Emmys: Why these three Saturday Night Live hosts received nominations

The Emmys recognized three hosts from season 45 of Saturday Night Live

Season 45 of Saturday Night Live was unlike any other in its history. The show will look to cap things off with the 2020 Emmy Awards where three of this season’s best hosts have been nominated.

Adam Driver and Eddie Murphy are up for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Phoebe Waller-Bridge picked up a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

The trio joins a long list of Saturday Night Live hosts who have received Emmy nominations in recent memory. The list includes Adam Sandler, John Mulaney, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Sandra Oh.

Driver, Murphy, and Waller-Bridge could also add their names to those who have walked away with an Emmy for their SNL work. That list features names like Tiffany Haddish, Justin Timberlake, and Jimmy Fallon.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge could another Emmy to her collection after hosting Saturday Night Live

Phoebe Waller-Bridge was the official queen of the 2019 Emmy Awards. She took home three awards for her series Fleabag and saw another show she created, Killing Eve, also receive honors.

It’s no surprise that she was an early pick to host Saturday Night Live in season 45. And it’s also no surprise that she absolutely crushed it. Waller-Bridge immediately joined the ranks of SNL hosts like Donald Glover and Justin Timberlake who could easily be full-time cast members.

Waller-Bridge faces some tough competition in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category. Maya Rudolph is nominated not only for her work on The Good Place but also for her portrayal of Senator Kamala Harris for Saturday Night Live.

Adam Driver cemented himself as one of Saturday Night Live’s best hosts

In a relatively short amount of time, Adam Driver has become a go-to host for Saturday Night Live. He first hosted in 2016 then was asked back to host the season 44 premiere in 2018. The Rise of Skywalker and Marriage Story actor was then given the tall task of following Eddie Murphy and hosting on Jan. 25.

Clearly SNL has confidence in Driver as a host and the actor has given them, and fans, no reason to regret it. Driver has shown that he can consistently deliver laughs no matter what kind of sketch he’s asked to pull off.

Driver doesn’t have an easy road to the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy. He’s facing off against Brad Pitt for playing Dr. Anthony Fauci on Saturday Night Live as well as Eddie Murphy for his turn as host.

Eddie Murphy’s return to Saturday Night Live should end with an Emmy

Any discussion of Saturday Night Live season 45 has to start with the episode hosted by Eddie Murphy. Yes, the pandemic resulted in something SNL fans have never seen before. But prior to Saturday Night Live at Home, the number one story was the return of Eddie Murphy.

Facing unseen levels of hype and anticipation, Murphy delivered and then some. His Dec. 21 show was watched by nearly 10 million people and set multiple records for Saturday Night Live. Murphy revived beloved characters like Mr. Robinson, Buckwheat, and Gumby in a way that delighted longtime SNL fans and entertained younger viewers.

Eddie Murphy’s return to Saturday Night Live was an event unlike anything else in the show’s recent history. It was must-see television as demonstrated by the number of people who watched the show live. Murphy didn’t miss a beat after last appearing on SNL in 1984. Murphy deserves the Emmy in this category and should hear his name called for the win.

Do you think that Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Adam Driver, and Eddie Murphy deserved to be nominated for an Emmy? Is there another Saturday Night Live host from season 45 that you think deserved a nomination? Share your thoughts in the comment section!