Who Should Host SNL This Year?

By John Everett

This Saturday marks the beginning of the 38^th season of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, the best way comedy nerds have to get over being dateless and alone on Saturday nights. Way back when George Carlin emceed the first episode of SNL, sprinkling in well-worn bits of his stand-up in between skits, few could have predicted how big a deal it would become to host the show. Nowadays hosting SNL can be considered a sign that you’ve truly made it in show business. Of course, there are always those returning hosts, making their traditional return to Studio 8H to remind everyone that their star hasn’t dimmed. We already know that Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, Looper star Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Mr. James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, are slated to host. With that in mind, here are nineteen celebs I think could and maybe should be delivering monologues and poking fun at their public images this season:

 Mindy Kaling   

This seems like a no-brainer. Mindy is the new TV season’s It Girl, and should follow in the steps of Zooey Deschanel, who rode New Girl’s success to a hosting gig last year.

Tina Fey

Fey has hosted or appeared quite a few times since leaving the show, but here’s hoping she’ll make time for a stop at SNL to promote the last episodes of 30 Rock. Her co-star, sixteen-time host Alec Baldwin could show up, too.

 Jason Bateman

Arrested Development is coming back (!), and its star has shockingly never hosted.

Justin Timberlake and/or Jon Hamm

Because SNL needs those shows every year where you know going in that the host will be great. Timberlake and Hamm have proven themselves time and time again.

Olivia Wilde

The star of the upcoming Butter is a rising Hollywood player and seems like a good fit for the show’s energy. Her recent Colbert Report appearance showcased comedy gifts she hasn’t quite gotten a chance to display on-screen.

Donald Glover

The Community star and rapper has some upcoming film-roles, such as in The To Do List, which should increase his national profile. He is a mega-talent and would be a phenomenal host.

Ty Burrell

The Modern Family star’s genial nature and physical comedy talent makes him a good fit. He also has a role in Butter.

Connie Britton

If Nashville takes off, expect either her or co-star Hayden Panettiere to host.

Ryan Gosling

He’s on a meteoric rise, and SNL would be lucky to get him for the ratings draw. He’s got a few films to promote coming up, so he might be willing.

Beyonce

Her version of A Star is Born is still in development, but the pop-star’s charisma and massive fanbase make her an appealing choice. She’ll fill the seeming requirement that a musical star host but not serve as musical guest once a year.

Hugh Jackman

The talented song-and-dance man has Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables to promote.

Jeremy Renner

The Avengers and Bourne Legacy star has a high profile and a lot of films on his slate.

Jennifer Lawrence

The Hunger Games made her instantly one of the biggest female stars on the planet. She stars with Bradley Cooper in this fall’s Silver Linings Playbook

Peter Dinklage

The Emmy-winning star of Game of Thrones would be an interesting choice. Attempts to confirm that he would be the shortest SNL host ever were unsuccessful, but it seems like a safe bet.

Aubrey Plaza

Judging by her talk show appearances, her weird energy might not be the best fit for SNL, but I’d love to see it anyway.

Mila Kunis

She’s a rising young actress with some comedy chops, and that seems to be what SNL is looking for.

Herman Cain

SNL loves to have political figures on the show, and he seems to crave the attention.

Chris Hemsworth

The brawny Thor star has the updated Red Dawn coming up.

Bill Murray

This is perhaps a pipedream. It’s been over a decade since he last hosted the show. Can Oscar buzz surrounding his role as FDR lure him back to the SNL stage?