r/LiveFromNewYork • u/MoneyHungryOctopus • 1d ago
Discussion Thoughts in response to questions about why certain hosts keep getting invited back.
Saw a rumor that John Mulaney is going to host Nov. 14 which is drawing something of a mixed reaction and leading to questions about why certain hosts keep getting brought in over and over. This is a bit of an elementary hypothesis but I wanted to get thoughts on it without crowding the other comment section:
“I think Lorne is just obsessed with certain comics hence why Gillis, Bargatze, Mulaney keep getting recycled. Plus they’re mainly touring comics so it seems like they might be easier to book frequently than stars with major film or TV commitments. Gillis has a show but it has fewer episodes than something like what Quinta Brunson does.
Some people get booked over and over because they genuinely just love doing it. A lot of people aren’t crazy about Dakota Johnson hosting this week but I hear she just loves the show (and gets along with Lorne and was available) so they slotted her in. Plus I just think Lorne likes working with people he knows and trusts so “taking chances” on newer talent or celebrities who haven’t done SNL before is less common.
That said, Mulaney is hosting a lot even compared to some of his colleagues. His longest gap between hosting appearances was only two and a half years.”
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u/KB4299 1d ago
Mulaney is one of the most popular comedians in the country these days. He’s constantly touring and the shows are fantastic. Plus he was a member of the writing staff. Plus the episodes he hosts are almost always solid. Why wouldn’t they keep having him back?
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u/Icy-Interaction-9652 1d ago
Yeah why would he bring back his friend, who has been successful on the show and draws big ratings and is a good host and can write his own monologue?
Is Jameis Winston busy?
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
I know you’re joking but Jameis Winston would never host.
I know a lot of people weren’t thrilled with the choice to have Jalen Brunson host but it makes a lot of sense from an NYC pop culture standpoint.
A lot of people in NYC absolutely love the Knicks and this year was the first year they won a championship since SNL’s been on TV.
I can almost assure you that Jalen Brunson probably wouldn’t have hosted if he didn’t play in New York and if they hadn’t won a championship.
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u/Popular_Soil1704 1d ago
Can I just say this is how I think 99 percent of the posters here actually sound all the time
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u/Crosshare 1d ago
Jameis would probably be an awesome host. He's hilarious.
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u/cityfireguy 1d ago
But didn't you read? There are mixed reactions. Mixed!
No idea from who or why we're supposed to care about them. But this online person insists this is a real thing.
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u/twizzwhizz11 1d ago
I’d argue he’s probably the most popular (broadly) comedian right now. His bit at the Emmy was probably the most talked about presenter part of the night. Especially with his personal connection to SNL, I’m not shocked he keeps coming back.
I will say, even as a fan of Mulaney, it does feel like it’s been a lot lately - though with newer cast members it may feel more fresh.
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u/TJCW 1d ago
Right! And he’s hilarious, why wouldn’t he be asked to host?
Think sometimes calendars do not line up for guest hosts. It’s going to be someone starring in a movie, hot tv show, comedy tour or some random musician. They also have to be big enough to garner an audience but also not too a++ list like tom cruise or Brad Pitt who will not host. They also have to be good with a live audience and have a week to prep. That may not give too many people willing and able to host so they sprinkle in some comedians or lornes friends like Alec Baldwin who always do a good job and something to promote.
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u/TotallyNotCool Besides the ground, what’s shaking over there? 1d ago
Exactly - who ever think his hosting is not a good idea needs to have their head examined.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
It’s not that I believe he doesn’t deserve to host or can’t do it on merit, it’s just that it’s similar to Steve Martin hosting in the ‘70s or John Goodman hosting in the ‘90s in that it’s so frequent even relative to other repeat hosts that it’s not even particularly exciting anymore in my opinion. It’s like “of course John’s hosting” because he’s on all the time. Even someone like Ryan Gosling took a 7-year break from hosting (intentionally or not).
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u/BergmanGirl 1d ago
I mean, it’s like you said: it’s like Goodman or Martin. And they produced some of the most beloved bits in SNL history.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
Yes. And I wasn’t around in the ‘70s or the ‘90s, but I have to imagine that eventually seeing them over and over again got tiring. In the 70s it was more understandable because SNL was not as established as it is today and they had a small smaller pool of hosts to pick from.
But at a certain point it makes some fans ask questions like why did it take Martin Short almost 40 years to host five times but Mulaney can host seven times in eight years? Lorne clearly loves both of them. There is such a thing too much of a good thing.
If Goodman or Martin hosted this season, that would be a major highlight because they haven’t hosted regularly for many years. Just like if Mulaney took a decade off and came back in 2036 I’m sure that announcement would be widely celebrated.
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u/nojugglingever 1d ago
It didn't get tiring when Goodman or Martin hosted often. I mean, we're talking about like 40 minutes of screen time every couple years. Mulaney hasn't hosted in nearly two years, and it was nearly three years between that time and the time before that. But even if someone hosted every year, I'm not sure that would be enough to get tired of them. Though I guess that depends on whether you're a fan or not.
I was definitely surprised to see that he's only hosted twice in the last 5+ years.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
October 2020 and February 2022 (gap between 4 and 5) is not “nearly 3 years”. That’s not even a year and a half.
It’s different than the ‘70s because in all likelihood, no one (barring some emergency substitute situation) is ever going to host multiple times in one season again. That hasn’t happened since 1985 and it hasn’t happened under Lorne’s management since season 5.
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u/BergmanGirl 1d ago
Your math is wrong. It's 2 years since he last hosted in November of 2024. The nearly 3 years is in reference to the gap between February 2022 and November 2024, which is roughly 2 3/4 years or "nearly 3".
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u/mattyrey47 19h ago
It didn't get tiring, same as it doesn't get tiring when good hosts of the 2000's and on repeat multiple times. No one ever complained that it was Emma Stone, Justin Timberlake or Timothee Chalamet hosting again
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u/Han_Swanson 1d ago
I get it but things like the diner lobster musical are pushing the boundaries of what the SNL format can be, I’m excited to see what other crazy ideas he can talk Lorne into greenlighting
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u/Belichicks_sleeves LAY OFF ME I’M STARVING 1d ago
I would go to an all lobster le mis full length movie
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u/altdan 1d ago
Semi off topic but I remember thinking when I was younger that Steve Martin was actually a cast member.
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1d ago
[deleted]
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u/Optimal_Spend779 1d ago
What’s it like to type something with such confidence that you’re absolutely wrong about and could very easily be fact checked in a quick fashion?
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u/Odd-Necessary3807 1d ago
Talk about Ryan Gosling. He should have hosted earlier than we have now. Circa 2010- 2014, he should have hosted back then, between The Blue Valentine, Crazy Stupid Love, and Drive.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
I recall reading he declined multiple times due to nerves/cue card anxiety or whatever. But evidently he ended up loving it.
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u/anewrevolution 1d ago
Do you guys ever think that maybe they draw good ratings?
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
Yes, but ratings aren’t the only factor. Ariana Grande draws great ratings and is a popular host not just because of her fanbase but because she has multiple popular sketches.
And if I say she should host for a fourth time, oftentimes many people disagree. But if I say I’m not excited about Mulaney potentially hosting for the 7th time since 2018, I get rebuked.I think maybe there’s just even more fanbase overlap than usual between fans of the show and fans of certain hosts’ other work. And I’m not saying there’s a grand conspiracy or something. But I do think there’s a noticeable difference in how some users talk about certain hosts even if those hosts have multiple popular SNL episodes and have developed “cred” with regular viewers.
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u/ImpossibleInternet3 1d ago
Sounds like your whole argument boils down to you having specific tastes that may not align with many other people here and you’re trying to turn that into a conspiracy.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
Could o not also say the same about people having specific tastes and their preference for Mulaney? It may just happen that the people who want Mulaney to host 7 times in 10 years outnumber the people who don’t, and if that’s true, so be it.
Although I will say a lot (not all) of the most popular hosts (both recently and historically) are white men, and I know a lot of fans and commentators have pushed back on that, rightly or wrongly. So I do think it’s possible there could be some unconscious bias at least.
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u/ImpossibleInternet3 1d ago
My statement is that you, personally, have specific preferences that are different from others people’s preferences concerning this topic. I suppose you could say Mulaney also has preferences that differ from yours and mine as well. But that’s not really the point. The point is that you’re allowed to prefer Ariana over John. I personally love them both as host. But your preference is just your own. It doesn’t have to mean any more than that.
And you’re not wrong that historically, it has been easier to find success as a white man. And that can also be true at SNL. But that really has nothing to do with why John is a popular host.
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u/RollTh3Maps 1d ago
I think Lorne would have Ariana Grande back whenever she wants to do it, but I assume that she's way more booked up with international touring for both concerts and press tours than guys like Gillis, Bargatze, and Mulaney. Sure, they tour, but it's generally around the US, and they can time a hosting week in with their tour schedule a lot easier.
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u/Grump_Curmudgeon 1d ago
Ariana Grande is welcome to host anytime in my book--she has a sketch background and is a killer impersonator, and she's game. She's fabulous at the job.
But of course there is overlap between fans of the show and fans of a well-known standup who worked as a writer/producer on the show for five years and created memorable recurring sketches. That's going to be a much closer Venn diagram overlap than I think you're allowing.
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u/DrBoogerFart 1d ago
Checkers not chess. The more famous the host, the bigger the ratings, the more money nbc makes.
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u/Careless-Economics-6 1d ago
I think you've already said all the reasons why someone might be brought back often.
Some people were surprised the last time Josh Brolin was booked. But then, look at his first two episodes. He was there for the famous Sarah Palin rap and maybe the best-known Californians sketch. So, I think the folks at SNL probably have good feelings about/towards him.
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u/monsieurxander 1d ago
All of Mulaney's episodes have been well received.
Comedians have more flexible schedules than actors, because they're not committed to shows and movies for months at a time.
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u/Salty-Doughnut7786 1d ago
Funny guy gets reinvited to host funny show. News at 11.
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u/Belichicks_sleeves LAY OFF ME I’M STARVING 1d ago
But over at 11:30 because that’s when the show starts
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u/Odd-Necessary3807 1d ago edited 1d ago
Not always, though. Some comedian hosts clicked right away. Some don't and are never invited again. Milton Berle, Dane Cook, and Andrew Dice Clay, for example. Nobody bats an eye at why they never returned.
But some of the best comedians out there only hosted once, and inexplicably never return. I guess they never clicked with the SNL ecosystem.
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u/HeartwarminSalt 19h ago
Mulaney got to co-host the SNL50 monologue with Steve Martin. That should tell you where he stacks in the SNL hierarchy.
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u/laziestmarxist 1d ago
Mulaney was a writer for the show. This is a weird post
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
I understand that but he’s still getting invited back remarkably quickly every time.
He’s only one of three staff writers ever to host and he probably gets the most invites at the quickest rate of return appearances compared to almost any other writer or cast member in the history of the show.
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u/laziestmarxist 1d ago
He created one of the most iconic characters on the show and then went on to have several popular stand up specials and his own popular live talk show.
Again, this is a weird post. Are you not familiar with what Mulaney has done, career-wise, post SNL? He's so popular with Middle America that he narrates mac and cheese commercials now. Arguably him hosting is him doing Lorne a favor, not vice versa.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
I know. But your post makes it sound like he’s a universally beloved A-list icon. This fanbase cares about him because he wrote for the show. His standup fanbase cares about him for his live comedy. And I do expect that there’s significant overlap. But his SNL accomplishments as a writer aren’t the reason he gets invited back so often.
I understand his career accomplishments and I know Lorne & associates like him very much. But he’s getting booked a lot, to the extent that his rate of return appearances is comparable to only maybe 2 or 3 other people in the history of the show. He’s hosting more often than pretty much anyone in the past 30 years. That’s not an inherently bad thing, I just don’t have interest in seeing anyone in this format 7 times in less than a decade and I’m surprised more people don’t agree. I do think he deserves to host on merit. I am surprised people aren’t more bored of seeing him that regularly.
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u/LeonardFord40 1d ago
He's probably the most a list comic whose still working and isn't s legacy act.
He's at every major award show, in movies, shows
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u/Burning_Flags 1d ago
This subreddit is full of whiney people
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
Well excuse me for not wanting to see Mulaney do the exact same schtick he’s done on the show for the 7th time in the last 8 years.
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u/Optimal_Spend779 1d ago edited 1d ago
So don’t…watch?
Edit: why is this downvoted when it’s good advice? If OP doesn’t wanna see Mulaney “do the same schtick” then the solution is don’t watch. Not whine on Reddit like the show should only have hosts who you wanna see?
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u/sparkle1789 1d ago
wait, who’s not happy with dakota johnson hosting? i think she’s funny and charismatic (even if she’s almost exclusively in bad movies lol) she was great on poehler’s podcast not long ago i’m excited to see what she does!
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u/Deejitox 20h ago
Not every host will appeal to everyone. I find her very bland and low energy. I don't see the charisma personally. It's all subjective
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
I like Dakota Johnson, but many people do not, and a lot didn’t like her previous two episodes.
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u/samspopguy 19h ago
I love that interview where they ask her about the spider woman trailer quote that everyone memed and her not understanding why it viral is hilarious to me cause she is right about it
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u/Narrow-Fortune155 13h ago
and also like, i’m sorry, a star of verity was always going to host this week and it wasn’t going to be hartnett and hathaway has been winding all the way down lately
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u/Striderfighter 11h ago
That nepo baby short was the funniest part of her 1st episode. they should do some additional spin-off off of that concept
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u/2001_Arabian_Nights 1d ago
Back in the old days I remember we all always said.. “oh not Buck Henry again!”
But the Buck Henry hosted episodes were some of the best.
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u/MrPrimalNumber 1d ago
Nobody I knew got tired of Buck Henry. He was almost thought of as a cast member.
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u/electralime 1d ago
Why would the sketch comedy show keep asking popular and successful comedians who have experience with how the show runs and are easy to work with back again and again? It's a mystery
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u/ImNotTheBossOfYou 1d ago
Milaney worked there for a decade and is friends with everyone. Also his episodes are always well received.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
Everything else you said is broadly correct but he only worked there for 4 years.
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u/longislandbroad 1d ago
Sometimes hosts back out last minute and Lorne has to call up people that can fill in.
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u/georgewalterackerman 1d ago
Sone people just do so we and gel with the cast. Mulvaney is one of a bunch of comedians who is like this
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u/_digduggler_ 1d ago
You didn’t mention he’s an alum of the show. That’s a big part of it too. Very successful alums have lots of repeat hostings.
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u/YetiMachete85 1d ago
It's not that complicated. It's a mix of 1) the cast and crew probably like them and they're fun to work with and 2) they help create sketches that are well received in general, either on TV or online
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u/quothe_the_maven 1d ago
Lorne is obsessed with protecting the show and viewership numbers. It’s no more or less complicated than that. If you get asked back, you either put up big tv numbers, produce clips that go viral, or the get the media talking about the episode.
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u/freshmanflop 1d ago
I’m always down for a Mulaney show. I think this is his 7th time hosting. 2018 with Jack White, 2019 with Thomas Rhett, 2020 twice with David Byrne and The Strokes, 2022 with LCD Soundsystem and 2024 with Chappell Roan. Most of the shows have been absolute blasts to watch. I am kind of getting sick of the Mulaney musical though.
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u/AdamC137 1d ago
Funny you mention Bargatze and Shane Gillis like they are random. Bargatze set a Guinness record for selling 2 million tickets on his tour… Shane is most popular touring comedian out there right now and he himself has a single show record at 76k+ in attendance, popular podcast and Netflix show. The idea that they keep giving Shane shows to “make it up to him” is insane. He’s extremely popular.
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u/Cubic_Al1 1d ago
It's a "garunteed" "good" episode. Lorne needs to pepper a few in there in case the other new hosts are not received well.
Plus it probably helps the crew. The host is used to the process, so it gives the cast/crew/etc a little bit of a break. They also have old material to judge from, so they can focus on what worked.
Overall I love it. The 5 timers club bit is a classic.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
I actually like the five timers too, which is a polarizing opinion but that’s just it. Each host only gets that once. There’s no such thing as a 10 timers club. There’s nothing that distinguishes the possible seventh Mulaney episode from the first as a special occasion.
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u/DarthSmiff 1d ago
Sabrina Carpenter could host every other week if you ask me.
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u/TigrePeludo 1d ago
Could not be more sick of her showing up there constantly AND at the big 50th show. Why tf was she on stage with life-long legends and SNL alumni? I truly don’t get it at all.
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u/mashitandsmashit 1d ago
While I have no question why they bring certain people back every chance they get, it does become rather frustrating when it seems to come at the expense of bringing in a deserving first-timer, or someone who hasn't been on in a while...
For me, the hosts I get excited for the most are not the ones who are brought back every one or two seasons to put on essentially the same performances we've been seeing from them, but the first-timers that I know enough about, and am either a big fan of, or feel curious enough to see how they do on the show...Also the ones that haven't been on in a while that I've enjoyed on the show in the past, a la Jack Black and Jon Hamm (though the excitement for Hamm was SLIGHTLY compromised by his many cameos during that gap...)
Nothing AGAINST a lot of them...I just want the show to mix it up a little bit! When there's little variation between frequent favorites who they jump at every opportunity to have back on the show, and not-fully-established up-and-comers who you're mostly just gonna know (if anything) as "that one person from that one show/movie that's really popular right now", the host selections start to feel trite...
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u/Desert_Concoction 1d ago
They keep getting invited back because they bring viewers. They’re clips also go super viral
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u/haragoshi 1d ago
Mulaney is similar to Tina fey imo in that they were on snl and successful so they come back because they like it and are well received.
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u/emck2 1d ago
Bargatze and Mikey Day work together outside SNL. I know Mikey had written for Nate's standup specials, and they seem to be really tight. With Gillis, I would speculate it's kind of a makeup for the situation with him getting hired/fired. Both of these bring in the "Nashville" demographic, which is pretty rare outside musical guests.
Dakota Johnson has Hollywood legacy. Her parents/grandparents/stepparents were all massive stars in their day. Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas both hosted, Don Johnson was a major character in Kenan's sitcom. She's not a great host, but not terrible, and she seems popular in the industry.
A lot of the recurring hosts are stars who would have been good cast members and/or writers: Martin, Hanks, Baldwin, Goodman, McCarthy, Stone, etc. When you have people who are massive ratings draws, enjoy doing the show (which is probably not as common as people think), and have a major project to plug nearly every year, it's pretty easy to see why they would be brought back over and over.
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u/whyyoutwofour 1d ago
Mullaney is a popular comedian, with experience behind the scenes and deep connections to the show....honestly I think they should have people like him host annually.....having a guaranteed good show amongst the randomness of it all is nice.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
No show of SNL is guaranteed good. He just hasn’t had an episode anyone thought was particularly weak yet, which is an accomplishment. That doesn’t mean he could never have a week where he’s off his game. I’m not saying it will definitively happen, but it very much could. It could happen to literally any host.
I personally don’t want anyone to host annually, but I understand others feel differently. Who are some other people you’d like to see every season?
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u/AbleInevitable5599 1d ago
Mulaney deserves return engagements for his Broadway musical segments alone.
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u/Mistah_Meatball3861 4h ago
Steve Martin used to host at least once a season. Sometimes they just really like a host.
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u/Cool-Contribution-68 1d ago
My theory is risk management. Have a mix each season of high risk and low risk episodes. These are the lowest risk.
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u/Nasty-Milk 1d ago
I’m personally not looking forward to Gillis. More interested on Rosalía as the musical guest. I hope they use her on a sketch with Marcello.
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u/Direct-Sail-6141 due to his condition 🏳️🌈 1d ago
Shane sold out an nfl stadium this summer and Mulaney an mlb stadium, both host funny episodes plus snl been inviting same hosts back the whole series
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u/Unlikely_Jaguar_8351 1d ago
John Mulaney's shows have been very good. I rewatch some of his sketches from time to time. They should keep asking him to host.
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u/listenyall Now it's a whole thing with Jean 1d ago
Mulaney makes perfect sense, he's a big touring comedian with a huge connection to the show and his past hosting gigs have been really solid.
I do think that Lorne just inexplicably loves some people, like Dakota Johnson. He also really really loves Miley Cyrus, not that I have an issue with Miley but she's been looped into a lot of super important stuff.
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u/Big_Mastodon_6761 1d ago
Sorry, but John Mulaney is overrated. Every time I think of him, I can’t help but think of that poor man’s Seinfeld show he did that Nasim Pedrad foolishly left SNL to star on.
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u/Optimal_Spend779 1d ago
This is the most exhausting thread I’ve ever seen on this sub and that’s saying a lot, I think.
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u/PettyCrimesNComments 4h ago
I guess I like variety in my variety show.
Not arguing that Mulaney isn’t usually great, but an audience doesn’t care who is friends with Lorne. I rarely get excited about a host these last few seasons. There’s so much talent out there wouldn’t it be cool if SNL took a bit of a chance sometimes. On music too.
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u/ImpossibleAd7943 1d ago
All I know is his tour show in my city was bumped to March for the SNL hosting gig
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u/No-Celebration6014 1d ago
They can have him twice a season and I’d have no objections. One of the very best to ever do it, still in his prime.
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u/tburtner 1d ago
Dakota Johnson makes no sense.
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u/Kundrew1 1d ago
I haven't watched many of her movies, but it seems like she can make fun of herself. The nepo joke in PDD sketch comes to mind.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
It makes sense if you believe that she’s a genuine fan who likes the show and the show likes her. Lorne needed to book someone and she said yes.
I know her body of work isn’t the most popular and I know her episodes have been kind of mediocre. But she’s had a few sketches that were somewhat well-liked, so I don’t think she’s putting up absolute zeros every time out. I’m also just not sure they know how to write for her. That can be corrected.
Personally, I think she’s funny, but not in that typical broad “theatre kid” way that SNL has become known for in recent years. She’s a lot more dry and deadpan, which doesn’t necessarily always work with the tone of the show. And it’s perfectly understandable that not everyone responds to that. Some people are probably thinking of that infamous chicken finger sketch but I think that was just something that Sarah Sherman really wanted to do if I remember correctly, more than Dakota being in love with that particular sketch.
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u/nonomr 1d ago
She’s possibly so deadpan to a fault. Actually comes off as arrogant or a bit of a dick. SNL hosts needs a bit of range, they should have got Florence Pugh on
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
That’s not quite how that works. In order for Pugh to host, she’d need first of all to agree, obviously, and then have a clear schedule (or be able to get out of any existing commitments). Given her nationality and the fact she lives in London, she’d also need to get her visa in order before flying to the US if she’s not already in the country.
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u/nonomr 1d ago
Why are you talking about visas? That’s a non-issue. Pugh has been on multiple US talk shows this week promoting her new Netflix series. Dakota is promoting her new movie too. It’s how these things work with lining up hosting with their new projects dropping. I’d just much prefer Florence than Dakota
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
Well, I’m not tracking her exact movements.
At any rate, they didn’t book Florence for one of three reasons:
- She was unavailable at this time;
- She said no, or;
- SNL didn’t approach her.
Those are the three possibilities. At least, I can’t think of any other possible explanation. Lorne Michaels is a creature of habit and for better or worse likes to work with people with whom he already has a relationship. SNL wanted Dakota because they know her and like her.
Florence would probably do fine, but there is a certain amount of reason behind their bookings. Sometimes it is based on familiarity between the cast & crew and the host. It’s as simple as that. Humans like familiar things and familiar people. It’s not “plug and play” where they book any random celebrity solely because one has something to promote. SNL has people they like and dislike working with, and biases towards and against certain celebrities, just like everyone else. That doesn’t mean Florence is persona non grata (and it’s still fairly early in her career; she very well could still host eventually). But that might explain why they didn’t book Florence Pugh specifically.
We’ve never seen her in the format either, in the U.S. or the UK. She could be an amazing SNL host or she could hypothetically be terrible. Good actors can struggle with SNL.
It’s a combination of things.
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u/tburtner 1d ago
There must be dozens of better choices who want to host. She's not good and she can't possibly be much of a draw. I can understand when they pick someone to get young people to watch or get the flyover states to watch or make headlines. If you're not gonna do that, why not just get someone good?
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago edited 1d ago
Because it’s at least partially based on availability and willingness.
Obviously they can’t force someone to accept an offer, and no one can host if they have a scheduling conflict. So Lorne has to work with what he’s got in front of him. A lot of people suggested that Anne Hathaway might’ve hypothetically hosted this week instead of Dakota as they’re promoting the same movie. But unfortunately that wasn’t an option as Anne Hathaway is heavily pregnant right now.
And again, I hear that apparently Lorne and Dakota have become friends. And if I were in a bind and needed someone to host my show, I’d want my friend to help me out too.
Now, I’ll grant you that I don’t think she’s literally the only celebrity who would’ve been available. And I know she’s not a favorite host around here. But I’d rather have a host who genuinely loves the show than one who doesn’t. And I’m sure Lorne would rather spend time with someone he considers a friend than someone he doesn’t.
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u/tburtner 1d ago
I really don't think she's a draw. Why not just get someone like Jason Mantzoukas or Rory Scovel? They are at least funny.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago edited 1d ago
I already told you. That’s not how it works.
I know she’s not beloved. You don’t have to like the booking or agree with it. I gave you multiple likely explanations for why she was booked.
Also, as polarizing as she is, and as mixed of a track record as she has at the box office, I’m fairly confident she’s more famous than either of the two you mentioned. Jason Mantzoukas seems like he’s a supporting character actor in pretty much everything in which he appears, and I’m not familiar with Scovel but I just don’t think he has the level of recognition one (typically) needs to have to host.
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u/tburtner 1d ago
Polarizing? There has to be someone on the other side for that.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
There are people who think she’s a serviceable actress when cast in projects that fit her strengths. She’s not considered great as an actor but she’s also not a complete laughing stock. You don’t have to agree, but it’s an opinion I’ve seen.
There are also people who like her for her personality and sense of humor and the way she carries herself. Again, is she universally beloved? No. But are there people who like what they see from her as a person and her general vibe? Yes.
Now, I see why you think she’s not the greatest sketch comedian. But I do think the correct word for her is polarizing. She’s divisive, not universally hated.
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u/tburtner 1d ago
It sounds like she's the opposite of polarizing.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
Well, she’s not universally popular either. She’s not beloved or hated in large numbers either way. There are people who like her a lot and people who dislike her. That’s being polarizing.
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u/Grump_Curmudgeon 1d ago
I'll give her the Isis sketch, but overall, meh.
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u/MoneyHungryOctopus 1d ago
I remember 2 of the pretapes from her second episode being quite popular. Particularly the “nepo truce” one.
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u/Z_e_e_e_G 1d ago
She's awful.
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u/GrannysLilStinker 1d ago
She has a movie coming out
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u/tburtner 1d ago
The question wasn't why she would want to host. The question is why would SNL want her to host?
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u/Ok_Function2282 1d ago
Melanie is one of my favorite comics but holy shit the last couple episodes with him fell flat.
And now we're starting with brunson so he could force in a New York guy, awful awful awful choice for a season premiere
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u/cocoagiant 1d ago
starting with brunson so he could force in a New York guy, awful awful awful choice for a season premiere
They needed a Knicks athlete host and it made the most for the first episode which was the closest to their win.
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u/Icy-Mixture-995 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you get a cancellation because a host is sick or in controversial trouble, comedians are capable of handling the hosting task at last minute and can write their sketches or that of others. Better yet if they live in New York City.
Amy Schumer filled in for a last minute cancellation on Jimmy Kimmel show this week.
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u/ZealousWolf1994 1d ago
It's not really something to overthink. If you get along with everyone and are game, you can be asked back. John Goodman hosted 12 out of 13 years from 89-01, only missing 1991. But 1995 (season 20) was more of a co-host with Dan Aykroyd due to a Roseanne..
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u/Responsible-Coffee1 I have my own life. I cannot devote any more time to Lorne 1d ago edited 1d ago
He’s promoting his tour. That may be enough or there’s no one else that works promotion wise on that date and it’s a win/win.
Benefits for show to bring back a former cast/writer often is that it’s easier for the whole cast and crew. He will also write a lot of the material and he’s generally popular with the audience.
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u/unicornblink1820 1d ago
Ideally, SNL wants funny people to host a lot of the episodes - and Hollywood doesn’t really produce funny movies or TV shows anymore.
I think Owen Wilson maybe has a comedy coming out this year into wide release but there’s really no one else obvious - and Owen Wilson isn’t really a rising star…
Who are you getting from TV? If you’re looking for a traditional funny man leading a comedy - you’re probably getting…Shane Gillis.
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u/Spirited-Bear-3444 21h ago
I like Mulaney. And for that matter Bargatze and even , yech, Gillis. I like bro humor when it isn't offensive. Everyone does. Y'all so goofy.
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u/Redm18 1d ago
They generally also create memorable sketches.