# Why hasn't Woody Allen ever hosted- or at least done a brief cameo on- SNL? It would be cool **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** talk-variety-show\ **Created:** [June 3, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439 "2024-06-03T15:02:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [June 3, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/21 "2024-06-03T16:15:58Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > discomfort with the live, sketch nature of the show [“You mean it all goes into the camera lens and then just spills out into people’s houses? Why did nobody have the goodness to explain this to me before?”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTbLkYmWZJo) ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/22 "2024-06-03T16:17:09Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Beyond that, he belongs to a much earlier generation of entertainers than what is relevant today. Seriously. The generation that has some love for his in front of the camera movies is my age and older. Whatever his creep factor or the truth behind them, SNL wants to appeal to a younger crowd and that crowd has little familiarity with why he was funny in his time. Paying homage to, and appealing to the nostalgia of older folk who have history with SNL is enough for my old fart demographic of watchers. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/23 "2024-06-03T16:35:13Z")
Did Woody Allen do stand up comedy early in his career? I only know him for writing, directing and acting in his own projects. He’s always been reclusive. Especially since the controversy with his last marriage. I always thought of Woody primarily as a writer that reluctantly performed his own material. He wouldn’t fit well with live sketch comedy. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/24 "2024-06-03T16:39:00Z")
Supposedly he was a very funny Stand-Up comic, ironically his first comedy album lost out on the Grammy to Bill Cosby. The bits I’ve seen or heard have not held up at all. He was no Bob Newhart, Mays & Nichols, Bill Cosby or 2000 year old man. He started as a comedy writer, I think his first real gig was for Sid Caesar’s Caesar’s Hour. A follow-up to the Show of Shows. Here he worked with Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Larry Gelbart & Neil Simon among others. He did Stand-up from 1960-1969. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/25 "2024-06-03T16:40:17Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Did Woody Allen do stand up comedy early in his career? Yes, as in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJZ7\_fvcW58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJZ7_fvcW58) . ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/26 "2024-06-03T16:42:45Z")
He began submitting jokes to comedians when he was 15. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/27 "2024-06-03T17:00:58Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > They don’t need the money. They would only get no more than $20,000, I think. It’s not worth it. That sounds very high. Justin Timberlake said he got $5,000. More recently Shane Gillis said publicly he got paid $5,000. Alec Baldwin is said to make $1,500 to do one sketch as Trump. Famously Lorne Michaels offered the Beatles $3,000 to appear. The $3,000 was the standard host pay for the time. So no, stars aren’t doing it for the money. They are either trying to promote a project or they want the challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/28 "2024-06-03T17:08:04Z")
I’m not sure the OP meant Woody should do a hosting job _now_, but why not in the 70s? I think that’s a good question. (And I guess the answer is, he didn’t want to. Which is fine.) He didn’t have his baggage then. Early seasons had some unfunny hosts (even some of the ones who were actually comedians. but that’s subjective,) Paul Simon? (twice! sucked both times) Hugh Hefner (one of the worst eps ever)? Julian Bond? Ron Nessen? Ralph Nader? OJ? WTF And of course, let us not forget Miskel Spillman. Even if I did! With all that, Woody Allen could have fit right in. He could have had one of Buck Henry’s 150 hosting gigs. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/29 "2024-06-03T17:11:47Z")
> **Summary** > > > [@TJEckleburg](#): > > > > Yes, he’s had his fair share of controversies > > That’s quite the understatement of child sex abuse. And he didn’t just groom and abuse the child. He further guilted her into marrying him to save him from those who would accept it as some sort of bandaid. He has subjugated her entire life into his own pleasure and convenience. > > He is utterly repugnant to any person of conscience. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/30 "2024-06-03T17:20:01Z")
> **Summary** > > They didn’t live together and by all accounts first met briefly when she was 17. Their relationship started when she was 20. Gross to be sure, horribly uneven power dynamic but not child sex abuse. Not with her anyway. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/31 "2024-06-03T17:21:39Z")
> **Summary** > > > [@aceplace57](#): > > > > He’s always been reclusive. Especially since the controversy with his last marriage. Very reclusive. He never attended the Oscars except with the exception of the one after 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/32 "2024-06-03T17:26:33Z")
> **Summary** > > He married Soon-Yi in 1997. A 27 relationship indicates this was more than a middle-aged fling. I don’t know anything else about it but for Hollywood thats pretty successful. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/33 "2024-06-03T17:26:40Z")
Closed on June 3, 2024, 5:26pm UTC ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/34 "2024-06-03T17:27:55Z")
**Moderating** : I’m going to stop the Woody Allen Soon-Yi debate now. It has been covered to death in prior threads and we don’t need to go down this road again. It is a reason to not want to see him, but arguing over the details is not for this thread. I hid the 4 posts related. If you want to have this conversation, start it in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/35 "2024-06-03T17:31:46Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I’m not sure the OP meant Woody should do a hosting job _now_, but why not in the 70s? I think that’s a good question. (And I guess the answer is, he didn’t want to. Which is fine.) He didn’t have his baggage then. > > Early seasons had some unfunny hosts (even some of the ones who were actually comedians. but that’s subjective,) Paul Simon? (twice! sucked both times) Hugh Hefner (one of the worst eps ever)? Julian Bond? Ron Nessen? Ralph Nader? OJ? WTF > > And of course, let us not forget Miskel Spillman. Even if I did! > > With all that, Woody Allen could have fit right in. He could have had one of Buck Henry’s 150 hosting gigs. In the beginning SNL really didn’t know what to do with the hosts. Being the host wasn’t made out to be a big deal like it is now. By the time SNL had the formula down Woody had moved away from broad comedy and was making more art house movies and more subtle comedies. _Annie Hall_ came out in 1977. By then it had been about 10 years since he was on stage. I’m sure he could have been as good as most of the hosts and better than some but it doesn’t feel like it fits in with what he was doing at the time. While SNL was getting on its feet Woody was writing and then directing and starring in what is arguably his best movie. He was busy. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/36 "2024-06-03T17:52:23Z")
Opened on June 3, 2024, 5:52pm UTC This topic was automatically opened after 22 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/37 "2024-06-03T17:56:03Z")
Much of his stuff is on YouTube. And quite good, I’ll add. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/38 "2024-06-03T18:15:21Z")
I would be surprised if he wasn’t at least _asked_ to host in the 70s but after that he was beyond doing mere television at that point in his career. As a standup comedian, he was quite funny in his day if you bought into his “Woody Allen” persona, the sexually frustrated New York nebbish. I have a double-LP of him doing standup in the 1960s and his act was very funny, but I already knew him from his infrequent TV talk show appearances and his early movies. “Take the Money and Run,” “Bananas” and “Sleeper” are hilarious, IMHO. Much later, “The Purple Rose of Cairo” and “Radio Days” (in which he does not appear in either) are real gems. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/39 "2024-06-03T18:39:41Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Well stated. This is pretty much my position on him. A celebrity from a different time with baggage that would not be overly welcome today. And a comedian who was very funny in the 60’s and 70’s but hasn’t been at all funny for decades. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439/40 "2024-06-03T18:51:43Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > That sounds very high. You’re right. I was just guessing based on the amount that I read that some hosts got years ago, adjusted for inflation. So it’s even less than I guessed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-woody-allen-ever-hosted-or-at-least-done-a-brief-cameo-on-snl-it-would-be-cool/1002439.md?page=3)