Top 20 Surprisingly Good SNL Hosts

[@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

[@laserxman779sports]

Back jeopardy with Chadwick bosemen is definitely one of my favorite skits

[@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.

[@tjwash2]

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.

[@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

[@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

[@TedJamesLytle790]

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. 🤣💕🫶

[@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.

[@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

[@dfresh93086]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@benitafay]

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

[@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!

[@joeb.evrythngEclectic5571]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@SLow-fb3qm]

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

[@matthewtaylor1785]

Tom Hanks is amazing on SNL but I don’t think that’s surprising. He’s one of the best actors there is and also very good with comedy

[@800Ms-k6n]

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.

[@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.

[@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

[@yvetterodriguez4850]

Pedro Pascal was one of funniest episodes ever ❤️😂

[@Iggystar71]

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

[@Tjcp292]

I loved the NFL gives back sketch😂😂😂

[@gene7887]

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

[@agent_ninety9]

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

[@jamesharris2296]

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

[@brandonday2494]

Kelce was shockingly good. Claire Foy is such a good actress I shouldn't have been surprised, but she was great. Always the best when someone you don't expect kills it.

[@jimbo92107]

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

[@joezegers]

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

[@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!

[@dustykreps]

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

[@henrytuttle]

He's a GREAT stand-up comedian so, even though that was a great episode, it was certainly not surprising.

[@jimmyispromo]

Travis Kelce is the jock version of Ryan Gosling

[@nixeleth]

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

[@ace_writergirl]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@marcel_max]

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

[@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.

[@tobolulo]

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

[@laurenm7669]

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

[@DaddyCruz26]

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

[@dominiquepitts9125]

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

[@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.

[@oliviatc7306]

Zoé Kravitz was really funny espacially with the Maid of honour speech!

[@nixeleth]

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

[@mclaugsc]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@evieramosi]

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

[@billybobkumar9231]

You missed three of the biggest and best: Kerry Washington, Gwenneth Paltro and Kirsten Dunst, as they nailed every single character and nailed each and every accent.

[@mariaangelova8275]

"More cow bell" 😂

[@pattycifra6904]

Thanks for the video...I'd add John Kraskinski, Daniel Craig, Nick Jonas

[@JFS-v1r]

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

[@shortystulip8922]

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

[@sldrill8042]

Big Boys.

[@rettbull9100]

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

[@grege5074]

13:18 there is just so much here 1) thin Charles 2) Dave Grohl (pre FF) looks absolutely terrified 3) Krist Novoselic is literally taller than an NBAer 4) Kurt looks like he's about to burst out laughing which would have brought this whole thing together.

[@Sandi-ke9mi]

I agree with Travis Kelsie and Adam Driver, but you forgot Aubrey Plaza, her episode was fantastic.

[@ScooterOnHisWay2024]

Yessssssss

[@pyrecticwilliams9916]

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

[@maxczapski2239]

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

[@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😂😂

[@slpgibs]

Brian Williams. He was shockingly good.

[@neilwetmore]

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

[@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?!

[@rockman4699]

Travis Kelce killed it! Garth Brooks did as well.

[@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.

[@Wooshey_Wooj]

Seth MacFarlane? He should be on the best hosts. Dude is hilarious and is always 100%

[@Blair19]

Yes, you missed Emma Stone.. The dancing sketch on the street. (Paris)..

[@oldpunker885]

I was thinking Donald Glover's performance was pretty iconic but then again he's probably not unlikely for this

[@Three_Random_Words]

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

[@jenniferhawkins9020]

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

[@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.

[@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..

[@BlenderStudy]

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

[@Indypendy]

May have already been said, but I'd add Betty White in her later years. She was such a treasure and game for anything. lol

[@galacticwarlock2271]

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

[@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

[@robstockton2463]

Okay, now do unexpectedly bad! Looking at you, Adrien Brody.

[@meghans6314]

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

[@aletabraxton6934]

Love this list. I would add Sinbad, John Malkovich, Jenna Ortega... to name a few.

[@joeb.evrythngEclectic5571]

Adam Driver? Yes Please!

[@alexthelizardking]

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

[@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!”

[@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.

[@vigeo5795]

You forget Adele. The Africa and Bacherol skit are marvelous

[@stanfordmommaerts-browne1096]

Has Al Franken (or Stuart Smalley) ever HOSTED? Or the Church Lady? The latter being one of the most incredibly and disturbingly underrated characters on SNL!

[@niyanlan8928]

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

[@JustinProper]

15:03 What an iconic photo! The Rock had the best job ever when he introduced AC/DC! Great pick!

[@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.😂

[@deltatango6793]

Chance the Rapper was great!

[@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.

[@Bonbonbon739]

Just saying straight up, James McAvoy, emma stone, Ryan gosling and Pedro pascal better be on this list.