This year marks the 40th season of “Saturday Night Live” and Lorne Michaels is giving us three consecutive shows with first time hosts. I am a die hard SNL fan and as much as I love seeing familiar faces take the stage, I truly enjoy seeing an actor/musician/athlete try performing skits on live television. This year started off strong with Star Lord himself, Chris Pratt, hosting this past weekend. The show wasn’t quite on its ‘A’ game (the pairing on weekend update can only get better because it can’t get much worse) but it did provide some very funny moments (see Aidy Bryant and Pratt rapping in a bar after meeting for the first time and the Pete Davidson/Leslie Jones segments on Weekend Update).
After Pratt, SNL alumni Sarah Silverman and Bill Hader will be taking on hosting duties for the first time. This got me thinking: could first time hosts be the theme for the 40th season of “Saturday Night Live?” If this is the theme (and even if it’s not) here are a few people who I would love to see host SNL for the first time.
6. Nick Offerman
Ron Swanson himself would be an excellent host and would be hilarious in a sketch involving him dressed in drag. Severely underrated and consistently overlooked by the Emmys and Golden Globes for best supporting actor in a comedy, his portrayal of Ron Swanson on “Parks and Rec” is hysterical. SNL should give Offerman a chance for the spotlight to shine his comedy genius.
5. Terry Crews
Probably the most physically intimidating actor on this list, Crews is great at utilizing his massive frame to get huge laughs. He is a standout on “Brooklyn 99” and I would love to see what kind of skits the SNL writing staff could come up with utilizing his talents.
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4. Chelsea Peretti
When Crews is not making us laugh on ‘Brooklyn 99’ his co-star Chelsea Peretti is usually stealing the scene. Her character’s quick wittiness is written perfectly, but it is Peretti who truly makes the character and her stand up is pretty funny as well. I can only imagine what she would say on live television given the opportunity.
3. Joel McHale
Unfiltered, unapologetic, and far from politically correct, the host of “The Soup” is always hilarious and spares no one from his comedic jabs. He has the charisma to pull off being a successful host without running the risk of each skit being the same as the last. Plus I would love to see him have a conversation with Vanessa Bayer’s version of Miley Cyrus in a “The Soup” style skit where she ends up hitting him with a wrecking ball.
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2. Craig Robinson
I have always loved Craig Robinson since “The Office” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.” He always brings an element of realism even in movies like “Pineapple Express” and “Hot Tub Time Machine” which makes everything he does insanely funny. Seeing him complete his monologue with a full length version of the song ‘Take Your Panties Off’ from “This is The End” would make my mind explode.
1. Nick Kroll
The standout performer from a strong cast on “The League,” Kroll knows how to make the audience cringe and laugh at the same time. His timing is perfect which would certainly be an asset on “Saturday Night Live.” Seeing a “bris-gone-wrong” type of sketch with him as the Mohel would be comedic gold!
Also Considered: Every male actor on “New Girl” (Damon Wayans Jr., Max Greenfield, Jake Johnson and Lamorne Morris), Adam Jones (Baltimore Orioles Outfielder and pie-smasher extraordinaire), Aubrey Plaza (“Parks and Rec”), Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”), Leslie Mann (“This is 40”), Wendi McLendon-Covey (“The Goldbergs”), Rebel Wilson (“Super Fun Night”) and Mindy Kaling (“The Mindy Project”).