Celebrities Open Up About Their First Time Hosting 'Saturday Night Live': Featuring Kim Kardashian, Simu Liu, and Others
Celebrities reflect on their memorable hosting debuts on 'Saturday Night Live', including Kim Kardashian, Simu Liu, Taylor Swift, and more Discover their honest experiences on the iconic SNL stage
Betty White, who passed away in December 2021, expressed her disbelief and excitement at hosting Saturday Night Live during her monologue in May 2010. At 88 and a half years old, she remarked, "I can't believe I am hosting Saturday Night Live. It's great to be here for multiple reasons. I have experience with live TV, having starred in my first live sitcom, Life of Elizabeth, in 1952. Back then, we didn't have the technology to pre-record, so I'm not sure why this show relies on it."
The Golden Girls actress was not the only first-time host of SNL who had a great experience. Jason Sudeikis, on his part, hosted for the first time in October 2021, almost eight years after leaving the show. (Sudeikis was part of the cast from 2006 to 2013.)
“This place had a profound impact on my life twice. First, as a cast member and writer, but more importantly, as a young viewer at home,” expressed the Ted Lasso star in his monologue. “There's a strong possibility that if you're watching tonight, there's something from this place that also influenced your life.”
Keep scrolling to see what the stars have thought about their SNL hosting debuts:
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Stars Get Real About Their ‘Saturday Night Live’ Hosting Debuts: Kim Kardashian, Simu Liu and More
Saturday Night Live has had the privilege of hosting renowned personalities like Harry Styles and Betty White, with many of its celebrity guests expressing their excitement at achieving this significant career milestone.
"I can't believe I have the honor of hosting Saturday Night Live. It's hard to imagine that I'm actually 88 and a half years old," White, who passed away in December 2021, humorously mentioned during her monologue in May 2010. "There are so many reasons why it's wonderful to be here. You see, I'm no stranger to live television. In 1952, I starred in my very first live sitcom, Life of Elizabeth. Of course, back then, we didn't have the luxury of recording things. We simply didn't know how. So, I'm curious about this show's excuse."
The experience of hosting SNL for the first time was not unique to The Golden Girls alum. In October 2021, Jason Sudeikis, who had previously been a cast member and writer from 2006 to 2013, hosted the show for the first time in nearly eight years. In his monologue, the Ted Lasso star acknowledged that SNL had a profound impact on his life, both as a performer and as a viewer, and speculated that the same might be true for those watching the show that night.
Keep scrolling to see what the stars have thought about their SNL hosting debuts:
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Stars Get Real About Their ‘Saturday Night Live’ Hosting Debuts: Kim Kardashian, Simu Liu and More
Celebrity guests, including icons like Harry Styles and Betty White, have graced the stage of Saturday Night Live, expressing their awe at achieving this remarkable career milestone. White, who sadly passed away in December 2021, shared her disbelief during her monologue in May 2010, stating, "I can't believe I have the honor of hosting Saturday Night Live. Many of you may not know that I'm 88 and a half years old. It's truly wonderful to be here for various reasons. I'm no stranger to live TV. In 1952, I starred in my first live sitcom, Life of Elizabeth. Of course, during that time, we didn't have the luxury of recording, so going live was our only option. I wonder what this show's excuse is today."
The Golden Girls alum wasn't the only newcomer to SNL who had a memorable experience. Jason Sudeikis, who had previously been a part of the show's cast from 2006 to 2013, made his debut as a host in October 2021, almost eight years after leaving the show.
During his monologue, the Ted Lasso star expressed how SNL had played a significant role in his life, both as a cast member and a writer. He also acknowledged that for many viewers watching that night, the show may have had a profound impact on their lives as well.
Keep scrolling to see what the stars have thought about their SNL hosting debuts:
Credit: Will Heath/NBC
Keke Palmer
The actress known as Nope hosted the December 3, 2022 episode of SNL. During the show, she made an exciting announcement that she and her boyfriend, Darius Jackson, are expecting their first child.
"I had an absolutely amazing time hosting SNL! It was truly a one-of-a-kind experience, and I learned so much from it. The cast members were incredible, and I felt so grateful to be welcomed into their home, even if it was only for a short time," Palmer wrote on social media the next day. "Being surrounded by talented individuals who are passionate about their craft was incredibly fulfilling. I have a deep love for performing, and I enjoy bringing joy and laughter to others, even if it's just for a brief moment."
She exclaimed, "This year has been quite a journey! It's incredible that my baby and I are experiencing it all together. I am grateful to God and my incredible parents and family for their unwavering support."
A month later, Palmer expressed her excitement about her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. "I had an absolute blast! I felt like I was honing some valuable skills, learning from Steve [Higgins] and Lorne [Michaels]. They really took me under their wing," she shared in January 2023. "And the entire cast made me feel like I was part of a team, and I absolutely loved that."
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Lindsay Lohan
The Parent Trap star made her SNL debut in 2013.
In November 2022, Lohan expressed the importance of not taking oneself too seriously in an interview with Cosmopolitan. According to her, it is crucial to find joy in the lighter aspects of life and to have the ability to poke fun at oneself and remain humble. Lohan particularly enjoyed her experiences on Saturday Night Live because it provided the perfect opportunity for self-deprecating humor, something she deeply appreciates.
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Ariana DeBose
“Throwback to some amazing behind-the-scenes content from my time hosting @snl. I couldn't be happier with the challenge I took on and the incredible experience it turned out to be. The first video captures a spontaneous 1am moment, while the last video showcases some serious entrance realness.”
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Kim Kardashian
"Hosting Saturday Night Live was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my career! The dedication and effort displayed by the entire @nbcsnl team to bring a show of this caliber to life is truly unparalleled," expressed the Selfish author in a heartfelt Instagram post from October 2021. "I will forever cherish this amazing experience and extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported me and worked tirelessly to make it all happen!"
Following her unforgettable hosting gig, Kardashian decided to mark the occasion by getting her very first tattoo. In a gesture of solidarity, the reality star and her friends opted for matching infinity symbols, with Kardashian choosing to have hers inked on the inside of her lip.
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Simu Liu
Fresh off his MCU debut as Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the Canada native was grateful for the experience to step onto the studio 8H stage.
"It ended so abruptly that it felt like a surreal experience," Liu shared on Instagram in November 2021. "I'm not talking about those dreams where you wake up feeling refreshed. It was more like an incredible dream where you soar through the sky, unleashing laser beams from your hands, defeating alien invaders, and being honored with a Medal of Valor by the President of Earth. Even Cate Blanchett reaches out to say hello. But just as you're about to meet up with Cate Blanchett for coffee, you abruptly wake up due to construction noises outside your building, and you scream, 'NOOOooOOOO,' desperately longing to return to that dream."
He expressed his gratitude at that time, stating: "Yes, that was Saturday Night Live. Thank you, Lorne, Lindsay, and the entire cast and crew. Let's have a rerun sometime."
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Jason Bateman
Reflecting on his previous stint as host, the Ozark star couldn't help but reminisce about his initial foray into hosting a few years ago and his experience working alongside an exceptionally spirited monkey during that time.
Bateman recounted a strange incident from his 2005 hosting gig. In a sketch titled 'Monkeys Throwing Poop at Celebrities,' there was a real monkey involved. As the show was wrapping up and everyone was bidding farewell, the monkey made a horrifying attempt to attack Bateman. Thinking he was being friendly, Bateman bent down to praise the monkey, only to be met with a chilling display of aggression. The chimp opened its mouth wide, revealing its sharp teeth, and tried to bite off Bateman's entire nose. Despite the terrifying experience, Bateman had to put on a smile, while inside he couldn't believe that he had just been attacked by a monkey and no one seemed to care.
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Billie Eilish
"The preparation week for SNL is absolutely insane. It's like being in a completely different world,” the “Bad Guy” singer shared with Howard Stern during a December 2021 interview on his radio show. “I mean, I cried every single day of the week, no exaggeration. I used to enjoy acting as a child, but it's not my domain, so I have no idea what I'm doing. I feel like I'm really bad at it, like I'm terrible. … I was just frightened. It's SNL. It's a group of incredibly talented actors sitting around a table, and somehow I'm the main focus for this show that I didn't feel qualified for."
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Jason Sudeikis
Returning as the veteran feels enjoyable, you know? Various individuals seek my advice, ranging from queries about their career progression like, "I adore working here, but what steps should I take next?" to suggestions on catching Lorne Michaels' attention. It's all that interesting stuff," shared the former SNL cast member during his October 2021 monologue as the host.
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Taylor Swift
"The current atmosphere is actually calm. I was present at this place last year as a musical guest. It was even colder back then, and there were numerous individuals bustling around, engaged in various tasks," shared the Grammy winner with CMT in November 2009, ahead of her inaugural hosting appearance. "Today, it's peaceful, allowing everyone to focus on writing and envisioning... I aspire to appear nothing like my usual self. I informed all the writers, 'Don't dismiss any ideas. I want to wholeheartedly immerse myself in this.' I truly, truly desire to be fully committed, despite having numerous obligations as both a musical guest and host."
Credit: NBC
Betty White
White hosted an episode in May 2010 after a viral Facebook campaign recommended her for the gig. Then 88, she made history as the oldest host on record.
