Best Saturday Night Live Hosts 2021: Dan Levy, Simu Liu

Look, we all knew that Owen Wilson was funny, but his time on SNL really took him to the next level. This is his first time hosting SNL, but his confidence on stage helps him fit in perfectly. With sketches that range from topical to downright silly, Owen Wilson definitely makes this episode one for the books.

Favorite sketches: A spoof of Jeff Bezos shuttle launch, and a hilarious Cars 4 sketch that has Lightning McQueen saying some things that are absolutely not Disney approved.

You might have started this episode a bit skeptical if you only know Regé-Jean Page at his most serious in Bridgerton, but this episode was hands-down one of the best of the series. He’s a host that isn’t afraid to poke fun at himself, with a monologue that makes light of the fever dream that was the public’s fascination with Bridgerton. 

Favorite sketches: A game of pool between friends descends into an Olivia Rodrigo karaoke session, and Pete Davidson and Mikey Day playing the weirdest intimacy coordinators for an episode of Bridgerton.

For a first-time host, Dan fits into this episode so well that it could have served as an introduction to him as a new cast member! With a two-for-one monologue that includes a surprise appearance from his farther, Eugene Levy, Dan’s performance throughout the episode is hilarious. Should he return in 2022 to host, I’d love to see an appearance from his fellow Schitt’s Creek cast members. 

Favorite sketches: Kate McKinnon and Dan Levy awkwardly trying to object to their friend’s wedding, and an “It Gets Better” parody.

It’s rare for someone to nail their performance on Saturday Night Live as both a host and a musical guest, but Nick Jonas makes it look easy. He’s had a guest spot in a few SNL sketches before, but this episode proves that when given an opportunity to take the wheel and host, Nick Jonas will absolutely come through.

Favorite sketches: A home makeover show for frat guys and a Cinderella parody that gets extra points because of how hilarious Nick’s impression of Prince Charming was.

For those who might only recognize Regina King from her more serious roles like Watchmen, this SNL episode is a great representation of her skill as a comedic actress. Obviously, she’s hilarious, but it’s her comedic timing that really makes that show hysterical. 

Favorite sketches: King plays a 70’s disco star whose manager is woefully underprepared for her show that night, as well as a crisis negotiator who has accidentally eaten gummy bears laced with marijuana,

Fresh off of her success in The Queen’s Gambit, Anya-Taylor Joy uses her stint on SNL to prove that she’s just as compelling in comedic roles as she is in dramatic ones. There are actually a few moments in the show where Anya is so funny that the cast starts to break and has to hide their laughter and honestly, is there a better mark of a great host?

Favorite sketches: A music video for all of the messiness involved in Pride, and a hilarious parody advertisement for Celtic Woman.

It’s been about eight years since Jason Sudeikis left Saturday Night Live, but when he came back to host, it feels like he hasn’t been gone a day. Jason is another SNL alumni, which means his show was a great opportunity to watch the old cast interact with the new, as we see cameos from other SNL greats like Fred Armisen. 

Favorite sketches: Returning bits such as “What’s Up With That”, along with newer pieces like a parent-teacher conference that begs the question “Could Ted Lasso get it?”

AIt’s no surprise that Keegan Michael-Key was so great on Saturday Night Live, given his sketch comedy background. In fact, the bigger question should be “How did Saturday Night Live not ask him to host sooner?”. He instantly makes this episode a classic with impressions like Michael Jordan in The Last Dance, and keeps you laughing with original characters like the ever-charming “D.J Balls”.  

Favorite sketches: An opening of The Muppet Show where Kenan Thompson and Keegan Michael-Key play two security guards trying to keep Statler and Waldorf in line during a performance of The Muppet Show, and a red carpet senior prom.

It should be a crime to be handsome, and funny, but here we are. In my opinion, the best hosts on SNL are the ones who lean into the weirdness of it, and that’s exactly what Simu does. 

Favorite sketches: A military base attaching a dog’s head to a soldier’s body (Not as scary as it sounds), and a karaoke bar celebrating its failed performers. 

Fresh from her fame in Promising Young Woman, Carey Mulligan makes a smash debut hosting Saturday Night Live for the first time. Some of the funniest moments of this episode come from her ability to deliver some of the wildest lines with a deadpan delivery (Please see: “Titty head” above). 

Favorite sketches: The digital short “Weird Little Flute”, and “IBS Medicine Ad” where Mulligan plays a mother who destroys a school toilet during her child’s music recital to the point where they actually have to stop the performance. 

It’s always great to see SNL alumni return home, and although Maya Rudolph has hosted Saturday Night Live before, she’s still just as hilarious as she was during her original run on the show. She brings back a few of the impressions that she’s known for like Beyoncé or Vice President Kamala Harris in this episode, making this episode a perfect mix of hilarity and nostalgia, all at once. 

Favorite sketches: A Hot Ones parody where Rudolph plays a Beyoncé that has gravely underestimated the spiciness of the wings, and the music video “Boomers Got the Vax”