Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Nadia Chaudhury | Saturday Night Live | October 13, 2014
Bill Hader made his glorious return to SNL this weekend, and while the episode was good, because it had Stefon and a sequel to the puppet class sketch, I was a little disappointed. It wasn’t so much The Bill Hader Show as The Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig Show. That being said, I thought it apt to rank the best monologues from former SNL-ers who returned to host. If they’ve hosted multiple times, I picked the most impressive monologue of the bunch.
1. Bill Murray, February 20, 1999
Bill Murray, expounding on the virtues of Footloose: The Musical. There’s nothing better. Oh wait, there is: he sings.
2. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, May 13, 2006
The first female cast member to come back and host (woohoo!), JLD’s monologue centered on the Seinfeld Curse. Poor Jason Alexander.
3. Amy Poehler, September 25, 2010
Sure, it’s another cameo-filled monologue, but the dream sequence is enjoyably wacky.
4. Tina Fey, September 28, 2013
Tina Fey is an SNL legend, so of course she had to haze the then-new cast members.
5. Dana Carvey, October 22 1994
Dana Carvey’s famous George Bush impression was criticized by H.W. on screen.
6. Will Ferrell, May 14, 2005
Ferrell’s first, though not last, time hosting was a gleeful bundle of nerves, singing and trying to bond with an audience member. There’s also a whole lotta peeing in his pants.
7. Jimmy Fallon, December 17, 2011
Yeah, I know, Fallon’s popularized the whole “bring back everyone ever for a cameo,” but you gotta admit this one makes you smile.
8. Molly Shannon, May 12, 2007
Shannon plays off schoolgirl crushes on Lorne Michaels very convincingly.
9. Phil Hartman, March 23, 1996
Hartman’s whole schtick about losing his identity while constantly doing impressions was just spot-on. In related news, I miss Hartman so much.
10. Chevy Chase, February 9, 1980
Chase and Billy Murray patch things up with a mess of songs, real and not real.
11. Andy Samberg, May 17, 2014
Adorable and simple, Samberg tries to beat Bill Hader’s impression record.
12. Sarah Silverman, October 4, 2014
Another cute idea where Silverman interacts with her younger self from vintage SNL clips.
13. Chris Farley, October 25, 1997
More of a not-monologue, Chris Farley was busy trying to get it on with Ana Gasteyer while Tim Meadows and Chris Rock tried to host.
14. Maya Rudolph, February 18, 2012
We know the lady can sing and dance, but she can also get laid, a lot.
15. Tracy Morgan, March 14, 2009
Morgan’s take on the media’s perception of him is like Tracy Jordan in real life.
