“Saturday Night Live” recently wrapped their 43rd season. Made up of a total of 21 shows, the hosts of this season ranged from Chance the Rapper, to Will Ferrel, to Gal Gadot.
I’ve watched SNL since about fifth grade, but during this season I came to the realization that just about anyone can host. Of course, some shows and sketches are better than others and some jokes can be taken too far, but there is a wide array of what makes a show good or bad which oftentimes doesn’t entirely rely on the host but on the writing and their comedic timing.
One of my best friends is just as much, or even more so a fan of "Saturday Night Live" as I am. We were thinking who the best host of season 43 was and had a mix of opinions, so in short here is my take; John Mulaney and Bill Hader were the best male hosts, and Tiffany Haddish was the best female host of this season.
Mulaney, Hader, and Haddish are all comedians. Hader was on Saturday Night Live for eight seasons, and Mulaney was a writer on the show for five seasons. Haddish ironically auditioned to be a cast member years back didn’t make the cut.
What is important to look at though is how these 3 hosts present themselves. They are all comedians. They know how to win over a crowd, when to hit their punch lines, or pause in a monologue. And though this evidently helps in a show, there are others who had good sketches thrown at them which made them become a good host.
Chance the Rapper hosted back in November. He had been on SNL before as the musical guest, but never as a host himself. Personally, I thought he did a great job hosting. He had good timing and some good sketches too. Donald Glover also hosted at the beginning of May and did a sketch entitled "Barbie Instagram." This sketch has become one of my favorites from "Saturday Night Live."
However, I think this is thanks to the writer of the sketch. If James Franco or Kumail Nanjiani, would have been given this sketch when they hosted this season, I believe it would have still been just as funny to an audience.
Comedic timing also plays a role in how a sketch turns out. Another one of my favorite sketches came from when Ryan Gosling hosted the season premiere back in September. The sketch revolves completely around the Papyrus font being used on the "Avatar" movie poster; it's fantastic. However, if you have ever seen an interview with Gosling he has a very dry sense of humor, but still manages to crack a couple of jokes. If this sketch would have been for Will Ferrel or Sterling K. Brown, it may not have been as effective on an audience.
Season 44 doesn't premiere until the fall, but for now here is a list, in no order, of some of my favorite sketches from season 43 of "Saturday Night Live."
- The Day You Were Born (Amy Schumer)
- Family Feud - Oscars Edition (Sterling K. Brown)
- Diner Lobster (John Mulaney)
- Barbie Instagram (Donald Glover)
- Jurassic Park Auditions (Bill Hader)
- Papyrus (Ryan Gosling)
- Tournament Fighter (Tiffany Haddish)
- Gift Wrap (James Franco)
- Cardi B & Aidy B (Chadwick Boseman)
- Welcome to Hell (Saoirse Ronan)
