Saturday Night Live: The five best hosts of season 45…so far
By Matt Moore
2. Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Phoebe Waller-Bridge had a monster year in 2019. Her show Fleabag won Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy at the 2019 Emmy Awards where she also won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy. Her other show, Killing Eve, was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series.
It was only a few weeks after dominating the Emmys that Waller-Bridge made her Saturday Night Live debut. It was perfect timing for SNL thanks to the buzz around Waller-Bridge and how she quickly became a household name among those unfamiliar with Fleabag and her other work.
So with high expectations, Waller-Bridge proved she belonged as host and more than that, could make it as a cast member. She somehow managed to stand out in every sketch while also fitting in seamlessly with performers like Cecily Strong, Kate McKinnon, and Aidy Bryant.
The “Mid-Day News” sketch was the highlight of the episode. The premise, performances, and escalation of the characters all played well and had the audience building up its reaction just the same. Michael Che had a hand in writing this one and it found a tone that made everyone the butt of the joke. Waller-Bridge was flawless and hit her marks. Saturday Night Live fans have definitely not seen the last of her as host.