One of my favorite things to nerd out about is comedy. From Stand Ups to Saturday Night Live, there is something elemental about a good joke. It is something that has the ability to touch our humanity. The deeper the touch, the deeper they can make us laugh. Even something that seems like an immature skit can resonate with us, because most people possess at least a slightly sick sense of humor. Thank goodness, since if we did not, there would be no shows like Archer, South Park, or SNL to enjoy.
Saturday Night Live has always gotten flack from various sources over the years, and a lot of it is understandable. There are bad skits, clunky chemistry, and just far far out misses. Some seasons have this problem more than others, but they all have at least a bit of it. So why do I keep watching it, even after it sometimes falls flat? Because of the brilliant potential! Because of the skits that come together with gleeful perfect ridiculousness. Because there is nothing else out there that gives up live comedy on a weekly basis hosted by celebs that have no idea what they are doing. At least until they come host some more. (Unless you are Melissa McCarthy, then you host even the first time like a damn boss!) Because out of this recipe for disaster comes some seriously hilarious beauty. Example: This Chris Hemsworth skit where he has a chicken as a spaceship captain. There have been more awesome stuff since then, I’m just crazy obsessed with it right now:
So as tribute to this strange love of mine, I challenged myself to make a fantasy fulfilling schedule for a year of SNL. This was more difficult than expected, and I had to leave a lot of people out. For the sake of sneaking in some extra spaces I expanded the slots by choosing three hosts for every month SNL tends to air. Usually they do not put out a show every single Saturday, but I figured I may as well tweak that in my version. I also did not include the ususal SNL alumni that regularly come back to host like Tina Fey and Amy Poehler since they are such a proven success and a given. Their Christmas episode was funny as hell ya’ll!
September:
Melissa McCarthy
She is one of my all-time favorite hosts, and she lands my sense of humor. It’s nice to feel understood while laughing my ass off.
Bill Murray
The man. He killed in the 40th anniversary special and his Bill Murray Christmas Special was amazing. Although, George Clooney was almost funnier with his peeking out from the Christmas tree while singing bit he did.
Krysten Ritter
Jessica Jones has shown that this woman can do drama, but she is also hella funny. Don’t Trust the B@#$ in Apt 23 has pretty much achieved cult status.
October:
Jason Statham
Did you see Spy? Cause you might need to to understand this choice. If you did, you would want to see him in more comedies immediately!
Peter Dinklage
Yes. This one I just need.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee was perfection in Scream Queens, and she would make a killer Halloween episode host.
November:
Hayley Atwell
Her Twitter has shown off her funny side, and I would like to see that showcased on SNL. Plus, Agent Carter is a fab show, and it needs as much press as it can get so that it never leaves us.
Nick Offerman / Megan Mulally
At first I just had Offerman listed, but then I remembered he is married to Megan. And then I was ashamed of myself for even momentarily forgetting that, especially since Megan has actual ties to SNL. She is the one that put Bill Hader on Lorne’s radar and got him hired. She is a goddess is so many ways.
John Mulaney
Mulaney was a writer for SNL, and even did some pop ins on the Weekend Update desk during Seth’s tenure. Then he left to do his own show, which was partially charming, yet failed to keep the soul of his work alive in the land of Fox. At least, that is how I see it. Recently he released a new stand up special on Netflix, The Comeback Kid. It’s the funniest thing he’s ever done, and a pleasure to see him back to his old form!
December:
Emma Stone
Emma has done the hosting gig thrice, and she gets better at it every time. My favorite is the bridal shower bit where she plays Wallace, the work friend of the bride who has never been to a bridal shower before. Between the misunderstandings and her characterizations she made it a classic that will forever make me happy.
Nathan Fillion
This is another that I just need. I need to throw Fillion at SNL and then watch what happens with my opera glasses cause that shit is going to be epic.
Kevin Hart
Hart is a brilliant host, and I would love to see him do the Christmas episode. Jimmy Fallon has been a fabulous fairly-regular Christmas ep standby, but lets change things up a bit more guys.
January:
Billy Eichner
Difficult People has been one of my favorite tv shows this season, which also stars Julie Klausner and is produced by Amy Poehler. Between that, Billy on the Street, and his role as Craig in Parks and Recreation, Eichner is killing it.
Richard Ayoade
Maurice Moss from The IT Crowd has grown into many other roles, including as a writer, but he will always be Moss to me. Super sexy man.
Michael Ian Black / David Wain / Michael Showalter
This trio have already had sketch shows of their own, as well as movies, but I guess I’m just greedy. More please.
February:
Rose Byrne
Rose has proven herself as a comic force, especially in Spy. We are moving forward to the point that more ladies are able to showcase their funny, and actually achieve great success!
Jon Hamm
Bring the Hammer down to SNL again! Also, please make Michael Buble his musical guest because they are a solid as heck duo.
Kerry Washington
Kerry is a classy lady that can do impressions, sing, and basically become a seamless part of the regular cast. To the point that Lorne would hire her in a second if she ever needs the job.
March:
Jon Favreau
Favreau is a geektastic writer, director, and actor. Can you imagine how excited Bobby Moynihan would get to write skits with him?
Brendan Gleeson
Lets do a St. Patrick’s Day episode and bring in the Gleeson. Yes.
Elizabeth Banks
Damn, Banks, you rock. You are more than a triple threat, you are the everything that makes a perfect host.
April:
Patton Oswalt
Stand-ups like Louie C.K. have had great success as hosts, so lets add Patton on that pile.
Mindy Kaling
She has this manic girly honest energy that would bring something special and different to the SNL stage.
Aisha Tyler
She’s a stand-up, voices Lana Kane on Archer, and is a writer; how has she not hosted yet?!
May:
Jane Curtin
Seeing her in the 40th anniversary made me long for more Jane. Hosting the Mother’s Day episode just seems right, since that is considered to be an honor. (Especially since Betty White did it.)
Kevin Kline
Dear Mr. Kline,
You have not hosted since the eighties, and those episodes are not available on Hulu. Please come host again so that I can watch your magnificence, which has not faded, but has only grown over the years.
P.S. See what you can do to bring your mustache with you.
Emma Thompson
As a graduate of the Cambridge Footlights, Emma has always been in esteemed comic company. Yet she is the queen of all. She can end the season with such badassness that everyone will cry that there shall be no more til next year.
Hosts that I really wanted to include, in no particular order:
John Boyega
Clark Gregg
Bill Hader
Idris Elba
Simon Pegg
Stephen Colbert
Bridget Everett
Mila Kunis
Colin Firth
Salma Hayek
Donald Glover
Carrie Fisher
Garret Dillahunt
Damien Lewis
Dave Foley
Leiv Schriber
Russell Crowe
