Top 20 Surprisingly Good SNL Hosts

A lot of celebrities have hidden comic talents! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most unexpectedly successful hosts in the show’s history. Our countdown includes hosts Taylor Swift, Charles Barkley, Jon Hamm and more! Did we forget another unlikely host that knocked it out of the park? Let us know in the comments below.
Check out these other SNL themed videos:
20 Most Ruthless SNL Celebrity Impressions: • 20 Most Ruthless SNL C...
These SNL Moments Were Too Awkward...: • These SNL Moments Were...
Top 20 SNL Feuds: • Top 20 SNL Feuds
Become a channel member to get access to special perks:
/ @watchmojo
Don't forget to play our Live Trivia games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!: www.watchmojo.com/play
Have your idea become a video!
wmojo.com/suggest
Subscribe for more great content!
wmojo.com/watchmojo-subscribe
Visit our shop for awesome merch!
shop.watchmojo.com/
Your trusted authority for Top 10 lists, reviews, tips and tricks, biographies, origins, and entertainment news
#snl #comedy #hosts #sketches #taylorswift #justintimberlake #therock

[@WatchMojo]

Did we forget another unlikely host that knocked it out of the park? Let us know in the comments below. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHq0f4Omh7VkjLs Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!

[@crigamon]

Adam Driver is really surprinsingly hilarious, even as Kylo Ren. Is really really funny! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@erzaender]

kristen stewart, adam driver and travis kelce

[@maryfranfrawley5343]

Melissa McCarthy

[@jennlecher5604]

JIM CAREY!! He was the best they ever had!!

[@PezPirate]

Garth Brooks.... I am NOT a fan of his music, but he had several sketches that were hysterical. The cowboy that moisturizes, the old French whore, who is more grizzled.... I expected NOTHING and got a great show.

[@aaronwashington5721]

Chadwick Boseman had the best black jeopardy ever , Michael B. Jordan had the ultimate Jake from state farm hands down

[@siguardvolsung]

A close second to Tom Hanks.

[@imani6441]

RIP to Chadwick but Tom Hanks had the funniest black jeopardy hands down

[@dietotaku]

the best part of rami malek's impression of pete davidson is that he was sitting right next to pete davidson playing rami malek. i love when they switch up the host and the cast impressions like that.

[@Sjrick]

You should listen to Dan Soders impression of PD. It is dead on !!! Completely different than Maleks.

[@tjwash5118]

How is Seth MacFarlane even on this list? Seth being a good host is no surprise, he’s been writing and performing comedy for decades.

[@bunkertons]

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[@christophergarza9118]

@@bunkertonsI 3rd that!

[@samanthajohnson2080]

Could not agree more. He is literally a comedian and has hosted multiple Comedy Central roasts. So many other people were actually surprisingly good.

[@fatovamingus]

I know right? It's like saying that I'm surprisingly good at eating too much and then feeling like shit before I go to bed.

[@yungkidnf]

Right, he's an absolute showman. It shouldn't be any surprise that he can helm a sketch comedy show.

[@AntonXul]

How quick you guys forget about Pedro Pascal. That dude killed it.

[@dapineaple]

I thought the same thing before realizing the criteria was "surprisingly" good hosts. I knew Pedro would kill it.

[@elleohell3]

it was expected that he’d be a great host tho, nothing surprising that he made a stellar performance

[@common_c3nts]

1000 times better than that shitty thee stalon women. She was not funny.

[@Jakuboooooooooo]

@@dapineaple yea but Seth MacFarlane is on here too, and he was obviously gonna kill it too

[@dapineaple]

@@Jakuboooooooooo eh. I'm not a fan of Seth MacFarlane's humor and that episode was a meh for me.

[@BrokeredHeart]

I'm surprised that Betty White isn't on here. The first stint she did on SNL at age 88 was seen as a massive career comeback for her, and it endeared her to a whole new audience. Maybe it wasn't "surprising" enough as she was a familiar comedic actor, but sketch comedy is a different beast, and for a woman of her age to be so goofy and be embraced so seamlessly into the cast was delightful.

[@dietotaku]

talking about her dusty, crusty muffin that hasn't had a cherry since '38 was LEGENDARY

[@Paineinyourblank]

her spin on the Thank you for being a friend song was perfection

[@thegoodfight8316]

Everything Betty did was absolute gold!!! RIP ☝️

[@confidentmystic]

But is anyone surprised Betty White was a great host though?

[@ElizabethT45]

@@dietotaku ICONIC

[@ArataShizunai]

I love Adam Driver, i love how he’s completely in his role in one of his sketches.

[@katiechisholm]

Yes! He fully commits, no matter what!

[@Heathcoatman]

Watching Aidy try to hold it together during that sketch is priceless.

[@themaelstorm]

His oil baron is one of my favorites

[@tedlytle790]

I just saw Adam Driver host a couple of weeks ago, and was taken aback. He was clearly the best actor on stage and never once appeared to be using cue cards. A true professional no matter what the role!

[@lanistutz-lw9ir]

I also think you can tell a lot about a host by how the cast reacts to them and you can tell they just love Adam.

[@ALLENM07]

The “Beep. Beep.” sketch was hilarious.

[@Sara-mf3px]

Yessss!! He commits completely. So funny. 🤣💕🫶

[@pineappledad]

Hamm and Bublé was probably one of the funniest sketches I’ve ever watched lol.

[@washkoskat]

Agreed

[@Mazeboxx]

@liversuccess1420You meant to say Michael Bubbly.

[@lilysparklez3244]

Pedro Pascal should definitely be on this list!! He was one of the funniest hosts I’ve seen in a while, and his la mush mouth accent hospital skit that he created was a masterpiece, although Adam driver was another unexpectedly hilarious host also!!! Love the channel!! ❤

[@snoobins4623]

Amazing host, but I don't know if it was really surprising

[@jamiegdubois]

@@snoobins4623that was why I assumed he wasn’t on the list either. I remember really looking forward to his episode bc I thought it would be good (and it was). Whereas hosts like Billie Eilish, Travis Kelce, and Adele genuinely surprised me at how funny they were!

[@naninolovyou6388]

Pedro ROCKED- He was HILARIOUS! Adam Driver is tied- I just LOVED them bother

[@thewhitelucrezia]

Russell Crowe definitely deserves at least an honorable mention for his hosting job in season 41. Never expected someone who takes their acting so seriously to crush it on SNL like he did.

[@gertpacu3926]

Chance the freaking Rapper.. I have not laughed so hard as his gamer sketch when he stared at the camera with a blank look.

[@katiechisholm]

To be fair, the fact that he takes his acting so seriously is probably _why_ he crushed it on SNL. I understand what you’re saying though…most people wouldn’t expect an actor who makes his kind of movies to also be really good at comedy.

[@katiechisholm]

@@gertpacu3926he’s a great actor!

[@dfresh93086]

Adam Driver was one of the biggest surprises for me. Definitely didn’t expect that after seeing Star Wars and Girls.

[@benitafay]

What about Ryan Gosling? Who could forget the "Papyrus" and Santa sketches?

[@SLow-fb3qm]

Tom Hanks. His Jeopardy was one other best ever sketches.

[@SMALLTOWNREACTIONS]

Adele actually shocked me with her guest spot. Her Africa skit had me dying laughing.

[@KidFresh71]

I liked the Africa skit, but I felt maybe sometimes Adele was faking her "break" of character with all the laughing? Still good.

[@ledelste]

Ooh yes, I remember her as a really good host, deserving of a mention here.

[@misecarp]

Jason Momoa for me, he really leans into some absurd/twisted characters that get me every time. I still occasionally watch the hide and seek sketch.

[@j.foobar1764]

In terms of recent hosts, I was surprised how good of a host that Nate Bargatze was. Yes, he is a comedian, but I would not have predicted that he would do so well with sketch comedy. That was also a good example of the writers creating sketches that played to his strengths.

[@jessicadvorak9876]

omg the George Washington sketch KILLED.

[@Copperyfoxx]

Nate was fantastic. I wasn’t super familiar with him before, but since he absolutely killed it hosting I became an instant fan.

[@Coyotek4]

I'd add Pedro Pasquale to this list

[@gmfitzg]

nope. not even close

[@benjaminmartinez1638]

Everyone expected him to be great

[@Bonbonbon739]

Damn I just posted that lol

[@eolsunder]

yea the topic is, those who were good and you didn't expect them to be. But also a few on this list shouldn't be on the list either. I think pretty much everyone expected Seth, Rock, Hamm, etc to be good. Others? Sure they were good. And a few on this list weren't actually good and shouldn't be on the list for the opposite reason. Kristin? The only thing good about her hosting gig was her in the very sexy dress and hot legs that showed she actually was a stunningly sexy woman instead of the justin bieber dressing woman we all know.

[@MaMvidS45]

I'd say that's less of a surprise

[@luntu.stofile]

The Rock's World's Most Evil Invention skit has to be top 10 of all time. It had me in stitches, broke those stitches and had me in even more stitches on top of where the initial stitches were.

[@jaylene.turner6524]

The late Chadwick Boseman was great hosting SNL.

[@gmfitzg]

no, no he wasn't, sorry

[@francescalittle]

Yeah...he should have been on the list. This list is a bit weird and says a lot about the humor of the person who made it.

[@jasenspeed1906]

Yeah, you guys completely missed Emma Thompson. One of the funniest monologues Delivered in years and actual laugh out loud sketches throughout the whole episode. She was absolutely amazing.

[@DesiVivi]

But she started in sketch comedy, so it was not surprising

[@Idontwant1]

I was going to ask do you mean Emma Stone? What season did Emma Thompson host I just don’t remember her ever hosting? I might be wrong but I don’t recall her being on.

[@DesiVivi]

​@@Idontwant1season 44 episode 20 according to google

[@lisawillis6088]

@@Idontwant1search SNL Etiquette Lesson!

[@vburgan]

@@lisawillis6088 I was ROFL and in tears for that sketch!

[@frankenviews4069]

Grande's job before her singing career was as an actress on a Nickelodeon sit-com. So she was just like going back to her old job when she hosted SNL.

[@joeb.evrythngEclectic5571]

Anyone who can make fun of themselves is a plus in my book

[@AcidCasper17]

I wasn’t expecting a lot from Derek Jeter, Taylor Lautner, Bad Bunny, Ryan Gosling or Chris Hemsworth, but they turned out to be really funny & had awesome episodes.

[@boko7436]

Bad Bunny was NOT good. Been watching SNL for over 45 years, he lacked the one trait that makes the audience want to like you- humility. Plus, he botched about 20 punchlines.

[@AcidCasper17]

@@boko7436 I didn’t notice him botch anything, but given his background is in music & not comedy, I thought he did alright. The monologue & the skit w/ Pedro Pascal was hilarious.

[@kyleellis1825]

Ryan and Chris have had enough interviews/talk shows I wasn't surprised they could do a decent job. But the others I was surprised could keep the show going as well as they did.

[@kindking8009]

I thought Bad Bunny did a great job (especially in the skit with the nuns) and, considering his true profession, was surprised he did as well as he did.

[@gene7887]

Kelce's American Girl Cafe sketch was one of the more unhinged things I've seen on SNL, it was brilliant

[@yvetterodriguez4850]

Pedro Pascal was one of funniest episodes ever ❤️😂

[@leoc1812]

Seth has been a comedian, voice actor, actor, host and writter for 3 decades... How on earth is anyone surprised he's good? Lol

[@whocraft3614]

I must say I was quite impressed with Adele hosting SNL.

[@annbsirius1703]

Showing my age, but Patrixk Swayze was amazing. I didn't think him that great of an actor, but saw a comedic side side in that performance that I wish he had the chance to develop.

[@eolsunder]

true but we didn't expect him to be bad on the show. Thus, doesn't fit in this video topic.

[@davidtaylor6663]

Christoph Waltz is an amazing actor. His characters in Tarantino films are scary good

[@RPIXELN]

You're walking on the THINNEST of ice

[@Iggystar71]

American Girl Cafe 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Travis rocked that one

[@Tjcp292]

I loved the NFL gives back sketch😂😂😂

[@dustykreps]

Nate Bargatze! His George Washington skit was one of the funniest I've seen in a looong time.

[@15Candles]

Happy to see some Kristen Stewart appreciation here. She's definitely one of my favourite SNL hosts. Nice to see that she called out Donald Trump for his tweet about her relationship with Robert Pattinson. I wouldn't have known the tweet if it wasn't for Kristen calling him out. And the fact that her response to that was, "i'm just like so gay dude" is fucking iconic! 🙌

[@WinsberryEntertainment]

Always like K-Stew. She just seems like someone you'd want to chill with.

[@joezegers]

Rami Malek as Pete Davidson and Pete Davidson as Rami Malek had me rolling!

[@agent_ninety9]

The continental is hilarious. Christopher is a perfect one to showcase.

[@BEdwardStover]

OMG! Jon Hamm's Jon Hams, hams you can eat in the jon was too much. I almost feel out of my chair laughing!

[@jimbo92107]

Justin Timberlake revealed that his talent is unlimited. Christopher Walkin is the best straight man comic, maybe ever.

[@bluedrgns]

I love that when they showed Adam Driver's sketch, the SNL crew were all trying their best not to laugh. That's when you know you did it right

[@nixeleth]

"CRUSH YOUR ENEMIES!" I had to keep rewinding that skit just to get through it. I kept laughing too hard to hear anything.

[@BlenderStudy]

Thank you for the update, WatchMojo..!! Dwayne Johnson was an awesome SNL guest too. 🤣

[@2godless]

I am not a football fan, and I am not much of an snl watcher, but when I saw Straight Male Friend, I swear I thought Kelce was a hilarious new cast member who nailed it.

[@ericdunayer6687]

Billie Eilish was great; her Lonely Christmas Next Door film with Kate McKinnon was of the funniest skits ever -- even though it was mostly silent, her expressions were hilarious. I also thought Anya Taylor-Joy was a great show for someone known for dramas.

[@mariaangelova8275]

"More cow bell" 😂

[@DaddyCruz26]

I think Oscar Isaac and Pedro Pascal are worth a mention..

[@sarimjatt7400]

I loved Rami Malek from Mr. Robot, but the Squid Game sketch made me love Rami Malek even more. He made history as the first Egyptian to host SNL!

[@pyrecticwilliams9916]

Adam Driver, so true!! That oil baron sketch made the whole cast broke. And the undercover kylo ren was amazing

[@evieramosi]

Quinta Brunson episode is hilarious, too😂 Also, Jason Momoa.

[@eliznoelle]

I'm glad to see The Rock, Bruno, Peyton Manning and Justin Timberlake made the list. I remember being very impressed by The Rock's 1st appearance and I've been a huge fan since.

[@badbiker666]

I agree with this list. I would love to see ANY of these people host again. In fact, I am surprised most of them haven't been on more. Except for the five timers, of course. But I would love to see any of them again on fresh episodes of the show. Meanwhile, thanks KZbin.

[@dominiquepitts9125]

JJ Watt did a surprisingly good job hosting when he was on there

[@tobolulo]

Jon Hamm wasn't just any 🎷 player, he was Tim Cappello from Lost Boys. Funny stuff for fans of the movie.

[@javiercamacho2066]

How can you forget Anne Hathaway? Her Homeland skit was dead on and funny. Then you had her playing Katie Holmes in the Ellen skit, abs who can forget the singing Maharelle sisters. Mary Poppins skit, Girlfriend talk skit. I can't even remember a Taylor Swift skit..

[@marcel_max]

I thought Daniel Craig would be in there. He made me laugh like crazy, especially in the construction workers skit.

[@marcblaser3770]

I'm glad they included Taylor Swift on this. I'm not a huge fan, but I remember how great she was as a host.

[@Jocelyn_Herrick]

I love Timothee Chalamet on SNL ❤

[@jennlecher5604]

Jim Carey was the best. If you haven’t seen both of his shows, you gotta!

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

TINY HORSE/GIANT HORSE!!

[@cynthiadavis471]

his baby face rap and smokecheddar had me flatlining😂😂

[@miz_logo_lee]

I guess I don’t really find Justin Timberlake or Ariana Grande surprising since they were both Disney / Nickelodeon kids doing comedy years before they became pop stars.

[@listamato]

Right. Especially Ariana who was at that point not that far removed from it. lol Why were they expecting otherwise?!

[@laurenm7669]

Emma Stone and Adam Driver are my favorite hosts because they always commit 100% and it's always so worth it.

[@rettbull9100]

Christopher Walken is probably one of my favorite celebrity host. I need more cow bell did it for me.

[@bloodsling]

Seth MacFarlane is hardly a surprise,he can do all kinds of voices at the drop of a hat,is hilarious and witty af.

[@nixeleth]

"Let's do that hockey" and "And that's thirteen consonants in a row, so, nope." Absolutely slayed me.

[@joeb.evrythngEclectic5571]

Adam Driver? Yes Please!

[@user-ik8ok9qh2u]

Seth Macfarlain was also a great host at the Oscars, the guy is truly funny and has an undeniable talent.

[@deltatango6793]

Chance the Rapper was great!

[@rockman4699]

Travis Kelce killed it! Garth Brooks did as well.

[@DC-je6fs]

Justin Timberlake being on here as if he wasn’t on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse growing up with Ryan Gosling with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera etc etc lol

[@What_Makes_Climate_Tick]

It may not seem surprising anymore with his many hosting and cameo appearances, but when Alec Baldwin first hosted, he was known for hunky roles in rather dramatic movies.

[@disturbedpyro4511]

Adam Driver’s Career Day is one of the funniest SNL skits I’ve ever seen! The first time I saw it I laughed so hard that I started crying!😂😂

[@shortystulip8922]

Keke Palmer!!! That whole episode was the best!! The Hello Kitty skit LOLOL!!

[@sldrill8042]

Big Boys.

[@neilwetmore]

Adam drivere was absolutely amasing at the oil baron. Also travis kelsey was suprisingly funny

[@jamesharris2296]

Ralph Nader was a HUGE surprise, and they wrote terrific sketches for him, too.

[@hussd21]

I thought Pedro Pascal did awesome. And also Keke Palmer totally looked like she could have been part of the cast

[@Sharpe1502]

“Yes I’m THE Keke, I’m just not THAT Keke!”

[@maxczapski2239]

8:25 The "saxophone player" is a Tim Capello impersonation, in case you didn't know :)

[@katherinewelling6026]

Great job! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@kittywasch6491]

Adam driver rocks 🎉

[@Three_Random_Words]

Charleton Heston, surprising comedic chops, despite never having done a comedy film.

[@kingofentertainment7052]

Please do another video of this!

[@meghans6314]

The bests hosts are the ones that don't hold back. It's fun to watch people having fun and letting loose.

[@rushman2k3]

Big SNL fan and absolutely agree with your number 1. Not some big Adam driver fan prior and he has some of my favorite sketches of all time.

[@user-yx6sj3ux7x]

I needed this today or night? Hope it night, little drinky or morter

[@BrandonHardaker]

Peyton Manning was awesome

[@bennywark3103]

Of course Arianna Grande is funny, have you seen Victorious?

[@pamelacooney9074]

And just like that I'm off to watch the United Way sketch again, because it will always, always be hysterical!

[@thegood9]

i don't know why seth mcfarlane would be a "surprise"???

[@ace_writergirl]

Anna Kendrick doesn't get enough love. Her episode was fantastic.

[@galacticwarlock2271]

The nurse dancing when her patient is dead is ao freaking hilarious. As a nurse this was money.

[@jimmyispromo]

Travis Kelce is the jock version of Ryan Gosling

[@vigeo5795]

You forget Adele. The Africa and Bacherol skit are marvelous

[@erikadlloyd5586]

I don't ever remember Justin Timberlake first appearance on SNL being controversial. He was basically on kid version of SNL on the Disney channel.😂

[@hottubtimemachine1200]

Adam Driver and Justin Timberlake were awesome. Funny to watch and rewatch when you need a good laugh!

[@jenniferhawkins9020]

I was young to watch SNL...but that Charles Barkley "good roach with a gun" skit was hilarious!

[@niyanlan8928]

Congratulations, you’ve won the award for most adverts shoe horned into a video

[@thegodofpez]

Finally, a solid list!!!

[@gabygaby5701]

Chase the rapper was AMAZING

[@yoongistongue4163]

Honestly as a non American I only found out about Kelce through SNL. I had no idea who he was and I was shocked to learn he wasn't an actor. He definitely has some uncovered talent out there.

[@robstockton2463]

He does a lot of comedic TV commercials now. He’s way better at it than the other athletes are.

[@Huntress59]

Why does the narrator say that Rami Malik shines against Andy Bryant and Daniel Craig when he is standing next to the legendary scene stealer Keenan Thompson with I Aidy no where in sight ?

[@mclaugsc]

The Rock!!! I remember watching that first one. it blew me away, then he started doing jungle movies

[@peterm6927]

The Adam Driver skit of the oil baron dad was priceless…..

[@NickCC23]

Adam Driver's most recent (Dec 9) was a season peak show,

[@DMRJ]

This list really only covers about 15-20 years of the show. You are missing so many great hosts through the whole 45+ years of the show.

[@alexthelizardking]

I was sold on Daniel Radcliffe when he played a _dog_ .