Live from New York! It's Saturday Night! This is a list of all Saturday Night Live hosts, in reverse order, starting with the most recent. Since the 1975 premiere of the popular sketch comedy show, more than 500 famous faces have graced the iconic stage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. This list of all SNL hosts is a veritable Who's Who of American culture over more than four decades, and it includes the date of the episode - or dates, for those who have been invited to host multiple times. Only the biggest, most recognizable stars are people who have hosted Saturday Night Live.
In the early days of SNL, guest hosts were often comedians like George Carlin, Lily Tomlin, and Richard Pryor. In the many decades since, SNL hosts have included everyone from Oscar-winning actors to singers and musicians, professional athletes, and even politicians. In the opening monologue, each expresses some variation on a theme: "It's great to be here," "I feel so honored," "I can't believe I'm actually standing here," "This is so surreal," yada yada. In fairness, Saturday Night Live is an established and respected institution. Guests asked to host join an exclusive club of Hollywood elite - a select few privileged to look at the camera and say, "We've got a great show! [Musical Guest] is here, so stick around; we'll be right back."
