The Best 'SNL' Host of Season 37: Nos. 1-4

Saturday Night Live may have wrapped up its 37th season, but that doesn't mean we can't keep talking about the show. Twenty-two different actors, singers, athletes and whatever it is Lindsay Lohan does these days hosted the late-night institution over the past eight months, and in no way were all their efforts equal. Some hosts gave it their all (and got some excellent writing to support their stint) while other hosts possibly slept-walked through rehearsals and barely even realized they were hosting SNL.

Every day this week, The Bill Kuchman Chronicle will countdown the season's hosts. You'll get two bonus hosts on Monday, but after that, each day will bring four additional hosts.

MONDAY: Nos. 17-22 • TUESDAY: Nos. 13-16 • WEDNESDAY: Nos. 9-12

THURSDAY: Nos. 5-8 • FRIDAY: Nos. 1-4 

No. 4: Daniel Radcliffe
Jan. 14, 2012 (Episode No. 12)

Going into this episode, I had no idea how Daniel Radcliffe would do as an SNL host. After eight movies, we all knew that he could play Harry Potter, but his hosting abilities were a mystery. Radcliffe didn't disappoint, showing he was game to make fun of his years in the Harry Potter movies. The actor also joined Kristen Wiig in what would turn out to be the final time we would see Target Lady.

Best sketch: Harry Potter Epilogue


That epilogue at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2? Forget that. Radcliffe showed us what really happened to Harry Potter after he defeated Dumbledore in this sketch. Let's get that movie made.

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No. 3: Maya Rudolph
Feb. 18, 2012 (Episode No. 15)

Will Ferrell aside, some of SNL's best episodes this past season came when past cast members returned to host. Maya Rudolph reminded people why she was one of the best SNL actors during her time on the show with this hosting gig. Always versatile, Rudolph jumped back into old sketches like Bronx Beat and her Beyonce impersonation.

Best sketches: Bronx Beat and Jay-Z and Beyonce's Baby


A host like Rudolph brings in the best guest stars, getting Amy Poehler and Justin Timberlake to appear in this sketch. Rudolph and Poehler didn't miss a (Bronx) beat, jumping back into this classic sketch from their time together on SNL. Timberlake and Andy Samberg's roles as crew guys returning the inappropriate volley made the sketch.



It was great to see Rudolph have the chance to get her Beyonce into the same episode as Jay Pharaoh's Jay-Z. Timberlake even popped into this sketch too, playing Bon Iver. I get a huge kick out of Taran Killam and Abby Elliott's Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Also, Nasim Pedrad's Nicki Minaj is frightening.

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No. 2: Melissa McCarthy
Oct. 1, 2011 (Episode No. 2)

Prior to last summer's Bridemaids, I knew basically nothing about Melissa McCarthy. Besides How I Met Your Mother, I don't watch any of CBS's comedies, so Mike & Molly doesn't have a home on my DVR. That said, McCarthy stole the show in Bridesmaids and continued that streak during her time hosting SNL. As I've said throughout this countdown, the best episodes of SNL are when the host is up for anything and willing to make a fool of themselves in the process. McCarthy got that. Hopefully she hosts the show again soon.

Best sketches: Arlene and Taste Test


McCarthy completely bought into the "make a fool of yourself" part of the hosting job description, donning an awful wig and completely sexually harassing Jason Sudeikis' Tim in this sketch. Awful, awful things were done to those balloons. Arlene deserves a place in the Hosting SNL Bible.



Physical comedy is the final piece in the "great SNL host" puzzle. McCarthy absolutely nailed that part, playing the role of an over-eager Hidden Valley Ranch taste tester. Her character's pure annoyance at Elliott's character makes me laugh every time. "There's a Hidden Valley Ranch party in my mouth."

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No. 1: Jimmy Fallon
Dec. 17, 2011 (Episode No. 10)

Not only was Jimmy Fallon's first SNL hosting gig the best hosting performance of the entire season, it's going to be the episode that all future returning cast members are measured against. In just a few years, Fallon has gone from former SNL member to one of SNL's centerpieces. His version of Late Night delivers buzzy segments like when he slow jammed the news with President Barack Obama, he's the voice the Universal Studios tram tour, and he can get just about any previous SNL cast member he wants back on the show when he hosts.

Best sketches: Sully and Denise, Weekend Update Joke Off and Christmas Treat


Fallon wasted no time in bringing in the heavy guns, returning to high school with Rachel Dratch as Sully and Denise. In addition to Dratch, Fallon's return to SNL brought Amy Poehler back to the show too. The power of Fallon also made Nomar Garciaparra a thing again for a brief second.



There was no way Fallon was going to be back at SNL and not stop by the Weekend Update desk. And, hey, Poehler just happened to already be there, so all they were missing was Tina Fey to reassemble the past Update anchor teams. Good thing Fey still works at NBC, allowing Fallon to claim yet another returning cast member for his episode.



And finally, it wouldn't have been an SNL Christmas episode with Fallon hosting if I Wish It Was Christmas Today didn't get performed. To make that happen, Horatio Sanz, Chris Kattan and Tracy Morgan all returned to the SNL stage, adding to Fallon's impressive list of former cast members who returned for his episode. If you had any doubt that Jimmy Fallon was the now the most powerful former SNL cast member in terms of his draw, this episode should have erased that doubt. Honestly, the only disappointment about Fallon's show was that Timberlake didn't make it back for the episode.