5 best Saturday Night Live hosts of the 2020s

Saturday Night Live has not exactly been revered in the 2020s. The show has hit a bit of a lull in terms of cultural relevance, and the departure of beloved cast members has led to a period of uncertainty in terms of who the next breakout star will be.

Despite these setbacks, there have been some truly exceptional SNL guests this decade. From TV stars and musicians to movie stars and returning cast members, these are the five that have stood out and will likely stand the test of time.

5. Emma Stone (Season 49)

Emma Stone is a pro. She's one of the few Saturday Night Live hosts in the prestigious five-timers club, and she proved that could still deliver the goods a decade after making her hosting debut. The Oscar winner was absolutely game during her season 49 episode, spearheading hilarious skits like "What's in the Kiln?" and a reprisal of her 2017 "Posters" bit.

4. Shane Gillis (Season 49)

Shane Gillis was a controversial choice for Saturday Night Live host. The comedian had been hired as a cast member, then promptly fired when it was discovered he had used racist slurs during a podcast appearance.

In spite of this, Gillis turned in a hilarious performance in what was one of the most consistent episodes of season 49. The comedian's willingness to embrace the absurd really paid off in simple, silly sketches like "Gump" and "HR Meeting." It was the LiMu Emu and Doug parody, though, that proved to be the clear highlight.

3. Aubrey Plaza (Season 48)

Aubrey Plaza has a singular comedic delivery. It's strange that it took her so long to land on SNL as a host, but she made the most of it. She shined in sketches like "Taboo" and "Miss Universe," stretching her comedic muscles and affirming the notion that she's at her best when she's being, well weird.

Plaza actually auditioned for Saturday Night Live when she was first starting out, and now that we've seen her on the stage, we can confirm she would have been a breakout star.

2. Pedro Pascal (Season 48)

Pedro Pascal is known for playing very stoic, very serious men on shows like The Mandalorian and The Last of Us. That said, the actor really let his guard down and had fun when he hosted a standout season 48 episode.

Pascal's commitment to skits like "Waking Up" and "Protective Mom" made for hilarious moments. The latter even spawned a sequel sketch with Bad Bunny. Even when things went off the rails, like with the "Lisa from Temecula" sketch, Pascal's joy was infectious.

1. Ryan Gosling (Season 49)

Ryan Gosling took the world by storm when he played Ken in Barbie (2023). He charmed fans and critics alike with his performance, and he turned up the charisma during the press tour, appearing virtually everywhere during the film's Oscar campaign.

Gosling's SNL episode proved to be the apex of his Ken tour, though. The actor was on fire whenever he was onscreen, and the "Beavis and Butt-head" sketch, starring him and Mikey Day, is arguably the most viral and iconic SNL release of the decade. We have to give him the top spot.