Elon Musk will host this week's episode of Saturday Night Live — a strange choice that earned backlash online and even among SNL cast members (who apparently won't be forced to appear in sketches with him).
But even though getting a billionaire tech-bro to host a comedy show doesn't sound like a particularly good idea, it's hardly unprecedented. Throughout SNL's 46-year history, the show has had all sorts of weird hosts, including unsavoury politicians, businessmen and even a random senior citizen.
Here, in chronological order, are some of Saturday Night Live's strangest hosts to date.
Miskel Spillman (December 17, 1977)
Saturday Night Live held an "Anyone Can Host" competition, which allowed the contest's winner to host the show. An 80-year-old grandma won with this genuinely funny application: "I'm 80 years old. I need one more cheap thrill, since my doctor told me I only have another 25 years left."
Wayne Gretzky (May 13, 1989)
Lots of sports stars have done an iffy job hosting SNL, but rather than name them all, we'll just shout out Wayne Gretzky, who is "The Great One" in hockey but certainly not comedy.
Steve Forbes (April 13, 1996)
The current editor-in-chief at Forbes ran in the Republican presidential primaries in both 1996 and 2000. During his 1996 run, he was parodied on SNL, leading to him hosting that same year. The actual funny part: the musical guest was Rage Against the Machine.
George Steinbrenner (October 20, 1990)
When played by Larry David on Seinfeld, George Steinbrenner was hilarious. When playing himself as SNL host? Not so much.
Rudy Giuliani (November 22, 1997)
Trump turned "America's Mayor" into a total laughing stock in the last couple of years — but, unfortunately, no one was laughing when the then-NYC mayor hosted SNL back in 1997.
Donald Trump (April 3, 2004 and November 7, 2015)
:(
But even though getting a billionaire tech-bro to host a comedy show doesn't sound like a particularly good idea, it's hardly unprecedented. Throughout SNL's 46-year history, the show has had all sorts of weird hosts, including unsavoury politicians, businessmen and even a random senior citizen.
Here, in chronological order, are some of Saturday Night Live's strangest hosts to date.
Miskel Spillman (December 17, 1977)
Saturday Night Live held an "Anyone Can Host" competition, which allowed the contest's winner to host the show. An 80-year-old grandma won with this genuinely funny application: "I'm 80 years old. I need one more cheap thrill, since my doctor told me I only have another 25 years left."
Wayne Gretzky (May 13, 1989)
Lots of sports stars have done an iffy job hosting SNL, but rather than name them all, we'll just shout out Wayne Gretzky, who is "The Great One" in hockey but certainly not comedy.
Steve Forbes (April 13, 1996)
The current editor-in-chief at Forbes ran in the Republican presidential primaries in both 1996 and 2000. During his 1996 run, he was parodied on SNL, leading to him hosting that same year. The actual funny part: the musical guest was Rage Against the Machine.
George Steinbrenner (October 20, 1990)
When played by Larry David on Seinfeld, George Steinbrenner was hilarious. When playing himself as SNL host? Not so much.
Rudy Giuliani (November 22, 1997)
Trump turned "America's Mayor" into a total laughing stock in the last couple of years — but, unfortunately, no one was laughing when the then-NYC mayor hosted SNL back in 1997.
Donald Trump (April 3, 2004 and November 7, 2015)
:(
