In the world of late-night comedy, one ensemble show remains at the top of its game. Obviously, we’re talking about “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), a show that has been on the air since 1975. Over the years, SNL has received an impressive 270 Emmy nominations and 67 Emmy Awards. Moreover, the show has also been honored twice with the George Foster Peabody Award.
Without a doubt, the secret to SNL’s success is its talented group of cast members. Some of the most famous SNL alums include Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Jason Sudeikis, Andy Samberg, Kristen Wiig, Amy Poehler, Chris Parnell, Maya Rudolph, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, David Spade, Chris Rock, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Bill Murray.
Aside from cast members, SNL is also known for featuring a different guest host each time. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t always turn out right. In fact, here’s a look at 10 of the most disappointing SNL hosts over the years, along with five who are absolutely memorable:
15 Disappointing: Watching Charles Barkley Host Can Make You Cringe
Sure, Charles Barkley was fun to watch on the basketball court when he used to play in the NBA. However, when it comes to performing comedy in front of a live audience, some would argue that Barkley falls short. Critics say that Barkley can sound monotonous at times. And so, you really don’t end up laughing much. Meanwhile, we’re not sure how he ended up hosting SNL four times.
14 Disappointing: Surprisingly, Nancy Kerrigan’s Performance Fell Flat
Just like Charles Barkley, Nancy Kerrigan is a well-known professional athlete, celebrated even. And while she may be incredible to watch on the ice, it seems that she is less talented when delivering comedy. It was way back in 1994 when Kerrigan served as guest host on SNL. But to this day, people can still remember how much of a flop her show was.
13 Memorable: Scarlett Johansson Never Hesitated To Make Fun Of Herself
Today, it seems like Scarlett Johansson is everywhere. On SNL, Johansson has served as a host for a record six times. In the past, she even poked fun at the fact that Black Widow was yet to get a solo movie. Several years later though, Marvel finally decided it was time to make a "Black Widow" film. Guess she can’t joke about that anymore.
12 Disappointing: Justin Bieber Can Sing, But He Can’t Do Comedy
Yes, Justin Bieber is somewhat of a music sensation. However, he’s not fun to be around on SNL. SNL’s Bill Hader recalled Bieber’s staff inconveniencing the cast and crew. He told Howard Stern, “He had a guy holding a slice of pizza, a guy holding a Diet Coke. You're going around the stage and you're trying to fight through all of these people to get dressed.”
11 Disappointing: Lindsay Lohan Struggling The Whole Time Made Her Hard To Watch
Lindsay Lohan may have been a pretty impressive child actress. But she still struggled as an SNL host. A review from The Huffington Post noted that Lohan “wasn’t ready.” It also stated, “It was apparent that the cast and the writers didn't particularly trust her (and why should they?) since they relegated her to backup duty in pretty much every sketch.”
10 Memorable: Melissa McCarthy Made Everyone Laugh Every Single Time She Hosted
Melissa McCarthy is among the top comedians around today. And every time she took to the SNL stage, she showed how brilliantly hilarious she could be. In 2017, McCarthy hosted the show for a fifth time and once again, got rave reviews. In fact, she cleverly portrayed the role of the former White House Press Secretary.
9 Disappointing: Paris Hilton Is One Of Worst SNL Hosts On Record
Several years ago, Paris Hilton was a reality star who was tapped to become an SNL host. However, this proved to be a really bad decision. As Fey had told Howard Stern, “The people at 'SNL' were like, 'Maybe she'll be fun, maybe she won't take herself so seriously.' She takes herself so seriously!” She also said that Hilton is “unbelievably dumb and so proud of how dumb she is.”
8 Disappointing: Paula Abdul Was Clearly Not Happy With Her Hosting Stint
Paula Abdul may be a talented singer and dancer, but she struggles when it comes to sketch comedy. Recalling Abdul’s time hosting, Fey told Playboy magazine that the former “American Idol” judge was “disastrous … in the way she generally appears to be” and “awful.” She also noted that Abdul looked like she wasn’t having a good time on the show.
7 Memorable: Steve Martin Is A Member Of The “Five Timers Club” Because He’s That Good
Steve Martin is one actor who has had the honor of hosting SNL 15 times. His first hosting was way back in 1976. Since then, he has reportedly appeared in as many as 27 one-off sketches on the show. Some of his most memorable roles include a singing & dancing King Tut and a medieval barber.
6 Disappointing: Steven Seagal Looked Every Bit Arrogant
Steven Seagal hosted SNL in 1991. During a 2009 appearance on the ‘Tonight Show,’ former cast member Tim Meadows recalled, “The biggest problem with Steven Seagal was that he would complain about jokes that he didn't get, so it was like — you can't explain something to somebody in German if they don't speak German. He just wasn't funny and he was very critical of the cast and the writing staff.”
