10 A-List Celebs Who Made Surprisingly Bad SNL Hosts

#10: Oprah Winfrey

With her Oscar-nominated performance in “The Color Purple,” Oprah Winfrey showed tremendous promise as an actress. After her talk show gained traction, though, it became increasingly harder to accept Oprah playing anyone other than… well, Oprah. This is reflected in her 1986 “SNL” hosting stint, which naturally opens with a monologue from Winfrey. Then, in her next sketch, Winfrey again plays herself as a guest on “The Pat Stevens Show.” Winfrey disappears for large portions of the episode, occasionally resurfacing to play a mom or a scientist whose lines are mainly exposition. While the writing doesn’t do her any favors, Winfrey demonstrates little range. Sorry, but we’d rather watch Maya Rudolph host the show in character as Oprah than watch Winfrey host it herself.

#9: Walter Matthau

In addition to being an Oscar winner, Walter Matthau was an all-around comedy legend. While he could be a great foil in movies like “The Odd Couple,” his talents didn’t necessarily translate well to live sketch comedy. Jane Curtin called Matthau her least favorite “SNL” host to work with. According to Curtin, Matthau didn’t take his duties as host very seriously, seeing it as all fun and games. For those who have to put on this show every week, it’s a stressful experience where every second counts. You can sense that tension in Matthau’s monologue, as he discusses his week with the cast. Although Matthau’s curmudgeon delivery can get a sporadic chuckle, the chemistry between him and the cast isn’t there.

#8: Jeremy Renner

Robert Downey Jr. often gets flak as the worst “SNL” cast member ever, but we still think he’d make a better host than his fellow Avenger. While Jeremy Renner is a man of many talents, people generally know him best as Hawkeye. Right off the bat, you get the impression that Renner wants to prove that there’s more to him than Clint Barton. After stumbling through his opening song and monologue, though, Renner never really finds his footing. Even when poking fun at his tough guy persona, the Oscar nominee seems out of his element. His only highlight is a Marvel sketch, ironically emphasizing that his most famous character is arguably the most disposable Avenger. A misfire from a great actor.

#7: Billy Bob Thornton

When Billy Bob Thornton hosted “SNL” in 2001, his most acclaimed work had primarily been in dramas. Had he hosted two years later, after doing “Bad Santa,” “SNL” might’ve realized what they had on their hands. Unfortunately, the writers apparently didn’t know what to do with him, and Thornton doesn’t look especially ecstatic to be there either. Most of the time, he just seems to be playing himself, even when playing a gay Pilgrim. Whether in his comfort zone or acting against type, Thornton comes off as uncomfortable whenever on screen. Even if “SNL” had been able to capitalize on Thornton’s success with “Bad Santa” down the line, you can only do so much with that shtick anyway.

#6: Hilary Swank

A few years after winning her first Oscar and barely a week before winning her second, Hilary Swank hosted “SNL.” She mentions at the top of her monologue that her comedy experience is limited, which is obvious throughout the rest of the episode. Swank has an expressive face, which proves to be her best comedic asset yet something of a drawback. Much of the time, Swank resorts to mugging at the camera without the line delivery or writing to back her up. You can tell that she’s trying, which is more than can be said about some of the hosts on this list who phoned it in. Swank seems overeager, though, coming off as amateurish going up against seasoned comedic talent.

#5: January Jones

January Jones scored an Emmy nomination, as well as two Golden Globe nods, for her performance as Betty Draper on “Mad Men.” Jones was well-suited to play the restrained Betty, a housewife who seemingly has everything on the surface, but is harboring loneliness and unfulfillment underneath. Once Jones hosted “SNL,” though, people began to question her range as a performer. Whether playing a Dairy Queen employee or a farting Grace Kelly, Jones’ delivery is so flat that every character feels the same. Even when Jones isn’t talking, you can tell you’re watching an actress awkwardly waiting for their next line. The writing doesn’t help, but Jones seems uninterested in elevating it. This was the exact moment that Jones went from A-lister to B-list.

#4: Milton Berle

If your birthday falls somewhere between the Silent Generation and Generation X, you might regard Milton Berle as a comedy institution. By the time he hosted “SNL” in 1979, Mr. Television was past his prime. You may think that’s unfair, but anyone who’s seen his “SNL” episode knows what we’re talking about. With outdated jokes and routines, Berle seemed reluctant to evolve with a changing comedy landscape. He was even more unwilling to share the spotlight, hijacking the show to the point that he had a standing ovation arranged for his performance of “September Song.” Berle was banned from “SNL,” and while he wasn’t blacklisted across the industry, it’s probably not a coincidence that he was mainly restricted to guest spots and cameos thereafter.

#3: Malcolm McDowell

Malcolm McDowell gave one of the most menacing performances in cinematic history as Alex in “A Clockwork Orange.” McDowell has shown that his naturally chilling voice can be used for comedic effect. With the right material, we think McDowell could’ve made for a fun “SNL” host. Unfortunately, he hosted the second episode of the infamously bad Season 6, after Lorne Michaels temporarily left. Of this particular crop of episodes, McDowell’s may contain the most misguided humor. For a while, it was even considered the worst “SNL” ever. Although we’ve seen worse episodes since, McDowell is rather unappealing as a host. You could call him an innocent bystander of a train wreck, but from his laughless monologue alone, you can tell this is gonna be rough.

#2: Casey Affleck

Big brother Ben Affleck has hosted “SNL” a few times, usually with solid results. With Casey Affleck on the verge of winning an Oscar for “Manchester by the Sea,” you’d think he’d be just as good as an “SNL” host. That said, have you seen the performance that made Affleck a Best Actor winner? It’s one of the single most gut-wrenching pieces of acting ever committed to the screen. Expecting Affleck to go from that film to “SNL” is like going to Disneyland immediately after a funeral. If Affleck had a funny bone before, it was out of commission by the time he took to the Studio 8H stage. Affleck simply looked tired throughout his sketches, leaving his A-game out to sea.

#1: Adrien Brody

As deserving as Adrien Brody was of his Oscar win for “The Pianist,” it might’ve gone to his head for a period. Hell, it was apparent when he kissed Halle Berry right after winning. That wasn’t Brody’s most notorious moment on live TV, however. Now that he was a Best Actor winner, Brody seemingly thought he could get away with going off script, randomly doing a Jamaican accent with dreadlocks. It’s been debated whether or not this got Brody banned from “SNL,” but it’s probably the reason why he was never invited back. Setting that bit of improvisation aside, Brody demonstrates in each of his sketches that, unless you get Wes Anderson to direct him, you can’t count on his guy to deliver the laughs.

Which celeb do you think failed to bring their A-material to “SNL?” Let us know in the comments.