Saturday Night Live’s 10 worst hosts

Saturday Night Live first aired on NBC in 1975. Created by Lorne Michaels, the late-night sketch comedy has had its ups and downs throughout the years. Each episode features a celebrity host and musical guest, some of which have been incredible additions to the series lineup, while others just didn't hit the mark. Below we chronicle a list of 10 of the worst hosts featured on SNL.

Louise Lasser (1976)

Louise Lasser hosted during the debut season of SNL during the penultimate episode. She was well known for her work in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, which earned her place as host. Earlier that year, her personal life took a nose dive when she was given six months probation for cocaine possession. During her episode, she refused to perform with the cast, making an exception for Chevy Chase and a dog.

Her opening monologue focused on her struggles, ending with a run-off stage in an apparent melt-down, which was said to be staged as a play on her character, Mary Hartman. But the fact this had to be reported showed that she didn't pull it off well. She closed the show with a mock therapy session where she spilled everything about her recent problems. She was rumored to be banned from the series, but Lasser denies this, stating that producer Lorne Michaels invited her back, but she refused.

Frank Zappa (1978)

Not every host is going to be phenomenal; sometimes, they just don't have what it takes for a comedy gig, and sometimes, they just seem to believe the show and everything about it is beneath them. While Frank Zappa is a well-loved celebrity, his stint as SNL host didn't receive rave reviews. Zappa appeared dismissive about the entire production and just wasn't funny.

Lorne Michaels didn't care about his edgy performance, as he encouraged that, but he was furious with Zappa's refusal to be professional, mocking the cue cards, breaking the fourth wall often, etc., that he banned him from returning. In hindsight, Michaels got what he paid for, Zappa as himself.

Milton Berle (1979)

Milton Berle was already established as a star by the time he appeared as the host of SNL, but clashing with Lorne Michael sealed his ban from the show. In addition, he didn't play well with others, including the cast and writers. He railroaded everyone, took over the entire episode, didn't stick to the script, and staged his own standing ovation. Michael has since stated that Berle treated him like a child the entire week.

Andrew Dice Clay (1990)

Andrew Dice Clay's comedic style is an acquired taste; people either love him or really hate him. He is well known for his stand-up in the 1980s, which was extremely crude and sexist. Cast member Nora Dunn refused to appear alongside Clay in the episode, which was the fourth highest-rated episode that season, and many viewers sent hate mail and issued threats.

Musician Sinead O'Connor canceled a future performance on SNL in protest of Clay's appearance. Clay was banned from MTV eight months before his hosting gig, which translated into a dull and sanitized appearance and disappointing to his fanbase.

Steven Seagal (1991)

In the 90s, Steven Seagal was an action movie heavyweight, so logically, he would be chosen to host SNL. Even though he was an action hero, as an actor, it was likely assumed he could throw in some comedy. Nope, not Seagal, evidently he doesn't have a humorous bone in his body.

He treated everyone horribly, isolated himself from the cast, had no chemistry during his skits, and, most of all, didn't offer anything in the way of comedy. The episode was so terrible that it is difficult to find the entire episode streaming, and only clips remain.

Nancy Kerrigan (1994)

Climbing on board the media circus surrounding the attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, at the hands of a thug tied to her competitor Tonya Harding, SNL decided Kerrigan would make a great host, which would likely boost their ratings. She wasn't, and it was awful. Her timing was off; there was no chemistry between her and the cast, not to mention how uncomfortable the poor thing looked.

Paris Hilton (2005)

Paris Hilton became famous for being famous, and her sex tape gained her lots of attention, good and bad. She then made headlines with her reality show The Simple Life with Nicole Richie, which is how she booked the hosting gig on SNL. The thought was she would come on and not take herself too seriously, but it is reported that was far from the truth.

Her performance was dull as she wasn't good at interjecting humor into the skits and had a difficult time poking fun at herself, which is always a key to good comedy. Long-time cast member Tina Fey had choice words about Hilton's inclusion in the episode, and none of them were kind.

Justin Bieber (2013)

On occasion, the musical guest will also serve as host of SNL. Justin Beiber is one of the performers who, after serving as the musical guest in 2010, would become a host three years later. This is one case where the performer needed to stick to what he knew.

Not only did he arrive with a 20-person entourage, but he was quite the diva throughout the week, missed marks, winked at the audience, and was another host who just wasn't funny. Cast members Bill Hader and Jay Pharoah agree he was the worst host they have ever worked with.

Ronda Rousey (2016)

Hopefully, she doesn't come at me for this, because I wouldn't stand a chance, but professional wrestler, Ronda Rousey's hosting gig was another one for the list of worst hosts. She can tear it up in a wrestling ring, but comedy and acting are two things at which she doesn't excel.

SNL should have learned this from previous athletes who failed as hosts. Sadly, her performances came off as very wooden, and it was evident that she was heavily relying on the cue cards.

Elon Musk (2021)

Inventor and business magnate Elon Musk's appearance as host is on this list but instead of being a "worst" host perhaps it was more cringey. His opening monologue disclosed his autism spectrum disorder Asperger syndrome diagnosis, which to some was groundbreaking news. The man isn't an actor, comedian, or performer so Lorne Michaels set him up for failure in that respect, and Musk was cast in several skits as the "creepy" somebody.

He did poke a lot of fun at himself and had a somewhat endearing moment with the Mother's Day skit featuring his mother Maye Musk. Perhaps Musk himself summed it up with this: "To anyone I've offended, I just want to say — I reinvented electric cars and I'm sending people to Mars on a rocket ship. Did you think I was also gonna be a chill, normal dude?"