Saturday Night Live (SNL) is an American late-night sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. [1] It premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the title NBC's Saturday Night. [2] The show usually satirizes contemporary American popular culture and politics. [3] [4] [5] SNL features a two-tiered cast: the repertory cast members, and newer cast members known as "Featured Players." [6] A typical episode of SNL features a single host, who delivers the opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast. The format also features a musical guest, and a number of episodes have featured celebrity cameos. [7] [8]
George Carlin was the first to host the show. [9] Candice Bergen was both the first female host in November 8, 1975, and the first to host a second time in December of the same year. [10] [11] On occasion the episode's host also serves as the musical guest; the first was Paul Simon on October 18, 1975. [12] The most recent to pull double duty was Timothée Chalamet on January 25, 2025. [13] The Rolling Stones are the only band to ever serve as both host and musical guest during the same episode, which aired October 7, 1978. [14] Guests who host five times become members of the Five-Timers Club, introduced on the December 8, 1990, episode, when Tom Hanks became the seventh person to host their fifth episode. [15]
The list below shows the people who have appeared on the show. It is split into three sections: "Host", if the person hosted the show at any given time; "Musical guest", if a person was the musical guest on the show at any given time; and "Cameo", which is for a person who has appeared on the show but did not act as host or musical guest at any given time.
Performer | Host | Musical guest | Cameo | First appearance | Notes | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U2 | ![]() | December 9, 2000 | [16] | |||
UB40 | ![]() | February 12, 1994 | [17] | |||
Bob Uecker | ![]() | October 13, 1984 | [18] | |||
Carrie Underwood | ![]() | February 23, 2008 | [19] | |||
Kate Upton | ![]() | February 18, 2012 | [20] | |||
Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York | ![]() | February 26, 2022 | [21] | |||
Keith Urban | ![]() | February 10, 2007 | [22] | |||
Robert Urich | ![]() | March 20, 1982 | [23] | |||
Usher | ![]() | May 17, 2008 | [24] [25] | |||
Performer | Host | Musical guest | Cameo | First appearance | Notes | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vampire Weekend | ![]() | May 11, 2024 | [26] | |||
James Van Der Beek | ![]() | January 16, 1999 | [27] | |||
Eddie Van Halen | ![]() | February 28, 1987 | [28] | |||
Kenny Vance | ![]() | May 21, 1977 | [29] | |||
Luther Vandross | ![]() | ![]() | February 20, 1982 | [30] | ||
Nia Vardalos | ![]() | November 9, 2002 | [31] [32] | |||
Jimmie Vaughan | ![]() | February 15, 1986 | [33] | |||
Stevie Ray Vaughan | ![]() | |||||
Vince Vaughn | ![]() | December 5, 1998 | [34] | |||
Tesco Vee | ![]() | October 31, 1981 | [35] | |||
Suzanne Vega | ![]() | May 9, 1987 | [36] | |||
Sofia Vergara | ![]() | April 7, 2012 | [37] | |||
Veruca Salt | ![]() | March 15, 1997 | [38] | |||
Matt Vogel | ![]() | December 18, 2004 | [39] | |||
Performer | Host | Musical guest | Cameo | First appearance | Notes | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrew W.K. | ![]() | March 22, 2002 | [40] | |||
Robert Wagner | ![]() | December 9, 1989 | [41] | |||
Mark Wahlberg | ![]() | October 19, 2008 | [42] [43] | |||
Loudon Wainwright III | ![]() | November 15, 1975 | [44] | |||
John Waite | ![]() | January 12, 1985 | [45] | |||
Tom Waits | ![]() | April 9, 1977 | [16] | |||
Wale | ![]() | December 14, 2013 | [46] | |||
Christopher Walken | ![]() | ![]() | January 20, 1990 | Member of the "Five-Timers Club" | [10] [47] | |
Summer Walker | ![]() | February 24, 2024 | [48] | |||
Morgan Wallen | ![]() | ![]() | December 5, 2020 | [49] | ||
Phoebe Waller-Bridge | ![]() | October 5, 2019 | [50] | |||
Barbara Walters | ![]() | May 10, 2014 | [51] | |||
Christoph Waltz | ![]() | February 16, 2013 | [52] | |||
Wanz | ![]() | March 2, 2013 | [53] | |||
Andy Warhol | ![]() | October 10, 1981 | [54] | |||
Malcolm-Jamal Warner | ![]() | October 18, 1986 | [55] | |||
Jennifer Warnes | ![]() | May 21, 1977 | [56] | |||
Elizabeth Warren | ![]() | March 7, 2020 | [57] | |||
Dionne Warwick | ![]() | November 6, 2021 | [58] | |||
Kerry Washington | ![]() | ![]() | November 2, 2013 | [59] | ||
Sam Waterston | ![]() | November 18, 1995 | [60] | |||
Muse Watson | ![]() | November 21, 1998 | [61] | |||
Andrew Watt | ![]() | April 25, 2020 | [62] | |||
J. J. Watt | ![]() | February 1, 2020 | [63] | |||
Damon Wayans | ![]() | April 8, 1995 | Former cast member | [64] | ||
Carl Weathers | ![]() | ![]() | January 30, 1988 | [65] | ||
Sigourney Weaver | ![]() | October 11, 1986 | [66] | |||
The Weeknd | ![]() | October 10, 2015 | [67] | |||
Marc Weiner | ![]() | February 21, 1981 | [68] | |||
Raquel Welch | ![]() | April 24, 1976 | [69] | |||
David Wells | ![]() | December 1, 2001 | [70] | |||
George Wendt | ![]() | March 22, 1986 | [71] | |||
Kanye West | ![]() | May 18, 2013 | [72] [73] | |||
Paul Westerberg | ![]() | December 4, 1993 | [74] | |||
The Whiffenpoofs | ![]() | December 12, 1981 | [75] | |||
Forest Whitaker | ![]() | February 10, 2007 | [76] | |||
Betty White | ![]() | ![]() | May 8, 2010 | [77] | ||
Jack White | ![]() | ![]() | October 19, 2002 | [78] [79] | ||
Rondell White | ![]() | December 13, 1997 | [80] | |||
Shaun White | ![]() | October 1, 2022 | [81] | |||
The White Stripes | ![]() | October 19, 2002 | [82] | |||
Bradley Whitford | ![]() | December 14, 2002 | [83] | |||
Steve Whitmire | ![]() | December 18, 2004 | As the voice of Kermit the Frog. | [84] | ||
Kristen Wiig | ![]() | ![]() | May 11, 2013 | Former cast member; member of the "Five-Timers Club" | [10] | |
Wilco | ![]() | March 1, 2008 | [85] | |||
Olivia Wilde | ![]() | May 21, 2011 | [86] | |||
Fred Willard | ![]() | October 14, 1978 | [87] | |||
Allison Williams | ![]() | November 3, 2007 | [88] | |||
Brian Williams | ![]() | ![]() | November 3, 2007 | [89] [90] | ||
Cindy Williams | ![]() | February 20, 1977 | [91] | |||
Deniece Williams | ![]() | April 7, 1984 | [92] | |||
Gerald Williams | ![]() | December 13, 1997 | Non-speaking role | [93] | ||
Robin Williams | ![]() | ![]() | February 11, 1984 | [94] [95] | ||
Tyler James Williams | ![]() | October 4, 2003 | [96] | |||
Walter Williams | ![]() | February 28, 1976 | As the voice of Mr. Bill. | [97] | ||
Wendy Williams | ![]() | May 4, 2024 | [98] | |||
Bruce Willis | ![]() | ![]() | September 30, 1989 | [99] [100] | ||
Andrew Wilson | ![]() | October 2, 2021 | [101] | |||
Brian Wilson | ![]() | November 27, 1976 | [30] | |||
Flip Wilson | ![]() | December 10, 1983 | [102] | |||
Luke Wilson | ![]() | ![]() | October 2, 2021 | [103] [104] | ||
Owen Wilson | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Rainn Wilson | ![]() | February 24, 2007 | [32] | |||
Dave Winfield | ![]() | October 13, 1984 | [105] | |||
Oprah Winfrey | ![]() | April 12, 1986 | [106] | |||
Debra Winger | ![]() | March 24, 1990 | [107] | |||
Henry Winkler | ![]() | December 3, 1994 | [108] | |||
Kate Winslet | ![]() | October 20, 2004 | [109] | |||
Dean Winters | ![]() | November 19, 2024 | [110] | |||
Bill Withers | ![]() | January 17, 1976 | [111] | |||
Reese Witherspoon | ![]() | September 29, 2001 | [112] | |||
Mark Wohlers | ![]() | December 13, 1997 | [80] | |||
Megan Wollover | ![]() | October 17, 2015 | [113] | |||
Stevie Wonder | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | May 7, 1983 | [114] | |
Wayne Wonder | ![]() | May 10, 2003 | [115] | |||
Elijah Wood | ![]() | ![]() | December 13, 2003 | [116] | ||
Jamila Woods | ![]() | December 12, 2015 | [117] | |||
Jimmy Workman | ![]() | November 20, 1993 | [118] | |||
Steven Wright | ![]() | January 14, 1984 | [119] | |||
Performer | Host | Musical guest | Cameo | First appearance | Notes | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charli XCX | ![]() | ![]() | March 5, 2022 | [120] [121] | ||
Xzibit | ![]() | January 20, 2020 | [122] | |||
The xx | ![]() | November 19, 2016 | [123] | |||
Performer | Host | Musical guest | Cameo | First appearance | Notes | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gideon Yago | ![]() | February 4, 2006 | [124] | |||
Yeah Yeah Yeahs | ![]() | April 11, 2009 | [30] | |||
yMusic | ![]() | October 13, 2018 | [125] | |||
Dwight Yoakam | ![]() | April 9, 1994 | [17] | |||
Neil Young | ![]() | September 30, 1989 | [100] | |||
Paul Young | ![]() | February 14, 1987 | [17] | |||
Young Jeezy | ![]() | May 17, 2008 | [24] | |||
Young Thug | ![]() | October 17, 2021 | [126] [100] | |||
Performer | Host | Musical guest | Cameo | First appearance | Notes | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zac Brown Band | ![]() | March 7, 2015 | [127] | |||
Frank Zappa | ![]() | ![]() | October 21, 1978 | Banned from further appearances for acting unprofessionally on set | [128] [129] | |
Renée Zellweger | ![]() | April 14, 2001 | [130] [131] | |||
Todd Zeile | ![]() | December 13, 1997 | [80] | |||
Catherine Zeta-Jones | ![]() | October 22, 2005 | [132] [133] | |||
Maddie Ziegler | ![]() | January 17, 2015 | [134] [73] | |||
Mark Zuckerberg | ![]() | January 29, 2011 | [135] | |||
Zwan | ![]() | April 12, 2003 | [136] [137] | |||