Saturday Night Live: 14 Comedians Who Somehow Still Haven’t Hosted

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Saturday Night Live: 14 Comedians Who Somehow Still Haven’t Hosted

An SNL hosting position has been used to honor and recognize great work by fellow comedians and actors for decades, and sometimes its just given to musicians or politicians with zero acting experience. In the show's storied history there have been hundreds of hosts, but somehow the following 15 comedy greats have not had their turn in the 30 Rock spotlight.

Weird Al Yankovic

UHF Weird Al

Imagine Entertainment

A career that spans four decades, continually winning Grammys, and dominating the comedy charts with every release. Not one host spot. Not one musical guest appearance. Not one cameo. I will not sleep, I will not eat, I will not breathe until this injustice is rectified. 

Eugene Levy

Eugen levy Best In Show

Warner Bros.

A masterful sketch background and immensely popular TV and movie roles over the years would make you assume that Eugene Levy has hosted the show, but when he was slated to host in 1985 alongside John Candy, a writer’s strike canceled the gig. He did appear alongside his son as a cameo when Dan Levy hosted, but before we recognize the newcomers, let's recognize the greats and get Eugene another spot A.S.A.P..

Sacha Baron Cohen

The actor/comedian/writer/director has appeared on the show as Borat and his character from The Dictator, but somehow, he still hasn't had his time in the sun on the main stage. If Rudy Giuliani gets to host, Sacha should get the chance, too.

Bob Odenkirk

Why SNL isn’t utilizing all these people with an already genius-level understanding of sketch comedy as hosts blows my mind. Bob Odenkirk, a former SNL writer, now has mainstream success and acclaim deserving of an SNL host spot. Also, who doesn’t want to feel the rush of more Mr.Show-esque content?

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling

CBS

Mindy Kaling has proven herself as a writer and a comedy frontwoman over her career, so it seems so surprising that she hasn’t been given the opportunity to host the show. She was however offered a position as a writer on SNL while working at The Office, which she refused. Perhaps SNL is still a little salty. 

Wanda Sykes

Comedic genius Wanda Sykes has never had her chance to give a killer SNL monologue despite her long career and beyond-proven comedic talent. Although she has said in an interview that if she were given the chance to be perform on SNL she would “only play white characters” and in her first sketch she would be “Dame Judi Dench.” 

John Cleese

John Cleese

Python Monty

Maybe Cleese has no interest in hosting, or maybe SNL feels they’re undeserving of asking, but it still seems so surprising that he’s never graced the stage as host. He’s a messiah in the world of sketch comedy so it seems fair that anyone would feel like an idiot pitching him a sketch, but he certainly would bring in the viewers, and some top tier sketch ideas.

Nick Offerman

Nick Offerman’s comedy chops are laser-focused, and he’s proven himself on his live tours and specials, and of course his role as Ron Swanson on Parks and Rec. Here’s a freebie idea for SNL: An SNL episode hosted by husband and wife team, Offerman and Megan Mullally.

Christopher Guest

While Spinal Tap was featured as a musical guest on SNL near the time of its release, Guest himself has never hosted the show. His comedy upbringing alongside much of the cast like Gilda Radner, John Belushi, and Chevy Chase, not to mention his own time as a cast member, would make you think he’d be welcomed back to host. Especially when his projects like Best In Show, Waiting For Guffman, and A Mighty Wind became such comedy classics.

Carol Burnett

Carol Burnett

NBC

Carol Burnett has never hosted Saturday night live. I repeat, Carol Burnett has never hosted Saturday night live. I know this may be another example of a fear of writing for comedy royalty, but it seems like the comedienne would have been a great host pick for any season of the show. Burnette herself even told Larry King she would host if she was asked.

Billy Eichner

Billy Eichner has a large fanbase from Billy On The Street and Parks and Rec but has also been recently taking on leading man roles like in his new film Bros. Although he hasn't been on the show yet, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him host very soon.

Whoopie Goldberg

Whoopie Goldberg Sister Act

Disney

Even at the height of her career, Whoopie Goldberg didn’t have her well-deserved host spot on Saturday Night Live. We’ll see if she ever gets the chance, but with her recently being in hot water over some anti-Semitic comments, I think the chances are slim.

Amy Sedaris

Amy Sedaris

truTV

Amy Sedaris has been a staple in the comedy New York comedy scene for so long that it feels just plain wrong that she hasn’t been given the chance to host, not to mention that it would surely be a home-run episode. Sedaris was offered a spot on the cast in 1995 however, but she said she was too happy in the play she was performing in at the time.

Ellie Kemper

Ellie Kemper

Netflix

With her ties to Tina Fey, sketch comedy training, and roles in The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt you would think Ellie Kemper would have hosted by now, but perhaps when her next big role comes in, we’ll see her on that stage.

Who do you think should be added to the list who hasn't been given a shot yet? 

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