Most Famous Celebrities Who Have Never Hosted 'Saturday Night Live'
As “Saturday Night Live” cruises through its historic 50th season, fans and comedy aficionados alike are reflecting on just how many cultural icons have graced the stage at Studio 8H. From politicians and pop stars to dramatic actors and global comedians, the NBC sketch comedy institution has built a legacy on its ability to surprise, entertain and launch careers.
After over 100 Primetime Emmys, there are only three episodes left before the season finale, and speculation is buzzing regarding who will close out this milestone year?
While “SNL” has hosted hundreds of celebrities over the years, with Alec Baldwin holding the record for the most with 17, there’s still a surprising list of Hollywood royalty who’ve never delivered that iconic “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” line. We’re talking Oscar winners, box office legends and cultural powerhouses who somehow haven’t taken a turn at live sketch comedy.
And the truth is, if properly leaned into the fabric of humor, they’d absolutely crush it. Not only are these stars more than capable of commanding a live audience, but they all have the kind of iconic roles and public personas ripe for parody. Imagine a sketch spoofing “Training Day,” or watching one of cinema’s most respected actresses don a silly wig and do a fake commercial. The key is obviously not taking themselves too seriously, something these stars have proven they can do when the moment calls for it.
Below Variety ranks the list of the top 13 most famous people who’ve never hosted “Saturday Night Live,” and why now, especially during this golden anniversary season, would be the perfect time for them to finally step into the spotlight on late-night’s most legendary stage.
Honorable mentions: Whoopi Goldberg, Angelina Jolie, Bette Midler, Brad Pitt, Will Smith
See Emmy Award predictions below:
Variety Awards Circuit: Emmys
Sandra Bullock
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If any actress was born to host “SNL,” it’s Sandra Bullock.
She’s long been one of Hollywood’s most bankable and beloved stars, known for combining heart, humor and a whole lot of charm in films like “Miss Congeniality” and “Speed.” Bullock’s self-deprecating sense of humor is already legendary. She famously accepted her Razzie in person, she’s roasted herself in interviews and she practically built a career on poking fun at her on-screen personas. Hosting “SNL” would be like watching her step into the ultimate rom-com-meets-variety show hybrid.
Picture it: a sketch where she plays all the characters from her hit films — maybe Margaret from “The Proposal” (with a Ryan Reynolds cameo) doing a business merger with Gracie Hart from “Miss Congeniality,” while Annie from “Speed” drives the sketch forward (literally).
She’s a comedic natural, and her long-overdue SNL debut could be an instant classic.
Eva Longoria
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Eva Longoria has the comedic chops, timing and cultural savvy to be a killer “SNL” host. She’s best known for her breakout role as Gabrielle Solis on “Desperate Housewives,” where Longoria blended sass, glamour and quick wit into a performance that remains iconic. She reminded us how funny she can be with her role in the fourth season of “Only Murders in the Building.”
Hosting “Saturday Night Live” would give Longoria the chance to parody the over-the-top world of “Housewives” (and we’re also including Bravo in this pitch), step into exaggerated telenovela spoofs and maybe even poke fun at Hollywood’s favorite Latina typecasting.
Longoria could also use the platform to blend comedy with a little cultural commentary, taking on everything from representation in media to spicy food tolerance tests. In “SNL’s” 50 years, which have included nearly 1,000 episodes, only 25 Latinos have hosted an episode. That’s less than 3%.
Plus, who wouldn’t want to see her go toe-to-toe in a fake fashion-off with Marcello Hernández and Sarah Sherman? Or pull off a chaotic cooking sketch tied to her “Searching for Spain” series.
Eva’s hosting gig is overdue, and it would be fabulosa.
Cate Blanchett
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Few actors have the acting range of Cate Blanchett. From playing Queen Elizabeth I to Bob Dylan to Hela in “Thor: Ragnarok,” she’s a master of transformation. And that makes her an ideal fit for “SNL,” where versatility is the name of the game. Yet somehow, the two-time Oscar winner has never taken the stage in 30 Rock’s legendary studio.
Blanchett is already halfway to being a cast member. She’s done comedy in “Don’t Look Up” and has shown she’s more than game to poke fun at herself in interviews and public appearances. Hosting “SNL” would be a brilliant extension of that playful energy. I can imagine her playing a pompous drama teacher, a villainous fashionista (or even herself), struggling to stay humble while constantly reminding people she’s won two Oscars.
Plus, the sheer elegance of Blanchett combined with “SNL’s” off-the-wall absurdity could be comedy magic. Let’s do it!
Zendaya
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Zendaya is a multi-hyphenate force — actor, singer and style icon.
With a resume that includes “Euphoria” and the “Dune” and “Spider-Man” franchises, she’s proven she can handle any genre. But what makes Zendaya a perfect candidate to host “Saturday Night Live” is her effortless comedic charm and self-awareness.
She’s shown off her humor in everything from viral interviews to sketchy TikToks — and let’s not forget her playful banter with co-stars like Tom Holland and Timothée Chalamet. On “SNL,” she could lean into Gen Z tropes, social media madness or spoof “Euphoria” in a way only she could.
Zendaya’s cool factor would bring younger audiences in droves, and she has the confidence and adaptability to jump between sketch characters with ease. Her hosting seems inevitable. Why wait?
Viola Davis
Image Credit: Alexi Lubomirski for Variety
Viola Davis is a powerhouse performer whose intensity could electrify any stage. She’s earned critical acclaim for raw, emotionally charged roles in “Fences” and “How to Get Away with Murder.” But what makes the EGOT such an exciting candidate for “SNL” is that all her gravitas could be hilariously flipped on its head.
Davis told Variety in a 2022 interview that she’s open to doing a rom-com with her husband Julius Tennon: “Our lives are a rom-com. It’s really fun. We tell everybody when we come into the room, we bring the fun.”
Can you imagine a sketch where Annalise Keating is trying to explain a legal case while caught in a bizarre rom-com plot? Or Viola channeling her signature dramatic stare in a sketch about choosing the best fruit smoothies?
Viola is also deeply funny — her award show speeches, while powerful, are charming, and her interviews are full of wit. With her incredible delivery and commanding stage presence, she could elevate even the goofiest sketch into something legendary.
Tom Holland
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Why Tom Holland? Two words. Rihanna. Umbrella.
Holland might be the most charming actor of his generation. As the face of “Spider-Man” for the MCU, and the internet’s favorite accidental spoiler, Holland brings a rare mix of earnestness, physicality and comedic timing that’s tailor-made for the stage.
He’s already proven his comedy chops in interviews, red carpet moments and viral appearances (who could forget his iconic “Umbrella” performance on “Lip Sync Battle?”). Give this man a live audience, and you know he’ll go all in.
Let’s get a sketch where Peter Parker is stuck on a Zoom meeting, or a crash course on British actors over-preparing for American roles. Or maybe a high-energy musical number where Holland plays every version of Spider-Man — Tobey, Andrew (and even Miles?) — in one chaotic sketch.
Holland also has that rare ability to laugh at himself, which makes him even more perfect for sketch comedy. He’s already swung from skyscrapers, hosting live from New York is the logical next step.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves is beloved not only for his films, but also for his humility and meme-worthy moments. He’s starred in some of the biggest and most iconic franchises of all time, from “The Matrix” to “John Wick” to “Speed.” And yet, he’s somehow never hosted “Saturday Night Live./” That’s a glitch in the Matrix we need to fix.
Reeves would thrive on “SNL” because he’s in on the joke. Whether it’s embracing his reputation as “the internet’s boyfriend” or turning awkward pauses into punchlines, Reeves has a subtle comedic brilliance that audiences eat up. Imagine a sketch where he teaches a yoga class using only Matrix-inspired moves. Or a parody of “John Wick,” but instead of a dog, he’s avenging a stolen parking spot or a co-worker stealing his drink?
He’s known for taking the subway from his home in Brooklyn, and it’s an easy train ride into Manhattan.
Harrison Ford
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Han Solo. Indiana Jones. Rick Deckard.
Harrison Ford is the ultimate cinematic icon, but he hasn’t been an “SNL” host. That’s a missed comedic jackpot. With a career spanning over five decades and a reputation for being both gruff and hilariously dry in interviews, Ford is a treasure trove of material just waiting to be mined for laughs.
The beauty of Ford on “SNL” would be his famously no-nonsense attitude juxtaposed with the show’s goofball energy. Imagine Ford playing himself as a cranky neighbor who’s forced to babysit Gen Z roommates. Or a sketch where every “SNL” cast member dresses as Indy and insists they’re “the real one,” while Ford just deadpans his way through the chaos.
Give him a fedora, a fake whip and a weird sketch premise, and Ford could deliver one of the driest, funniest episodes in “SNL” history.
Denzel Washington
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It’s almost shocking that Denzel Washington has never hosted “SNL.” He’s one of the most respected and decorated actors of his generation. He’s a two-time Academy Award winner, known for unforgettable performances in films like “Training Day,” “Glory” and “Malcolm X.” With his commanding presence and serious roles, Washington might not be the first name that comes to mind for sketch comedy, but that’s exactly why he’d be incredible.
The comedy writes itself. Picture a parody of “Training Day” where he’s schooling new “SNL” cast members like a hard-nosed coach. Or imagine a bit where he delivers dramatic monologues in ridiculous everyday scenarios — like returning a sweater at the mall with the intensity of “John Q.”
Coming off Broadway’s “Othello,” hosting “SNL” would give him the chance to lean into his legacy, poke fun at his most intense characters and show a side fans rarely get to see. After 50 seasons, it’s time we brought on Washington, live and unfiltered.
Julia Roberts
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America’s Sweetheart has never taken a turn in Studio 8H, and that feels like a major missed opportunity. Oscar winner Julia Roberts has one of the most magnetic smiles in Hollywood and the kind of warmth that lights up a screen, whether she’s in a romantic comedy like “Pretty Woman” or a legal drama like “Erin Brockovich.”
Roberts’ infectious laugh and playful charm are perfect for live comedy. She’s not afraid to get silly, and she’s a natural performer with comedic timing that people tend to overlook. She would absolutely crush sketches riffing on her own rom-com tropes, like a fake movie trailer for a rebooted “Notting Hill.”
What would be even more fun is watching her lampoon her “America’s Sweetheart” persona — leaning into her laugh, her laugh-cry, her epic run scenes and maybe even delivering an overly dramatic monologue about shampoo. It’s time “SNL” gave Roberts her comedy close-up. Perhaps later this year, tied to “After the Hunt?”
Leonardo DiCaprio
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Leo is an Oscar winner, an environmental activist and a meme king. But seriously, DiCaprio could be an incredible host if he leaned into it.
The heartthrob has led some of the most iconic films of our era: “Titanic,” “Inception,” “The Revenant,” and dozens of others. He has the kind of persona that’s absolutely ripe for parody.
If DiCaprio leaned into his quirks — his dating history, his climate crusader reputation, even the constant yelling in films memes — he could deliver a knockout hosting gig. Think of “SNL” reimagining “Inception” as a sketch about someone trying to dream their way out of a group text, or a fake trailer for “Titanic 2: Return from the Door: Jack’s Revenge.”
We’ve seen his comedic chops shine in flicks like “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and his turn as Rick Dalton in “Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood” showed how brilliantly he can laugh at himself. Let him do a Weekend Update cameo where he tries to explain his Oscars drought (even though he’s won now).
DiCaprio doesn’t just deserve to host SNL; he needs to. For the culture.
Tom Cruise
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Sure this is a pipe dream, but damn it, Tom Cruise, who has jumped out of planes and clung to the side of a cargo plane during takeoff, has never hosted “Saturday Night Live,” and that remains one mission he needs to accept.
The fact that Cruise has never hosted “SNL” feels almost surreal given his decades of superstardom and pop culture impact.
What makes him such an exciting potential host is the opportunity for him to finally lean into the weirder, more self-aware side of his career. Cruise has a well-documented intensity, but when he loosens up (“Tropic Thunder” anyone?), he’s hilarious. A return to his Les Grossman character from that 2008 comedy would absolutely break the internet.
Then there’s the obvious sketch fodder: “Top Gun: Maverick” parodies, action-movie stunts gone wrong, or a (perhaps?) mockery of a Scientology-themed musical. Let’s not forget his talk show couch-jumping era with Oprah. Cruise would dominate.
Meryl Streep
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Meryl Streep tops this list for good reason. With 21 Oscar nominations and three wins, she’s widely regarded as the greatest living actor — and yet, she’s never graced the “Saturday Night Live” stage. From Margaret Thatcher to Miranda Priestly to a singing witch in “Into the Woods,” Streep has portrayed a staggering range of characters. So, how has “SNL” not handed her the mic?
She’s long been rumored to sit atop Lorne Michaels’ dream guest list. According to multiple industry sources cited by Variety, Streep was once again approached for the show’s 50th season.
As the ultimate chameleon, there’s no sketch role she couldn’t crush. A Target cashier haunted by Shakespearean ghosts? No problem. A musical parody of “The Devil Wears Prada” where she raps fashion advice? She’d own it. And let’s not forget how brilliantly funny she is when given the space, as proven by her turns in “Death Becomes Her,” “It’s Complicated” and “Mamma Mia!”
Beyond her world-class talent, Streep has a sharp, sly sense of humor that would thrive in SNL’s anything-goes environment. She could easily spoof her own acting methods, take shots at the seriousness of awards season, or star in a faux PBS drama where she plays every character flawlessly.
So for the love of cinema, television and all things sketch comedy, let us borrow a line delivered in perfect double entendre with your “Death Becomes Her” co-star Goldie Hawn: “Please!”