Live from New York... Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Best Saturday Night Live Hosts!
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00:00 I put my pants on just like the rest of you, one leg at a time.
00:04 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 best Saturday Night Live hosts.
00:10 I love you!
00:11 I love you too.
00:12 We'll be focusing on people who haven't previously been cast members or otherwise worked on the show.
00:18 Number 20, Paul Rudd.
00:20 Her hair has too many shrimps in it.
00:22 I'm sorry, did you say shrimp?
00:27 By her ears are shrimp.
00:29 Paul Rudd is famous for being seemingly ageless, and his SNL appearances never get old either.
00:34 The actor, known for playing Ant-Man and appearing in comedy classics like Clueless and Anchorman,
00:39 is unsurprisingly great on the Studio 6H stage.
00:42 In his debut episode, Rudd proved himself as a host willing to commit to a sketch.
00:47 Hey Dwayne, this is my roommate Kevin.
00:50 Hey, nice to meet you. You actually hang out with this loser?
00:52 Hey, come here.
00:53 And since then, he's only gotten better.
00:56 Rudd's everyman charisma and comic timing make him a natural in this setting.
01:00 Even for his fifth time, filmed without an audience due to a coronavirus outbreak, he still delivered.
01:06 And we have no doubt that Rudd has more great hosting gigs to come.
01:10 I'm Santa! I make the rules!
01:13 Number 19, Paul Simon.
01:15 I mean, I'm not gonna change anything. I gotta stay with my strengths.
01:19 Basically, singing and songwriting.
01:23 We got another Paul!
01:24 However, this one is better known for his music.
01:27 Paul Simon has appeared on SNL as a musical guest multiple times.
01:30 And four of those times, he's pulled double duty.
01:34 It shouldn't come as a surprise that Simon is comfortable in front of a live audience.
01:38 But he's such a natural at this, you might think he had another career as a comedian.
01:42 I think you're thinking of Neil Simon, aren't you? The playwright. Neil Simon.
01:46 And you're Paul Simon.
01:48 Though he's known for writing some pretty serious songs,
01:51 Simon adapts perfectly to the rhythms of any sketch he's in.
01:54 It's been more than 30 years since Simon's last time hosting SNL.
01:58 But we'd absolutely welcome a return from him.
02:00 I am pretty deadly.
02:02 Number 18, Betty White.
02:04 I recall my childhood in rural Kansas.
02:07 I was born to tears!
02:09 'Til all of a sudden, a twister hit.
02:11 It carried me to a magical land full of witches and wizards.
02:16 Is that what you want? Is it?
02:19 Betty White only hosted SNL once, but it was such an amazing effort, we have to include her.
02:24 Hosting thanks in part to a successful social media campaign,
02:27 the legendary actress and comedian showed just how much of an impact she could still make.
02:32 When I first heard about the campaign to get me to host Saturday Night Live,
02:36 I didn't know what Facebook was.
02:40 And now that I do know what it is, I have to say, it sounds like a huge waste of time.
02:47 Though White, then 88 years old, may have been the oldest host in SNL history,
02:52 she had more energy than hosts half her age or more.
02:55 And unsurprisingly, the rest of the cast, including multiple returning alums, are on their A-game as well.
03:01 White won an Emmy for this episode and reminded us of an invaluable lesson.
03:06 You're only as old as you feel.
03:08 No, no, my muffin hasn't had a cherry since 1939.
03:13 Number 17, Adam Driver.
03:16 What does an oil baron do?
03:18 The answer?
03:20 Crush your enemies!
03:22 Drain their bones into dirt!
03:25 Make them regret they were ever born!
03:28 Adam Driver has come to be recognized as one of the best actors of his generation,
03:32 reaping countless awards and nominations with undoubtedly more to come.
03:36 And his SNL hosting stints show just how much range he has.
03:40 In all of his times as host,
03:42 Driver's dedication to each and every sketch has been absolutely inspiring.
03:46 A buddy of mine saw Kylo Ren take his shirt off in the shower,
03:49 and he said that Kylo Ren had an eight-pack.
03:52 That Kylo Ren was shredded.
03:53 Whether riffing on his role in Star Wars or playing a particularly unhinged career day speaker,
03:59 Driver gives it his all from beginning to end.
04:02 We almost wonder if there's any limit to his abilities.
04:05 If there is, we have not seen it.
04:07 And when your children asks, "Who killed this putrid king?"
04:11 "No, no, no, no, no!"
04:12 "Tell them it was I, Cameron Bissell,
04:16 "Static Astra eligible!"
04:18 You know, I want to remind you guys that in Webster's Dictionary,
04:23 defines evil as profoundly immoral.
04:26 We know what evil means.
04:28 Well, it doesn't seem like you do, 'cause you built a freeze ray.
04:31 It wasn't just his muscles that made Dwayne Johnson such a star in the wrestling ring.
04:35 The entertainer, once better known as The Rock,
04:38 has presence that's all but unignorable.
04:41 And his charisma translates seamlessly to SNL.
04:44 "I'm gonna rip this guy apart!
04:46 "And I mean psychologically!"
04:48 Though many sketches successfully mine comedy from his physicality,
04:52 we also have to applaud his ability to immerse himself in a character no matter what.
04:56 And his versatility means he can play an assortment of roles like the pro that he is.
05:01 We can smell what The Rock is cooking whenever he's on SNL.
05:04 And we always want more.
05:06 "Now it's time for them to pay...
05:08 ...dearly."
05:12 "The bed must be on the floor!
05:17 "The bed is on my foot!"
05:20 Richard Pryor made history as the first black SNL host.
05:23 And his appearance was also the first episode aired with a tape delay,
05:27 due to the comedian's penchant for unpredictability.
05:30 Hosting the show's seventh episode,
05:32 Pryor's subversive and daring style helped SNL's image as anything but a typical variety show.
05:37 One sketch in particular, co-starring Chevy Chase,
05:40 is still considered one of the show's best ever.
05:42 "How about a starting salary of $5,000?"
05:44 "Yo mama!"
05:46 "Uh, $7,500 a year."
05:50 "Yo friend!"
05:51 He only hosted a single time.
05:53 But it was truly an event to remember.
05:56 If you want to understand why so many comedians cite Pryor as an influence,
06:00 just watch this episode.
06:02 "Uh, hope I'm funny."
06:04 "Did Candace find true love? Who knows? Who cares? Shut up!"
06:10 Paul Rudd isn't the only Avenger to make an impression on the SNL stage.
06:14 Scarlett Johansson has hosted numerous times, and she always brings it.
06:18 Though her movie roles are typically quite dramatic,
06:21 Johansson is a sketch writer's dream.
06:23 There's seemingly no role that's too broad for her to handle.
06:26 And she gives even the most seasoned cast members a run for their money.
06:29 Even after six hosting gigs, she keeps impressing us with her range.
06:33 "Okay, great. Here is your blanket. What will you be for Halloween this year?"
06:38 "What?"
06:39 "I'm going as Red Riding Hood from Into the Woods."
06:42 An incredibly accomplished performer going all the way back to her childhood,
06:46 Johansson makes any episode of SNL a must-watch.
06:49 "Oh my God, a Land Rover? I said I wanted a Range Rover,
06:53 through that hideous Morrison's car in the trash. I am leaving."
06:58 "Robin Williams, take one."
07:00 "Marty, it's getting heavy in here. Oh, yes. Oh, 1.21 gigawatts."
07:05 By now, Jon Hamm's comedic chops are firmly established.
07:09 But when we primarily knew him from Mad Men,
07:11 we had no idea that he was capable of making us laugh this hard.
07:15 Hosting the show three times between 2008 and 2010,
07:18 he's shown just how far his talents go.
07:21 He's even capable of holding down a sketch all by himself.
07:24 "And unlike other bathroom ham dispensers, Jon Hamm's Jon Hamm
07:28 has only the finest boar's head oven-roasted ham."
07:31 And while Don Draper might take himself very seriously,
07:34 Hamm is totally game for all kinds of shenanigans.
07:38 Whether wearing a tailored suit or dressing decidedly down,
07:41 Jon Hamm's presence is sure to improve any sketch.
07:44 "I go through life like a cockroach in the dirt.
07:48 You people make me sick."
07:53 "My body's gonna feel nasty after I scarf this fat, mushy, stinky burger
08:00 and wash it down with this frosty, dumbass beer."
08:04 When Emma Stone first hosted SNL in 2010,
08:07 she was still something of a rising star.
08:09 And her debut episode only made that star shine even brighter.
08:12 The future Oscar winner was immediately a natural fit for this comedic institution.
08:17 And every subsequent hosting gig has shown her honing her talents further.
08:21 She's able to make us crack up with just a single perfect expression
08:24 or hilariously delivered line.
08:26 It's also readily apparent just how invested she is in every sketch she's in.
08:30 Watch any episode of SNL hosted by Stone,
08:33 and you will see why she's become such a beloved talent.
08:36 "Wake up Santa, get out of my bed.
08:39 It's time to deliver those presents."
08:42 "Then it hit me. That's it.
08:46 All beautiful for spacious skies.
08:50 I looked down, sure enough, there's amber waves of gray."
08:55 Danny DeVito certainly didn't need to host SNL to be recognized as a comedic genius,
08:59 but we're sure glad he did anyway.
09:01 He's hosted five times, six if you count his co-hosting with spouse Rhea Perlman.
09:06 Just like with his movie and sitcom roles,
09:08 DeVito has an inimitable energy that can kick the quality of any sketch up several notches.
09:13 "Oh man, this next page, I don't believe what I'm looking at."
09:18 And he also gives his fellow performers plenty to work with.
09:22 The last time DeVito hosted SNL was all the way back in 1999,
09:26 and we can only hope his hosting days are not over just yet.
09:29 "Did it just get warmer in here again? Maybe."
09:33 Early in her career, this actress performed with famous Los Angeles sketch troupe The Gramblings,
09:47 so obviously, Melissa McCarthy has the necessary improv chops to hang with SNL's best.
09:53 She's played Sean Spicer to perfection with her sensational physical comedy,
09:57 and the portrayal even led to a Primetime Emmy Award.
10:00 "Now I'd like to begin today by apologizing on behalf of you to me."
10:08 Meanwhile, her original characters showcase her comedic versatility and ability to go with the flow.
10:13 Melissa is loud but charming, which makes her a dynamic, unforgettable host,
10:18 one that SNL continues to call on for special appearances.
10:21 "This is my dad, and this is me over his dead body screaming, 'No!'"
10:29 "Well then take my ticket here. What? You really want to go? Well, both of you go, that's alright."
10:38 In contrast to Melissa McCarthy's in-your-face style of comedy,
10:41 this old-school icon takes a more subtle approach.
10:44 Back in the late 70s, Buck Henry's dry humor was so captivating,
10:47 that he was asked to host the season finale four years in a row.
10:51 "And it is the 103rd time that I've hosted."
10:55 Considering SNL's gallery of wacky characters,
10:57 Henry is the perfect straight man for sketches about social outcasts.
11:01 Some of his finest moments will creep you out in that hilariously awkward kind of way,
11:06 while others display Buck's raw comedic talent.
11:09 Either way, he is guaranteed to make you laugh.
11:12 "Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!"
11:15 "I love John Silver, I'm gonna search you farther than you can!"
11:18 "Search me, search me, search me!"
11:20 "Well, we'd like to show you another one of Mr. Mainway's products.
11:25 It retails for $1.98 and it's called 'Bag of Glass'."
11:30 This model-turned-actress is known for her extensive film and television work.
11:34 What you may not realize, however, is that Candace Bergen is the daughter of comedian Edgar Bergen,
11:39 and she clearly shares his penchant for humor.
11:42 "It's safe for everything, even tarnished diamonds. With only one dunk..."
11:46 "New tarn off, eats up tarnish, leaves your crown sparkling."
11:51 Bergen set a high bar for all hosts on SNL, and she was also the first woman to host.
11:57 In sketches, Candace plays it cool,
11:59 and is able to match some of the series' most accomplished cast members beat for beat.
12:03 Over the years, she's often returned, making her not just a memorable guest host,
12:07 but one of the series' most influential and relatable hosts.
12:11 "And we think it's going to be...we think it's going to be...a very exciting show,
12:17 and we'll be back after this film message."
12:30 Speaking of relatable performers, this American actress has been in the public eye since childhood.
12:35 Oh, and Drew Barrymore also comes from a Hollywood family.
12:38 She makes it look easy on stage, and she's an old pro too,
12:42 as she actually hosted in 1982 at only 7 years old.
12:46 "And someone says I can go to the arcade, I say, 'Terrific, anytime.'"
12:52 While Drew can hold her own with original characters, it's the celebrity impressions that stand out most.
12:57 She may be America's sweetheart, but she will kill you with her kind demeanor
13:01 and her extraordinary knack for comedic timing.
13:04 "Calysta Flockhart, with an amazing negative $58,000. Good job."
13:09 "Thank you."
13:11 "Hey, and what's the matter with those guys on Miami Vice?
13:16 Those guys, they never wear any socks. I mean, guys, what's the big deal?"
13:22 Everybody loves this American icon,
13:24 so much so that he acknowledged himself as America's father during a 2016 monologue.
13:29 "You know, um, magazine cover recently called me America's dad.
13:35 And I would have preferred Sexiest Man Alive, but I will take it."
13:41 Long before Tom Hanks became an Oscar winner, he was a comedic veteran of the SNL stage.
13:46 Like Drew Barrymore, he's got a gift for astute celebrity impressions,
13:50 but he's also capable of stepping away from the script for bizarre zany characters.
13:54 Remember, this is Bosom Buddies' Buffy Wilson we're talking about.
13:58 He puts the audience at ease, only to flip the script with his vast range of comedic quirks.
14:03 "What's my name?"
14:05 "David S. Pumpkins!"
14:08 "Any questions?"
14:10 Number 5. John Goodman.
14:12 [Music]
14:15 Back in 1980, this extraordinary character failed to make the Saturday Night Live cut,
14:20 but John Goodman nonetheless became a series legend.
14:24 With his larger-than-life nature, he can play overbearing and aggressive characters,
14:28 and he's also got the personality to channel his feminine side, too.
14:31 Remember Linda Tripp?
14:33 "Apparently, it's against the law in the state of Maryland, and they want to prosecute me for it."
14:39 And while Goodman's not afraid of going over the top, he can pull things back if he needs to,
14:44 always playing off his fellow SNL performers.
14:47 If Tom Hanks is America's dad, then John Goodman is America's hilarious uncle.
14:53 "Oh, God. My wife's here. And everyone from work. Do they think this is dumb?"
15:00 Number 4. Justin Timberlake.
15:02 [Music]
15:07 Some performers just have that special X-factor,
15:10 and this superstar is one of those blessed individuals.
15:13 Justin Timberlake obviously brings some hip appeal to the SNL stage,
15:17 but he keeps people tuned in with his magnetic personality and triple-threat skill set.
15:22 "I'm just here to do the comedy thing, and I'm not gonna sing tonight."
15:27 "Not gonna do that thing where my voice goes high!"
15:31 He always seems one step ahead during sketches,
15:33 leaving viewers curious if he'll stay on script or improvise.
15:37 "When my great-great-grandson will bring sexy back."
15:40 Plus, Justin also seems to be having the time of his life,
15:43 resulting in several hilarious moments that keep Saturday Night Live in the headlines.
15:48 "Excuse me, can we talk about the students, please?
15:51 They were put in real danger by our principal. That man, right over there!"
15:56 "Excuse me, that is absolutely not true!"
15:58 "And that's the news. Stay tuned for Playhouse 90 with Lee J. God. Thank you."
16:02 Number 3 - Christopher Walken
16:04 "I got a fever! And the only prescription is more cowbell!"
16:09 If Justin Timberlake makes the audience comfortable, then this man does the exact opposite.
16:14 Still, Christopher Walken brings a strange sense of effortless cool to SNL
16:18 with his intellectual comedy and subdued technique.
16:21 "At lunch, you're gonna treat yourself to a vanilla ice cream.
16:25 You're gonna eat it too fast. You're gonna get an ice cream headache."
16:31 Like John Goodman, Walken excels during bizarre scenarios,
16:34 whether he's asking for more cowbell or breaking the fourth wall as the Continental.
16:39 "Throw champagne in my face once. Shame on you!"
16:44 Plus, his unorthodox manner of speech always keeps the cast members on their toes,
16:49 as they wonder which way Walken will go.
16:51 He's a true original that brings out the best in other performers.
16:55 "Now, I've been begging her to try Shin-Chi Shin-Chi for months.
17:00 She'd refused on the grounds that it was unclean."
17:04 Number 2 - Alec Baldwin
17:06 "I bet Nixon only got one scoop of ice cream for dessert, but I get two scoops, okay? Two scoops, two scoops."
17:12 Younger Saturday Night Live fans surely recognize this actor for his exaggerated Donald Trump impression.
17:18 But Alec Baldwin is no one-trick pony, as he's one of the most versatile celebrities to ever host.
17:23 And, he's hosted more times than anybody else as of 2018.
17:27 "Well, there's no beating my balls.
17:29 [Laughter]
17:31 They're made from a secret, sweaty family recipe."
17:34 Alec's run began in 1990, as he mixed celebrity impressions with oddball characters
17:39 to complement the likes of oddball comics such as Chris Farley and Adam Sandler.
17:43 "Canteen boy, would you, uh, rub some bug repellent on my chest?"
17:50 He's a true professional, someone that raises the bar by staying on point with each and every sketch.
17:56 And of course, he isn't afraid of doing political impersonations.
18:00 "Kiss my-" "Kiss my ass!"
18:02 "I was gonna say kiss my baby!"
18:05 "He cursed out a baby!"
18:07 "He did, he swore at an infant!"
18:09 "I couldn't see who it was, I didn't know!"
18:11 While Baldwin has gone through some serious challenges in recent years,
18:15 his work on SNL will always be cherished.
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18:33 Number 1. Steve Martin
18:36 "Live from New York!
18:38 Line!
18:41 It's Saturday night!"
18:47 [Music]
18:51 This comedy icon has been with Saturday Night Live since the beginning.
18:55 In fact, some people may actually believe that Steve Martin is an original cast member.
19:00 In the early days, he helped put SNL on the map with his improv comedy and purely original characters.
19:06 All the while creating pop culture moments before going viral was even a thing.
19:11 [Music]
19:20 With his extraordinary ability to simply entertain, Steve makes SNL must-watch TV whenever he hosts.
19:27 He is a comedic genius and clearly enjoys seeing people chuckle at the silliest of things.
19:33 "Don't come crawling to us to have fashion models from the Fox Bar will be here soon to give themselves to the Festronk Brothers!"
19:42 Who's your all-time favorite SNL host? Tell us in the comments.
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19:54 [Music]