# SNL Hosts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399 "2007-12-27T19:03:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/21 "2007-12-28T02:56:50Z")
[QUOTE=randwill] One of the reasons there are so many legendary terrible hosting examples is SNL’s penchant for booking hosts based on popularity rather than their ability to host a show or do skit comedy. [/QUOTE] But, how do you know whether they can host a show or do skit comedy until they’ve tried? SNL has had plenty of hosts who have done a much better job than you might have expected ahead of time (including some of the ones listed in this thread), which is wonderful when it works. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/22 "2007-12-28T03:28:24Z")
Patrick Stewart was absolutely spectacular. Best episode I’ve ever seen. Of course, William Shatner was great, too, so maybe it’s a Star Trek thing. Mel Gibson was surprisingly hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/23 "2007-12-28T03:41:25Z")
Going back to the early years, Candace Bergen hosted an early episode. At the time, she was NOT known for having a sense of humor. The writers came up with A material for her and she delivered it with complete sincerity (every once in awhile, you can find the clip of her doing a perfume commercial with the bottle stuck to her ear). IMHO it turned around her career. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/24 "2007-12-28T06:43:22Z")
Some of my faves have already been mentioned. Typically, being a stiff in real life but having a sense of humour about oneself can catapult someone from my shit list to “hey, he/she’s okay.” [ul] [li]Justin Timberlake[/li][li]Donald Trump[/li][li]Derek Jeter[/li][li]Joe Montana[/li][li]Brian Williams[/li][/ul] Can’t really think of ones I hate, but I do think that Alec Baldwin is way overrated as an SNL host. He’s good, but not that good. Jerry Seinfeld wasn’t very good. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveroptic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiveroptic/32/8257_2.png) [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/25 "2007-12-28T12:14:42Z")
Like **kunilou** , Candice Bergen’s early hosting stints produced some of my favourite skits. Just thinking about “Landshark” makes me giggle. Speaking of giggling, she did a skit with Gilda Radner, a public service commercial parody for Stupid People and totally flubbed her lines. Gilda handled it like the pro she was but Candice couldn’t stop giggling through the rest of the skit. It was totally unprofessional for a seasoned actor to keep giggling after blowing her lines but it still cracks me up when I watch it. All of my favourite hosts come from the early years. Steve Martin, Buck Henry, Paul Simon in the turkey suit…and of course, Madeline Kahn as The Singing Bowling Trophy. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingthrush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea5d25/32.png) [@Mockingthrush](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingthrush)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/26 "2007-12-28T13:48:12Z")
I was absolutely surprised by The Rock and Peyton Manning both. The highlight of The Rock’s show for me though was the Big Show holding Chris Kattan and asking if he could keep him. That still makes me giggle every time I think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/27 "2007-12-28T14:10:15Z")
Cameron Diaz has done some funny stuff. Jingleheimer Junction was great. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/28 "2007-12-28T14:19:43Z")
I’m a big fan of the man, but Frank Zappa did a terrible job as host. It appeared that he didn’t like the show and was intentionally sabotaging it. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/29 "2007-12-28T14:26:15Z")
[QUOTE=Electronic Chaos] I remember Charles Barkley hosting once, and it being absolutely terrible. He just kind of stared at the cue cards and barely read them. [/QUOTE] No, that was Robert De Niro. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/30 "2007-12-28T15:19:55Z")
Don Rickles hosted one show that I faintly remember, years and years ago. I honestly don’t know how good the entire show was, but he had a couple of skits in a row that had me rolling on the floor. In the first skit, he and a male cast member (maybe Joe Piscopo?) began slapping each other on the face. Initially it was just a Mafia-style pat on the face, but for whatever reason they began escalating it during the skit, so that by the end they were slapping each other on a regular basis, during almost every line they delivered. They were laughing like loons, and it was hilarious. Cut to commercial, and then the next skit begins. Rickles and that same cast member were in this one, and near the beginning of the skit, the cast member lightly punches Rickles on the shoulder. Rickles immediately turns to him, points a finger, and says, “Watch it, hockey puck. I remember you from the last skit.” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/31 "2007-12-28T16:52:56Z")
Okay, I thought of one who was surprisingly funny: **Charlton Heston**. That was a great show (and one of the few times they’ve changed the opening credits, to a Planet of the Apes theme). ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/32 "2007-12-28T18:48:44Z")
I thought David Duchovny was quite funny when he hosted several years ago. Last year, in October, Hugh Laurie hosted and he was great. It helps that he has an extensive background in sketch comedy. I hope they can get him again. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/33 "2007-12-28T18:55:31Z")
For my money, Alec Baldwin is the all-time greatest host. Always funny, always delivers. Steve Martin is a close second. I agree with the rest of you that Justin Timberlake was surprisingly good, and I hope comes back to do another show (if the writers’ strike ever ends, that is). Also, Sean Hayes (Jack from “Will & Grace”) did a very memorable monologue that featured his previously-unknown-to-me ability to play classical piano. I think the Tom Green episode is probably about the worst one I’ve ever seen. It was just wretched. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/34 "2007-12-28T19:05:03Z")
[QUOTE=Sauron] Cut to commercial, and then the next skit begins. Rickles and that same cast member were in this one, and near the beginning of the skit, the cast member lightly punches Rickles on the shoulder. Rickles immediately turns to him, points a finger, and says, “Watch it, hockey puck. I remember you from the last skit.” [/QUOTE] Funny or not, that strikes me as extremely egotistical/unprofessional, like the shows all about him. Then again, in that era, it was probably best for him to hog the spotlight… ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/35 "2007-12-28T20:17:34Z")
[QUOTE=MsWhatsit] \ Also, Sean Hayes (Jack from “Will & Grace”) did a very memorable monologue that featured his previously-unknown-to-me ability to play classical piano. \ [/QUOTE] Yes! He was great! His “Jeffrey’s” skit had me rolling because he couldn’t keep a straight face. In fact, I don’t think ANYONE has gone through any “Jeffrey’s” skit without cracking. Peirce Brosnan’s appearance was hillarious as well. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/36 "2007-12-28T22:03:30Z")
[QUOTE=Trunk] Alex Baldwin has done probably about 5 of the top ten bits ever on that show. Schwetty Balls. **The doctor who delivered all girls.** The pedophile boy scout leader. The soap opera doctor who can’t pronounce anything (“anal caynal”) He’s probably my favorite host of all time, but I don’t know about any single episode. [/QUOTE] I am 99% sure that THAT was not Alec Baldwin. that was Phil Hartman as the doctor. Unless Alec played the reporter interviewing him but I think not. I like catching the really odd flash in the pan hosts. I saw an older episode recently that had one of the supporting cast from Melrose Place.. not one of the stars mind you but a supporting cast member and not even one who went on to be a bigger star. I last saw this actress as a minor role on a cop show 4 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/37 "2007-12-28T22:10:42Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] Funny or not, that strikes me as extremely egotistical/unprofessional, like the shows all about him. Then again, in that era, it was probably best for him to hog the spotlight… [/QUOTE] I haven’t seen the episode, but I wonder if the line was intentional, playing off of Rickles’ persona. Remember the Garry Shandling one where he’d keep breaking character and talking to the audience (like on It’s Garry Shandling’s Show), and the cast would get all upset because he was ruining the sketches? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/38 "2007-12-28T22:29:43Z")
[QUOTE=ArizonaTeach] I haven’t seen the episode, but I wonder if the line was intentional, playing off of Rickles’ persona. [/QUOTE] Indeed. Rickles is a grouchy old bastard, and this (and the SNL bit) is exactly the sort of thing he’d do to get laughs. Not that I know his stand-up that well, but from what I know of him it fits. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/39 "2007-12-29T01:28:57Z")
[QUOTE=Push You Down] I am 99% sure that THAT was not Alec Baldwin. that was Phil Hartman as the doctor. Unless Alec played the reporter interviewing him but I think not. [/QUOTE] If I recall, Bill Murray was in the sketch as the father, so I guess he was hosting. I thought Robert Wagner was surprisingly funny. (That one included “Night of the Masturbating Zombies”: “Sir, we got a bunch of dead people punchin’ the Munchkin down here!”) I’ve got to give Michael Palin kudos just for putting two cats and a bucket of fish stew in his pants. John Goodman’s always been good. ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399/40 "2007-12-29T02:01:10Z")
its a tie between Justin Timberlake and Brian Williams between most surprising host. I didn’t think either one of them would be good and they made me laugh my ass off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-hosts/431399.md?page=3)