In the 2010s, the MCU reigned supreme at the theaters, the golden age of television was firmly established, Taylor Swift grew up, and politics were on everyone's minds, as multiple historic elections took place. Always a representative microcosm of American culture, Saturday Night Live highlighted these trends and phenomena, while also being entertaining throughout the decade.
Like any SNL era, plenty of unfamiliar cast members, like Fred Armisen, were platformed into superstardom and a few big-name celebrities added their name to the show's unofficial list of go-to favorites as hosts and musical guests. A few entries on this list fall into both categories. Fans of the long-running series stay for the sketch humor, but it's the prospect of Hollywood's biggest stars acting goofy that often initially attracts. Here's the 10 who were most successful.
10 Larry David (8.2)
When it comes to Democratic presidential candidates of the last two elections, seemingly mainstream nominee Joe Biden has proved elusive for SNL, being portrayed by everyone from Jason Sudeikis to Woody Harrelson to John Mulaney. As for challenger Bernie Sanders, it was a no-brainer match to similarly vigilant and logical Lary David of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm fame.
Having never hosted before (and for that matter having been fired from the show as a writer), David was highly anticipated as a host after several guest turns as Sanders.
9 John Mulaney (8.2)
John Mulaney was a writer on Saturday Night Live for years. Like Bob Odenkirk and Conan O'Brien before him, nobody could have imagined him as an onscreen presence. Ironically, of course, he is now among stand-up and TV comedy's biggest names.
Returning as host, Mulaney tends to draw both diehard fans to tune in and friends of the show to stop by. For instance, this episode also features Larry David, Ratchel Dratch, Fred Armisen, and Jake Gyllenhaal. Paired with high-profile musical guests, like David Byrne, his episodes always garner attention and acclaim.
8 Bill Hader (8.2)
An early candidate for the Hollywood SNL era in question may be Bill Hader. It is too early to determine for sure, but Hader's entertaining range in Trainwreck combined with a turn in the renowned Barry demonstrates an offbeat reliability fitting to the 21st century. In his post-SNL years, he has also contributed prolifically to shows like South Park and Documentary Now.
In one of Bill Hader's earliest episodes, he was introduced as an impressionist and character actor. For this host turn in 2014, he couldn't resist bringing many favorites back, from Al Pacino to aged newsman Herb Welch to, of course, Stefon.
7 Adam Sandler (8.4)
In the late 1980s, the SNL cast was stacked. Mike Myers and Dana Carvey hosted "Wayne's World." The late Phil Hartman was the show's hotshot. To some degree, Adam Sandler and close friends Chris Farley, Chris Rock, and David Spade were bit-part afterthoughts.
Of course, no cast member ever has made more money in comedy ultimately than Adam Sandler. In his post-SNL years, he's played box office juggernaut, causing the legacy of him, the late Farley, and the others to be bastioned in series lore. In host position this past year, Sandler sang a heartfelt song about the tragically lost friend.
6 Jimmy Fallon (8.5)
During his time hosting SNL's "Weekend Update," Jimmy Fallon was always famously out-of-place next to the polished Tina Fey. However, he scored another "desk job" in 2009 with Late Night and has dominated talk television ever since, currently as the host of The Tonight Show.
That The Tonight Show is also run by Lorne Michaels and is filmed just down the hall has proved a beneficial scenario for NBC. The series often share guests and Fallon, along with his much-touted BFF, has become something of a star-power poster boy for the show occupied by "Not-Ready-For-Primetime Players."
5 Justin Timberlake (8.5)
This is the decade's first chronological episode in the Jimmy Fallon/Justin Timberlake era that dominates this list. It marked Timberlake's fourth hosting gig, making him an eventual shoo-in for the "Five-Timers Club." Meanwhile, Fallon kept their onscreen collaborations regular (see "The History of Rap") between each other's SNL appearances via his show.
Remarkably, it's performances like these that seem to only further bolster Justin Timberlake's career. With a strong roster of albums and film roles since his rise to stardom via NSYNC at the turn of the century, he has remained in the limelight as not only a multi-talented musician, but also a strong comedic actor.
4 Justin Timberlake (8.6)
By his "Five-Timers Club" episode, the love affair between Justin Timberlake and SNL was at full-tilt. He performed double-duty, had enough recurring characters to come off as an old cast member, and even took a shot at then-all-powerful Kanye West.
Recently, any host's induction into the Five-Timers Club has been marked with a sketch that brings the audience inside its classy fictional walls. Longtime members like Steve Martin and John Goodman hang out in robes, while cast members and less-recurring hosts play as servants and entertainment.
3 Betty White (8.8)
Busting up the Fallon/Timberlake bromance phase of the 2010s is an unexpected host pick that, yet, makes all the sense in the world. Wherever Betty White is, loveable comedy gold seems to follow. She is the prototypical "older woman who surprises by being raunchy and sophomoric" - a perfect sidekick for Kenan Thompson's failed-intimidator in the recurring "Scared Straight" sketch.
At 88, White was the oldest person to ever host the show. Not to mention, this was a 2010 episode. Going on 100, we'd love to see her return, if only to excitedly announce some rapper's name. In this episode it was Jay-Z. Next year, how about Fetty Wap?
2 Jimmy Fallon (8.8)
Appropriately, this 2013 episode is the to-date climax of Fallon/Timberlake. The episode bill reads as such - with Fallon as host and Timberlake as musical guest. However, as expected, Fallon does quite a bit of singing and Timberlake does plenty of joking.
"The Barry Gibb Talk Show," "Wrappinville," and even Timberlake as Fallon on "Celebrity Family Feud" - all of the duo's hard-hitters are here. For each season's year-ending holiday episode, Lorne Michaels seeks epic host-guest picks and big ratings. In three of this list's entries, this is overwhelmingly what he found.
1 Eddie Murphy (8.9)
During the 1980s, Saturday Night Live went through its only period without Lorne Michaels and nearly did not make it out alive. In the opinion of many, blockbuster talent Eddie Murphy put the show on his shoulders entirely. While this is up for debate, a leading fact is that Murphy is the only cast member to host the show during his tenure.
Fast forward some 30 years, long past a robust film career for Murphy, and has been mostly quiet. His return to the SNL stage was a veritable "big deal." That it was hysterical and fresh solidifies it here in this list's number one position.
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August 28, 2020 at 05:30AM
