With the likes of Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler dominating the big screen, it may have initially been difficult for SNL fans to look at the unfamiliar faces of the 200os cast and envision them becoming household names. From a current perspective, however, it’s hard to believe Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, and Kenan Thompson all worked in the same room on a weekly basis.
In 2012, the most prolific among them, Kristen Wiig, departed in one of the show’s all-time sentimental send-offs. The following year, the show would lose Armisen, Sandberg, Hader, and Jason Sudeikis. Thus, packed into a loose 10 years was one of SNL‘s strongest periods. Here are the celebrity hosts who helped the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” shine the most before they all went on to become our current favorites themselves.
10 Anne Hathaway (7.7)
An episode built on pure star power, The Devil Wears Prada and Get Smart star Anne Hathaway joined millennial favorites The Killers, as well as a certain Vice Presidential candidate impersonator, in this 2008 episode. An American financial crisis was coming to its end and this episode was pure alleviating entertainment.
Highly regarded for being capable of pulling off both drama and comedy, Hathaway never had to be over-the-top self-effacing to get a laugh. She was in on the jokes, even as a creepy and clingy sister in the hilarious and recurring “Lawrence Welk Show.”
9 Jake Gyllenhaal (7.8)
Jake Gyllenhaal’s entry on this list is something of an outlier, in that it isn’t connected to a frequent host (his only outing), an SNL favorite or former cast member, or even some sort of cultural phenomenon. The sketches are standard 200os-era fodder (such as Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph on “Bronx Beat”). All in all, such is the effect of Gyllenhaal.
The Oscar-nominated actor has also played the heartthrob and dipped his feet into the MCU. Add this to the dynamic career and inexplicably popular SNL episode, followed by more truly random appearances, such as this past year’s “drop-in” on John Mulaney’s “Airport Sushi” sketch.
8 Will Ferrell (7.8)
Closing out a decade of box office dominance after leaving SNL in 2002, Will Ferrell drew both big ratings and big guest stars to this 2009 episode. Bringing back his famous Alex Trebek impersonation for “Celebrity Jeopardy,” he quizzes Kristen Wiig as Kathy Lee Gifford, Darrell Hammond as foe Sean Connery, Norm MacDonald as Burt Reynolds, and Tom Hanks as himself.
For an extremely popular cast member and gigantic post-SNL success, Ferrell only just joined the “Five-Timers Club” in 2019’s shortened season. That episode featured Maya Rudolph’s new Kamala Harris, which we’ll surely be seeing again soon.
7 Molly Shannon (7.9)
Molly Shannon is the common hipster’s all-time favorite SNL cast member. She has never been a successful starring vehicle on the big screen, but she has contributed generously in cameo appearances. As for her show tenure, she had several popular recurring characters, plus “Schweddy Balls,” to her name, yet still dealt with the shadow of superhumanly funny Will Ferrell.
Thus, this 2007 episode was finally her time to shine. In-the-know fans got the opportunity for her to prove her hysterical value without sharing the limelight. She delivered, of course – reviving her Sally O’Malley character and having lots of fun with the strong cast of this era.
6 Tina Fey (7.9)
Having only departed from the show as a cast member in 2006, Tina Fey has already hosted six times. Head writer and “Weekend Update” host in tenure and immediately popular and bankable star almost right away, she wasted no time entering the series’ unofficial hall of fame.
Later in this episode’s year, during the historic 2008 election, SNL took full advantage of an immediately memorable (and mockable) political character in Sarah Palin. Fans had already made the visual connection between the Republican Vice Presidential candidate and Fey, but she still blew everyone away with her classic adaptation.
5 Natalie Portman (7.9)
A dominant emergence from this era of Saturday Night Live was the “Digital Short.” Commonplace to modern viewers, and an SNL element since episode one in 1975, short, pre-recorded and edited videos exploded in the 2000s with the development of the internet, and especially YouTube.
Cast member Andy Samberg and his creative entourage “The Lonely Island” got SNL in on the trend with a unique vision and voice. This episode’s “Natalie Portman Raps” was a smash-hit sequel to an already-legendary viral video “Lazy Sunday” from 2005.
4 Peyton Manning (8.1)
Potentially the greatest all-time SNL host outing by an athlete, this Peyton Manning episode is often remembered for a single sketch: “United Way.” In it, the typically dopey and overly nice Manning starts in on a group of inspired hits like a stereotypical football hardo. It’s hysterical watching him frustratedly demean seven-year-olds. “That was terrible,” he says in his trademark drawl.
Other hosts from the world of sport include brother Eli, rival Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, LeBron James, and believe it or not, O.J. Simpson.
3 Christopher Walken (8.2)
Here’s another episode made famous primarily by a single sketch – one of SNL‘s all-time greats: “More Cowbell.” In Walken’s fourth of seven hosting gigs, he made series history as fictional legendary record producer, Bruce Dickinson. In the studio with him are a comically obnoxious Will Ferrell, as well as Jimmy Fallon doing his signature “break” during the entire scene.
Plenty of SNL sketches throughout the years have been turned into feature films and even series. More often, a hit character will become recurring or make appearances years later via a certain star’s special appearance. Notable about “More Cowbell” is that it exists only within this 2000s sketch’s few minutes.
2 Justin Timberlake (8.2)
Here in his third career hosting spot in 2009, Justin Timberlake was already cruising his way to the “Fiver-Timers Club.” For “The Barry Gibb Talk Show” old pal, Jimmy Fallon guest-starred, hinting at a collaboration that would continue for years. How many contemporary viewers realize that this is a sketch about the Bee Gees?
The year following this episode, The Social Network, co-starring Timberlake as Napster founder Sean Parker, was a box office and critical success. At the close of 2019, it was regarded among the decade’s best films by many.
1 Justin Timberlake (8.6)
Giving fans a double-dose of Timberlake to close the list, this was the “D*ck In A Box” episode. The ridiculous and raunchy song went viral and was immediately etched in SNL lore. The pair have appeared on the show numerous times since, and as Halloween costumes constantly throughout the latter 21st century.
Step One: Head up a popular boy band in that genre’s extremely galactic-yet-brief moment. Step Two: Become an entertainment utility man, famous just for being famous. Step Three: Establish yourself as a favorite on an entertainment utility show. “And that’s the way you do it!”
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