supplies a glimpse into Trump’s presidency within the 12 months 2018. Steve Forbes had already misplaced out on the presidency by the point he hosted, however Trump’s marketing campaign was in full swing, so it was odd for “SNL” to present him a lot consideration, not to mention soften his picture amidst a few of his extra controversial insurance policies, like wanting to finish birthright citizenship. 

Trump would win the presidency (twice), with “SNL” often doing Trump sketches for the last decade following the episode. And people sketches really feel like too little, too late, like “SNL” making an attempt to atone for not taking Trump as significantly when they need to have. 

“SNL” clearly would not have a difficulty reserving controversial visitor hosts, and the early ’90s noticed them carry on Andrew Cube Clay. The comic was identified for his misogynistic and homophobic materials on the time, which he claimed was parody, however that is laborious to suss out when the hysterical laughing would not seem to come back from a spot of nuance. Nonetheless, “SNL” booked Clay, and solid member Nora Dunn sat the present out in protest, not eager to endorse his materials.

His total outing has a nasty undertone about it, significantly in how the present handled one among its personal. Clay’s chilly open exhibits a world wherein he by no means existed, so Dunn does the present however finally ends up crushed underneath an amplifier. The remainder of the present continues poking enjoyable at itself for reserving somebody as controversial as Clay, making the entire thing uninteresting at greatest and spiteful at worst. If you are going to rent somebody who gallivants in offensive humor, you would possibly as properly lean into it.

The entire thing looks like “SNL” desires to have its cake and eat it, too. It desires Clay as a bunch, however it will remind everybody how offensive he’s to attempt to separate the present from the person. It simply would not work. 

Within the Seventies, “SNL” was way more of an underdog. It was a part of the counter tradition, doing sketches no different present would dare attempt. As such, getting Frank Zappa, probably the most progressive musicians of the period, one who defied conventional style labels, appeared like an ideal match. Of he was simply there to carry out music, it most likely would’ve turned out nice. However Zappa additionally hosted that fateful season 4 episode, and the not-ready-for-primetime gamers met the not-ready-for-primetime musician. 

To be truthful, Zappa’s internet hosting looks like an extension of his music. He is avant-garde and satirical, ceaselessly breaking the facade of the present to level out the cue playing cards or learn his strains as blandly as potential, ensuring everybody was conscious they had been watching a TV present. “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels notoriously hates improv, so he wasn’t a fan, and Zappa by no means returned to host. Perhaps some can get pleasure from Zappa’s internet hosting stint on a meta-textual stage, however for anybody who truly needed to snigger and luxuriate in some sketch comedy, it was a befuddling affair. 

Louise Lasser has probably the most salacious “Saturday Night time Dwell” monologues in its historical past, as she loses steam partway by way of after which has a breakdown and rushes offstage. Lasser has confirmed within the years since that her “SNL” breakdown was all a part of the bit, however in fact, anybody watching on the time would not have identified that. Lasser starred on “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” on the time, a satirical cleaning soap opera, so her monologue might learn as a satirical strategy on how “Saturday Night time Dwell” visitors hosts at all times have to look chipper, breaking away that facade. If that was the tip of it, Lasser’s stint most likely would’ve been remembered simply nice, however then the remainder of the episode occurs. 

Lasser seems disoriented all through her sketches, typically mumbling or outright forgetting her strains. This may be construed as being a part of her satirical act, very similar to how Zappa a number of years later would have a sardonic perspective towards the entire thing. Lasser additionally reportedly wasn’t pleased with the fabric, viewing one sketch the place she needed to speak very brazenly about intercourse as salacious (Jane Curtin crammed the function as an alternative). Maybe these jabs at “SNL” are enjoyable for the performers, however they make the episodes depressing for anybody watching. 

There was a very weird interval within the 2010s when Elon Musk actually needed folks to understand how humorous he was. He has voice appearing stints on “The Simpsons,” “South Park,” and “Rick and Morty,” and he exhibits up in each “The Large Bang Concept” and “Younger Sheldon.” The issue with all these performances is that, ignoring all the pieces controversial about Musk, he simply is not a superb performer, particularly in animated exhibits. His deliveries are approach too stiff, and there is no sense of comedic timing. Making him host a “Saturday Night time Dwell” episode looks like a doomed proposition from the beginning. 

As anticipated, Musk simply is not a comedic performer, as a lot as he seemingly loves memes. However maybe the least humorous factor about Musk’s internet hosting gig was that he made Chloe Fineman cry. Fineman would later name out Musk for tearing aside one among her sketches, as if he is extra of an authority on comedy than a solid member. One can solely hope “SNL” discovered from Musk’s look (in addition to some others) and by no means has one other billionaire visitor host ever once more. 

There are quite a few issues that may go flawed with a “SNL” internet hosting gig. Some hosts might be checked out, however others simply aren’t humorous, and so they can come throughout as too cocky or get too experimental. This results in hands-down the worst “SNL” host ever: Steven Seagal. That is not even our sole opinion, as Lorne Michaels named Seagal as the largest jerk within the present’s historical past. That is most likely why most of his materials has been reduce from his episode on Peacock, with just one sketch of him enjoying a stern father speaking to a leather-clad Chris Farley making an attempt to exit along with his daughter. 

It is for one of the best, as Seagal is totally out of his aspect on “SNL.” Loads of motion stars have a humorousness about themselves, poking enjoyable at their larger-than-life pictures. However as anybody who’s ever watched one among Seagal’s films is aware of, he isn’t one among them. It is uncommon to see him even crack a smile, and that is the case right here, as Seagal would not appear to wish to be there, not to mention do any materials. Seagal’s lack of humor even reportedly made Michaels take into account dropping him mid-week. It most likely would’ve been for one of the best, however now it is a piece of “SNL” historical past.