FARK.com: (6955878) Here's a list of the 10 worst Saturday Night Live hosts ever, written by someone who obviously has no clue that the show existed before Mike Myers and Dana Carvey

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		Here's a list of the 10 worst Saturday Night Live hosts ever, written by someone who obviously has no clue that the show existed before Mike Myers and Dana Carvey (redeyechicago.com)		112
		More: Interesting, SNL, Saturday Night Live hosts, Lindsay Lohan

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9545 clicks; posted to Entertainment » on 22 Feb 2012 at 9:39 AM | Favorite | share:

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iron_city_ap		2012-02-22 11:03:54 AM

Non-actors and bad actors tend to act poorly? I'm shocked.

hurdboy		2012-02-22 11:04:56 AM

Mugato: I haven't seen most of these but I do remember Steven Segal doing "Kung Fu Fighting" on guitar and it was pretty brutal.

I've seen about half of 'em. Segal was, by far, the worst. No contest.

//So when's Lana Del Ray get her shot hosting?

Great_Milenko		2012-02-22 11:06:23 AM

Well, they certainly nailed it with #1.

/also qualifies as worst human ever, but that's a list for another day.

Tom_Slick		2012-02-22 11:08:36 AM

EdVenture: TimSTP: Robert De Niro was pretty bad. He didn't even bother to memorize his lines and didn't even try to hide the fact that he was reading all of his lines off of cue cards.

Maybe so, but this bit always makes me laugh.
Link

That was one of the best bits that year.

bigpeeler		2012-02-22 11:10:04 AM

Mugato: playblu: Same with Andrew Dice Clay. It's not that he sucked as host, it's that it's cool to hate him, and after the fact it seems like a bad idea to have let him host.

...and yet Tracy Morgan is twice the offensive douchebag and he's on one of the top NBC shows.

Different shades of comedy, I guess.

ajt167		2012-02-22 11:11:23 AM

The ones I hated the most were the hosts that seemed to think they were too good for the show or uninterested. Examples include Nancy Kerrigan and Paris Hilton. I'll even give props to the hosts who tried but were really out of their elements, like Michael Phelps. Teve Torbes (I have been calling him that since his episode) was surprisingly good, given how plain, uninteresting, and unfunny he typically is.

Madbassist1		2012-02-22 11:13:31 AM

JohnBigBootay: TimSTP: Robert De Niro was pretty bad. He didn't even bother to memorize his lines and didn't even try to hide the fact that he was reading all of his lines off of cue cards.

Ditto. Hell, I might call him the worst when you factor in his obvious skill and body of work. Some of these bad hosts have no place on stage, particularly live, but when you look at De Niro it's obvious he simply didn't try or prepare at all.

That's because he's convinced he's the greatest thing since sliced bread, and he isn't In the link, I think the director has a good point, and Deniro could use some direction, instead he blows the guy off.

gunga galunga		2012-02-22 11:14:02 AM

jake_lex: Wasn't the Milton Berle episode so legendarily bad that they forbade it from ever being rerun?

It wasn't so much that he was a terrible host but rather that his style of vaudevillian mugging was the exact opposite of what Lorne Michaels wanted. More than anything, Lorne hates it when people ham it up and improvise during a live broadcast. He's banned many hosts (and fired Damon Wayans) for it.

Milty was much better suited for The Muppet Show. Just watched that episode the other night. He was great.

timharrod		2012-02-22 11:21:50 AM

Great_Milenko: Well, they certainly nailed it with #1.

/also qualifies as worst human ever, but that's a list for another day.

To be fair, Dice redeemed himself here as a trenchant financial analyst on CNNfn. NOTE: NSFW language.

the_colonel		2012-02-22 11:25:36 AM

Buck Off!

Duke Slater		2012-02-22 11:28:57 AM

TimSTP: Robert De Niro was pretty bad. He didn't even bother to memorize his lines and didn't even try to hide the fact that he was reading all of his lines off of cue cards.

That's one of the many things that make Walken great when he hosts.

gunga galunga		2012-02-22 11:29:20 AM

playblu: FTFA: "Hilton got some laughs for her performance in 2005..."

THEN SHE'S PROBABLY NOT ONE OF THE WORST SNL HOSTS EVER.

Same with Andrew Dice Clay. It's not that he sucked as host, it's that it's cool to hate him, and after the fact it seems like a bad idea to have let him host.

To be fair to Andrew Dice Clay, he was completely blind sided by the press when Nora Dunn boycotted the episode, I can see that completely throwing him off his game.

Not that I ever found him remotely funny in the first place. I didn't hate him, as I could tell his misogynist bigot routine was just an act. It was his frat boy audience who whooped it up and cheered every time he said something really vile that bothered the shiat out of me. It wasn't a "it's funny because he's making fun of jerks like this" reaction, It was a "Amen! Thank god finally somebody has the guts to say it" reaction.

gunga galunga		2012-02-22 11:32:54 AM

ajt167: The ones I hated the most were the hosts that seemed to think they were too good for the show or uninterested. Examples include Nancy Kerrigan

Like the time Nancy Kerrigan agreed to be in a Disney parade, but was caught on microphone saying "this is so dumb".

/yup, she used the "I was taken out of context" excuse

JohnBigBootay		2012-02-22 11:38:07 AM

Madbassist1: That's because he's convinced he's the greatest thing since sliced bread, and he isn't In the link, I think the director has a good point, and Deniro could use some direction, instead he blows the guy off.

He's done some amazing work. But no, I don't much care for it when people are dicks. "I'd prefer not to do anymore", " I have another appointment", I'm not feeling well and I need to go", would all have been superior responses than telling the guy shooting the promo - who asked nicely by the way - that he didn't know what he was talking about. No, Robert, you did not appear to be excited. It's not like he asked him to smile or something.

bigpeeler		2012-02-22 11:38:31 AM

Some of these early pairings are historically priceless:

19/Mar/77........Broderick Crawford / Dr. John, The Meters
17/Dec/77........Mrs. Miskel Spillman / Elvis Costello and the Attractions
25/Mar/78........Christopher Lee / Meat Loaf
10/Mar/79........Gary Busey / Gary Busey with Rick Danko and Paul Butterfield, Eubie Blake
20/Oct/79........Eric Idle / Bob Dylan
17/Nov/79........Bea Arthur / The Roches
23/Feb/80........Kirk Douglas / Sam and Dave
08/Mar/80........Rodney Dangerfield / J. Geils Band
19/Apr/80........Strother Martin / he Specials
22/Nov/80........Malcolm McDowell / Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
17/Oct/81........George Kennedy / Miles Davis
06/Feb/82........James Coburn / Mick Fleetwood, Lindsay Buckingham
17/Apr/82........Johnny Cash / Elton John
19/Nov/83........Jerry Lewis / Loverboy
28/Jan/84........Don Rickles / Billy Idol
14/Apr/84........George McGovern / Madness
13/Apr/85........Howard Cosell / Greg Kihn
17/May/86........Jimmy Breslin & Marvin Hagler / Level 42, E.G. Daily

Maechyll		2012-02-22 11:48:35 AM

Devolving_Spud: [upload.wikimedia.org image 218x150]

Miss me yet?

Yes.

TimSTP		2012-02-22 11:52:56 AM

18/Jan/86 Harry Dean Stanton/The Replacements

Midnight Rambler		2012-02-22 12:00:02 PM

The other day I streamed an episode from the '70s on Netflix, with Don Rickles hosting. He killed it. His opening monologue had me in stitches.

There is a sketch he's in with Joe Piscopo, and Piscopo is literally slapping Rickles around. It was not part of the sketch, but Piscopo just keeps doing it. He is clearly pleased with himself, too.

Rickles was getting pissed, but he maintained his professionalism.

It was maddening to see a piece of crap nobody like Piscopo trying to humiliate a legend like Don Rickles.

roughridersfan		2012-02-22 12:04:23 PM

gunga galunga: ajt167: The ones I hated the most were the hosts that seemed to think they were too good for the show or uninterested. Examples include Nancy Kerrigan

Like the time Nancy Kerrigan agreed to be in a Disney parade, but was caught on microphone saying "this is so dumb".

From my recollection of the video, I remember Kerrigan saying that when Mickey was she was leaning over while Mickey mouse was putting her Olympic medal on her. It was kind of goofy (no pun intended).

Evil Mackerel		2012-02-22 12:04:27 PM

Devolving_Spud: [upload.wikimedia.org image 218x150]

Miss me yet?

Everyday.

Angry Drunk Bureaucrat		2012-02-22 12:05:50 PM

Zerochance: Jon Hamm was good? I am having a hard time picturing him playing anything other than stoic-ass Don Draper.

His SNL James Mason impression is hilarious.

I heard that they had asked him to do someone else originally and he nailed it, but they switched it to James Mason last minute.

Madbassist1		2012-02-22 12:16:54 PM

bigpeeler: 19/Apr/80........Strother Martin / he Specials

oh hell, I'm going to find that and watch it.

verbaltoxin		2012-02-22 12:17:37 PM

Teufelaffe: DjangoStonereaver: [2.bp.blogspot.com image 432x594]

"Excuse me...."

Holy shiat...when did Charles Grodin get old?? Crap...when did I get old?? Dammit...now I need an onion for my belt.

Agreed, Charles Grodin was one of those guys who looked 45 forever and then suddenly he was 80.

Kavalier		2012-02-22 12:40:19 PM

gunga galunga: ajt167: The ones I hated the most were the hosts that seemed to think they were too good for the show or uninterested. Examples include Nancy Kerrigan

Like the time Nancy Kerrigan agreed to be in a Disney parade, but was caught on microphone saying "this is so dumb".

/yup, she used the "I was taken out of context" excuse

Actually, she addressed the controversy in her monologue. She was caught on mic at Disney World saying "this is the corniest thing I've ever done." In her SNL monologue, she claims she actually said "this is the horniest thing I've ever done." It was pretty much the only laugh she got that night.

schpanky		2012-02-22 12:40:54 PM

Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: Zerochance: Jon Hamm was good? I am having a hard time picturing him playing anything other than stoic-ass Don Draper.

His SNL James Mason impression is hilarious.

I heard that they had asked him to do someone else originally and he nailed it, but they switched it to James Mason last minute.

He's only in this sketch for a moment, but I thought he was hilarious in this as well:
Link (new window)

ritalinchild 54		2012-02-22 12:53:33 PM

Abe Vigoda's Ghost: Devolving_Spud: [upload.wikimedia.org image 218x150]

Miss me yet?

From the moment she passed on.

Fact.

A Screaming Man with Two-Toned Shoes		2012-02-22 01:19:53 PM

schpanky: Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: Zerochance: Jon Hamm was good? I am having a hard time picturing him playing anything other than stoic-ass Don Draper.

His SNL James Mason impression is hilarious.

I heard that they had asked him to do someone else originally and he nailed it, but they switched it to James Mason last minute.

He's only in this sketch for a moment, but I thought he was hilarious in this as well:
Link (new window)

Hamm crushes it no matter what they give him to do. Considering it's SNL, that's no mean feat.

But lest we forget . . . SERGIO. (new window)

nyrB		2012-02-22 01:28:39 PM

Hosts that aren't entertainers are usually not that good. I remember an episode from the first season where the host was the White House press secretary. He was pretty useless.

taxandspend		2012-02-22 01:34:25 PM

I'm pretty sure you could fill any list of the worst SNL hosts with athletes and it'd be accurate. Though I did love Peyton Manning and the United Way. Of all the athletes, I think Andy Roddick was the absolute worst, least funny host ever. Tom Brady was pretty bad as well.

Electric_Banana		2012-02-22 01:42:54 PM

bigpeeler: Some of these early pairings are historically priceless:

19/Mar/77........Broderick Crawford / Dr. John, The Meters
17/Dec/77........Mrs. Miskel Spillman / Elvis Costello and the Attractions
25/Mar/78........Christopher Lee / Meat Loaf
10/Mar/79........Gary Busey / Gary Busey with Rick Danko and Paul Butterfield, Eubie Blake
20/Oct/79........Eric Idle / Bob Dylan
17/Nov/79........Bea Arthur / The Roches
23/Feb/80........Kirk Douglas / Sam and Dave
08/Mar/80........Rodney Dangerfield / J. Geils Band
19/Apr/80........Strother Martin / he Specials
22/Nov/80........Malcolm McDowell / Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
17/Oct/81........George Kennedy / Miles Davis
06/Feb/82........James Coburn / Mick Fleetwood, Lindsay Buckingham
17/Apr/82........Johnny Cash / Elton John
19/Nov/83........Jerry Lewis / Loverboy
28/Jan/84........Don Rickles / Billy Idol
14/Apr/84........George McGovern / Madness
13/Apr/85........Howard Cosell / Greg Kihn
17/May/86........Jimmy Breslin & Marvin Hagler / Level 42, E.G. Daily

HC as Ed Grimley's dad was pretty funny, though. Something about his serious deadpan delivery of "I must say" cracked me up.

Electric_Banana		2012-02-22 01:44:18 PM

George Steinbrenner was pretty god awful too. Except for the hardware store bit.

That Magnificent Bastard!		2012-02-22 01:46:05 PM

Wow. A lot of basement dwellers here.

chuggernaught		2012-02-22 01:52:43 PM

Amazed that nobody has mentioned this yet:

SNL is still on the air?

puckrock2000		2012-02-22 02:20:49 PM

taxandspend: I'm pretty sure you could fill any list of the worst SNL hosts with athletes and it'd be accurate. Though I did love Peyton Manning and the United Way. Of all the athletes, I think Andy Roddick was the absolute worst, least funny host ever. Tom Brady was pretty bad as well.

Joe Montana was great, if only for this one sketch. (new window)

Rickj		2012-02-22 02:26:54 PM

puckrock2000: taxandspend: I'm pretty sure you could fill any list of the worst SNL hosts with athletes and it'd be accurate. Though I did love Peyton Manning and the United Way. Of all the athletes, I think Andy Roddick was the absolute worst, least funny host ever. Tom Brady was pretty bad as well.

Joe Montana was great, if only for this one sketch. (new window)

One of my all time favorite sketches! Thanks for posting.

(that is one of my all time favorite sketches. I'm really thankful that puckrock posted it)

bigpeeler		2012-02-22 02:29:06 PM

Charlton Heston as the homicidal grocery store stock boy was pure insanity..

doczoidberg		2012-02-22 02:49:19 PM

Tom Green was the worst host I've ever seen....

Solid Muldoon		2012-02-22 03:02:21 PM

They weren't very good, but at least they never murdered anybody.

cough cough O J Simpson cough Robert Blake...

EyeballKid		2012-02-22 03:32:07 PM

bigpeeler: Gary Busey / Gary Busey with Rick Danko and Paul Butterfield, Eubie Blake

The version of "Stay All Night" that Busey does (I'm guessing while coked up) with Danko and Butterfield is epic, though.

bigpeeler: Charlton Heston as the homicidal grocery store stock boy was pure insanity..

"Hams? 2 for a nickel!"

HAMMERTOE		2012-02-22 04:07:30 PM

Although I used to be a Jeff Gordon fan, the episode he hosted was pretty meh.

schemy		2012-02-22 04:44:11 PM

Lorne Michaels has always said Segal was the worst by far. ADC wasn't bad. In fact, that episode is quite good. In one sketch he's in an after school special giving dating advice which Phil Hartman critiques after. Very funny.

4NSpy		2012-02-22 05:12:03 PM

Zerochance: Jon Hamm was good? I am having a hard time picturing him playing anything other than stoic-ass Don Draper.

Jon Hamm's John Ham.

FeedTheCollapse		2012-02-22 05:43:09 PM

schemy: ADC wasn't bad. In fact, that episode is quite good. In one sketch he's in an after school special giving dating advice which Phil Hartman critiques after. Very funny.

I think TFA meant Andrew Dice Clay was one of the worst in terms of off-putting personality even to the cast. Segal fell under the same category, IIRC.

peterthx		2012-02-22 05:47:49 PM

4NSpy: Zerochance: Jon Hamm was good? I am having a hard time picturing him playing anything other than stoic-ass Don Draper.

Jon Hamm's John Ham.

That and his roles in Bridesmaids and 30 Rock. He's got great comic timing and a sense of humor about himself.

I tend to blank on the worst hosts, and I've been watching the show steadily since 1979.

Life_is_a_carnivore		2012-02-22 05:54:18 PM

Aw, come on.
Teve Torbes was good.

Altitude5280		2012-02-22 06:01:09 PM

SNL wants Tim Tebow to host a show. I'm guessing he won't do it .

These days I only watch the opening skit and the news segment.

fusillade762		2012-02-22 06:49:30 PM

Diogenes: Athletes generally don't do well, but I enjoyed Peyton Manning. Sir Charles, as well.

Joe Montana's "Sincere Guy Stu" sketch from the 80s was pretty good.

-----------------

Dan: I think you'll relaly like Stu. He's absolutely the most sincere, genuine straightforward person you'll ever want to meet. A real honest guy.

Dan's Thoughts: What a jerk he is!

Leslie: He sounds really nice.

Leslie's Thoughts: God, he sounds boring!

------------

Leslie: Uh.. listen, we'll talk quietly, so as not to disturb you, okay?

Stu: Oh, you won't disturb me. I'll be in my room masturbating.

Stu's Thoughts: They won't disturb me. I'll be masturbating.

piney		2012-02-22 07:25:59 PM

gunga galunga: playblu: . It was his frat boy audience who whooped it up and cheered every time he said something really vile that bothered the shiat out of me. It wasn't a "it's funny because he's making fun of jerks like this" reaction, It was a "Amen! Thank god finally somebody has the guts to say it" reaction.

this.

I actually remember two skits that I laughed at, "Cool Mite" (but that could be becuase of the dog not showing up and his ad lib) and the "Raging Bull" skit. Which again, may have been because of his ad libbing when Lovitz hits him with a microwave and he says something about why is there a microwave in the 60s.

I think he used to be an impressionist. I clearly remember seeing him on TV in his younger days before he was the Dice-man, where he did a camping trip with DeNiro, Travolta, Pacino, and some other guys. Not very funny.

I also remember seeing him in a movie "Casual Sex" or something like that where he actually played a guy who on the outside was Dice and on the inside was a sort of gentle oaf. I think, I saw it once, and only remember bits and pieces.

bigpeeler		2012-02-22 07:40:53 PM

EyeballKid:

"Hams? 2 for a nickel!"

I've been laughing ever since you posted this.

zappaisfrank		2012-02-22 10:50:57 PM

Tyrone Slothrop: I thought Frank Zappa was supposed to have been the worst host. He couldn't remember his lines, and evidently pissed off Lorne Michaels enough that he said that Zappa would never be invited back.

The friction occurred largely because the cast was all farked up on drugs (except for Jane) and Zappa was anti-drug. By the time the show aired, FZ and the cast all hated each other and he went along with it just to get it done The show did kinda bomb but seeing FZ on tv at all was a rarity in the late 1970's.

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