# Favorite SNL host/entire show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2001, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029 "2001-09-21T15:38:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/21 "2001-09-22T03:19:54Z")
Both episodes with Garth Brooks as host were hilarious. I’d love to see him host again. The looks he gets on his face are priceless. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/22 "2001-09-22T03:20:40Z")
Ha ha. As soon as I saw the thread title, I also thought of Alec Baldwin. I dislike him as an actor, but on SNL, he is seriously funny. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@King\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/23 "2001-09-22T04:14:25Z")
Yah, Alec Baldwin. Remember the skit where he was the French teacher? Melanie Hutsell: Je got to go. Alec: No, no, no, en francais!! Then he gets beaten up by some Frenchmen at the end. William Shatner: GET A LIFE!!! Every Star Trek fan AND hater fell to the floor laughing at that one. Later, at the restaurant Enterprise, he served a Choc Scott and a Rom with Rings. I thought that John Goodman always did a good job. Remember Tales From The Arkansas Highway Patrol, Goodman going to the Clinton’s and Clinton is in a T-shirt having just been abused by Hillary? I don’t really know if I have a favorite because different shows had different strengths and weaknesses. ---
**Author:** ![Semp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Semp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Semp)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/24 "2001-09-22T04:22:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bean\_shadow \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Zappo \* > > **Gotta be Christopher Walken. I love the “Continental” sketches where he plays a prowling Eurotrash character.** > > Or the skit where he’s spoofing his _Dead Zone_ character. Saying “psychic” stuff like: “You’re in your car. You’re driving. But then you stop. You’re in traffic.” \*\* I like the “You’re gonna eat ice cream… too fast… it’s gonna hurt… real bad” part. I sometimes have to fight the urge when shaking hands to go rigid and give a prophecy like that. My first thought when seeing the topic was Kieffer Sutherland, as **Zoggie** mentioned. I don’t remember a whole lot about the show, I just remember thinking that Sutherland totally threw himself into each skit and each character, even if the material was not great. He looked like he was having a great time, and that carried over to me as the viewer. I also agree with **Sofa King** about the Jesse Jackson episode. My opinion of the reverend has gone south the past few years, but I’ll always have a soft spot for The Question Is Moot. Didn’t he also do the news on that show? And **watsonwil** , I think George Carin hosted the first SNL, but I wouldn’t call myself an expert in such matters, just relying on a faulty memory that sometimes (only sometimes, at that) is right. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/25 "2001-09-22T05:52:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bluethree \* > \*\*Both episodes with Garth Brooks as host were hilarious. I’d love to see him host again. The looks he gets on his face are priceless. \*\* Nothing will ever top Garth Brooks’s turn on the game show “Old French Whore.” But my money’s on Kelsey Grammer. The funniest line in television history; “Something smells good. I don’t like it. Bring me the cat’s ass.” ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Fiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lux\_Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Fiat)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/26 "2001-09-22T07:30:54Z")
I thought the episode that The Rock hosted was really good. He’s a genuinely funny guy. Plus, you got Triple H, and more importantly, the Big Show, who is also a funny guy, for no additional cost. And of course, you can’t go wrong with Alec Baldwin or Christopher Walken. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/27 "2001-09-22T07:52:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Semp \* > **I also agree with Sofa King about the Jesse Jackson episode. My opinion of the reverend has gone south the past few years, but I’ll always have a soft spot for The Question Is Moot. Didn’t he also do the news on that show?** I remember him reading The Cat in the Hat on the news, is that it? ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/28 "2001-09-22T14:26:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by King Rat \* > \*\*I thought that John Goodman always did a good job. Remember Tales From The Arkansas Highway Patrol, Goodman going to the Clinton’s and Clinton is in a T-shirt having just been abused by Hillary? > \*\* YES! Wasn’t this the skit that someone intentionally shot themself in the foot (Schneider?) and gets a medal from Clinton? ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/29 "2001-09-22T14:27:52Z")
Oh! And wouldn’t you also say SNL is at its best when they are spoofing politics? ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/30 "2001-09-22T17:32:54Z")
I loved that Locklear skit. “The instructions are so easy, even a Puerto Rican can put it together”. My favorite one program was when Tom Hanks hosted one episode. I may be mixing up appearances but I htink it was when he subbed for Joe Pesci and they did the “Why am I funny?” bit. The one skit that did it for me was Sabra Price is Right. “It’s like Sony.” “Toshiba Guts.” “Microwave Oven (a toaster oven)… it’s very good” “Will it help me get channels?”-“It won’t hurt you getting channels” ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/31 "2001-09-22T18:36:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by watsonwil \* > Yeah! Buck Henry. Didn’t he host the first episode? Nobody could sell a “candy in my pocket” joke like Buck Henry! Who has joined the 5 timers club since that episode? Goodman. Baldwin? Actually, I think George Carlin hosted the first show. And I know that Christopher Walken just did his fifth hosting gig last season, because he mentioned it in his opening monologue. They didn’t do a Five Timers skit for him, but he did do a pretty funny musical number with Jimmy Fallon. By the way, a great Saturday Night Live website is [http://www.saturday-night-live.com](http://www.saturday-night-live.com). It’s run by a fan, and the info there is pretty comprehensive. Oh, actually, I just checked over there and they have the answer to the five timers question in the FAQ: > [@](#): > > Q: How many people have hosted five times or more? > > A: 11: Steve Martin (13 times), John Goodman (11 times), Buck Henry (10 times), Alec Baldwin (9 times), Chevy Chase (9 times), Tom Hanks (7 times), Danny DeVito (6 times), Elliot Gould (6 times), Candice Bergen (5 times), Bill Murray (5 times), and Christopher Walken (5 times). ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/32 "2001-09-22T18:37:39Z")
Oh, and I just remembered that I have to mention my all-time favorite skit ever, which is Celebrity Jeopardy. “I’ll take Anal Bum Cover for 200, Alex!” Er… carry on. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/33 "2001-09-22T21:51:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Oblong \* > \*\*My favorite one program was when Tom Hanks hosted one episode. I may be mixing up appearances but I htink it was when he subbed for Joe Pesci and they did the “Why am I funny?” bit. \*\* IIRC, this was also the episode where Tom was the president of the Mr. Belvedere Fan Club. Truly some classic exchanges in that skit: “We SHOULD want to have Brocktoon over for dinner, but we shouldn’t want to keep him in a giant glass jar in our basement, so we can show him how much we love him?” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/34 "2001-09-22T22:01:22Z")
One more- Toby MacGuire. The monologue was good…“Weren’t you in Star Wars Episode One?” “If it’ll make you shut up, then yes, yes I was.” “Okay who did you play?” “Uh, Jar Jar Binks.” “You ruined that movie, I hate you, Jar Jar Binks!” And that Jepoardy: Keanu Reeves: “I know…kung fu.” And again, “I’ll take balloons for 400.” “That isn’t a category.” “Oh, I shall take balloons for six hundred.” Priceless. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Heath\_Doolin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Heath\_Doolin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heath_Doolin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/35 "2001-09-23T02:34:31Z")
Toby was hilarious Had me howling as Samuel “Screech” Powers from Saved by the Bell on “Inside the Actors Studio”. Swear to god he nailed that one like Rob Lowe nailed Shaggy from Scooby Doo (another classic SNL moment) ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/36 "2001-09-23T02:38:15Z")
My four favorites were: Jesse Jackson, as mentioned. William Shatner: With the above, he lampooned his TJ Hooker role, losing his shoe in a car chase. He also s-s-s-sang, demonstrating that he was the worst singer ever. The John Goodman one that included the sketch where he played a frisky dog a little too well. A real bitch made a loud growling bark when he tried to play-mount her. Oh my I thought she was going to really bite him. When he tumbled away safely, I didn’t think I or the SNL audience laughed as hard. And the one with The Rock, ending with him and his WWF friends gang-stomping Chris Kattan (trivia: It was Mick Foley who did the People’s Elbow). ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/37 "2001-09-23T03:44:36Z")
My personal favorite (I know my opinion will not be shared by many) was when David Duchovny hosted. I’ve seen that one about ten times. I laugh every time, especially when he plays the cheerleading camp counselor. “My nipples are as big as dinner plates.” “Yes! Malibu Barbie completes the set!” Of course, I used to have a thing for DD… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/38 "2001-09-23T05:25:12Z")
Worst host? Steinbrennar! ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/39 "2001-09-23T05:36:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by watsonwil \* > **Worst host? Steinbrennar!** I dunno, Wayne Gretzky was pretty bad. He couldn’t even play himself. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029/40 "2001-09-23T06:55:41Z")
Mine has to be Paul Simon. I believe it was the first ever SNL. Nothing was set in stone yet and the memorable bit included none of the SNL regulars (which would be completely unacceptable today). Simon played basketball one on one with Bill Russell. Simon won. It was a delight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-snl-host-entire-show/83029.md?page=3)