In its landmark fiftieth season, “Saturday Night Live” had lots going for it: an enormous forged of performers with a various toolbox of kinds and skills, a high-quality assortment of musical visitors (Chappell Roan! Stevie Nicks! Timothée Chalamet?) and celebratory occasions throughout a number of channels for its half-century anniversary. And it had “Lorne” (the biography), after all; creator Lorne Michaels nonetheless runs the ship.
However on a week-to-week foundation, it was the visitor hosts who set the tone and helped make or break a specific episode. An excellent host, one who’s sport and enthusiastic and wanting to play, akin to Paul Mescal or Ariana Grande, may elevate an episode approach past expectations. An in any other case gifted visitor host having an off week or who was underserved by the fabric, like Chris Rock or Mikey Madison, reminds you that nothing is for certain with “SNL.” And an outright unhealthy host (see the underside) could make the 90-minute present appear interminable and out of contact.
Now, allow us to rejoice the hosts who received it proper, introduced their A-game, benefited from nice sketch writing and assist from the forged and crew. Listed below are the perfect hosts of Season 50, ranked.
1. Girl Gaga, March 8
Able to roll: Girl Gaga and Marcello Hernández within the sketch “A Long Goodbye.”
(Will Heath/NBC)
It was one in every of “SNL’s” weirdest episodes, however completely tuned for Gaga, who sang in a number of sketches, appeared in mock advertisements for L’Oreal easy-run mascara and little purple glasses for girls of a sure age, served at a Satanic restaurant, and memorably rode her rolling baggage to the airport. Not solely was she humorous and good within the sketches, however she additionally gave two of the season’s most dynamic musical performances with “Abracadabra” and “Killah.”
2. Ariana Grande, Oct. 12 
“Twist and shout”: Andrew Dismukes, left, Maya Rudolph, Ariana Grande and Andy Samberg in “Castrati.”
(Will Heath/NBC)
It was her third time internet hosting, however it was one way or the other nonetheless an entire shock how spectacular Grande was in her run-up to the discharge of “Wicked.” Excellent impressions of Celine Dion and Jennifer Coolidge and a ridiculously fallacious (and really humorous) sketch referred to as “Castrati” had been among the many highlights of a top-to-bottom ace look.
3. Jack Black, April 5 
“Happiness is a disease”: Jack Black and Michael Longfellow within the “Goth Kid on Vacation” sketch.
(NBC/Holland Rainwater/NBC)
Like Gaga, the star of “A Minecraft Movie” danced and sang a number of instances, most notably in a quick My Chemical Romance homage, “Goth Kid on Vacation.” Typically good internet hosting is about bringing a number of power and dedication; Black went above and past on each counts in a wild “Flamin’ Hot Preparation H” industrial.
4. Quinta Brunson, Could 3 
They discovered OnlySeniors: Quinta Brunson and Kenan Thompson within the “Life Insurance” sketch.
(NBC/Leanne Diaz/NBC)
Don’t name it recency bias. The “Abbott Elementary” creator and star returned a yr after her first-time internet hosting and as soon as once more flexed short-form comedy muscle tissue that made her a web based star earlier than TV stardom. Brunson brilliantly performed a senior on an OnlyFans-like service, an more and more punchy insult boxer and a really inventive hand gesturer in a follow-up to the traditional “Traffic Altercation” sketch.
5. John Mulaney, Nov. 2 
John Mulaney within the “Beppo” sketch, a few doomed chimp astronaut.
(Chinaza Ajuonuma/NBC)
It might have been overshadowed by a Kamala Harris look proper earlier than the 2024 presidential election, however Mulaney’s sixth time as host was simply as strong as the remaining with a predictably glorious monologue, a foolish sketch a few doomed chimp astronaut and one other epic Broadway-inspired musical revue about New York Metropolis. It’s simple to neglect how constantly glorious the “Everybody’s Live” host is at fronting “Saturday Night Live.”
6. Paul Mescal, Dec. 7 
Jane Wickline, left, Bowen Yang, Paul Mescal, Michael Longfellow, Mikey Day and Kenan Thompson flip “Gladiator II” right into a musical.
(Chinaza Ajuonuma/NBC)
An excellent internet hosting debut for the actor, who was the right Daddy in a “Please Don’t Destroy” sketch and really humorous in a “Gladiator II” musical.
7. Nate Bargatze, Oct. 5 
A Founding Father returns: James Austin Johnson, left, Nate Bargatze and Kenan Thompson throughout the “Washington’s Dream 2” sketch.
(Will Heath/NBC)
Possibly it didn’t hit the dizzying heights of his 2023 internet hosting debut, however the sophomore look from the stand-up had some strong sketches, together with one other go to with George Washington.
8. Walton Goggins, Could 10 
This waiter actually likes your mother: Sarah Sherman, left, Walton Goggins and Heidi Gardner within the “Mother’s Day Brunch” sketch.
(NBC/Will Heath/NBC)
The “White Lotus” star delighted as a attractive Mom’s Day brunch server and a boss with a Squatty Potty in his first time as host.
9. Scarlett Johansson, Could 17 
“I’m scared of her”: Marcello Hernández, left, Unhealthy Bunny, Scarlett Johansson and Ego Nwodim within the “Couple at the Bar” sketch.
(NBC/Will Heath/NBC)
The season finale host began sturdy, took off completely in an air travel-themed “Please Don’t Destroy” video and was sport for a brutal “Weekend Update” joke change. However the again half of the episode was so tough even a Marvel superhero couldn’t reserve it.
10. Jon Hamm, April 12 
“What if we took all the fluoride out of the drinking water?”: Jon Hamm as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. within the “White Potus” sketch.
(NBC/Holland Rainwater/NBC)
Hamm, internet hosting for the fourth time, was spot-on with turns as a self-defeating sport present contestant and a police officer obsessive about pizza. The opposite sketches simply weren’t as sturdy this time.
The restJean Sensible, Sept. 28 Invoice Burr, Nov. 9 Martin Quick, Dec. 21 Timothée Chalamet (additionally as a musical visitor performing Bob Dylan covers), Jan. 25 Charli XCX, Nov. 16 Michael Keaton, Oct. 19 Dave Chappelle, Jan. 18 Mikey Madison, March 29 Chris Rock, Dec. 14 Please, by no means once more
A yr after a not-great first run as “SNL” host, Shane Gillis, the stand-up comedian who was famously fired from the present was invited again. Why? To attraction to anti-woke dudebros who wouldn’t in any other case watch the present? We’re undecided, however Gillis’ vary for sketch comedy runs the gamut from low-energy unfunny to medium-low-energy unfunny. The host’s model additionally gave the present ostensible permission to push the envelope on stereotypes and gross tropes about race and intercourse. It even indulged in some slow-witted crudeness about self-fellatio. Two instances was a lot; Gillis doesn’t want a 3rd crack at this.
