20 former 'SNL' cast members who need to host

Ana Gasteyer is hilarious and has some of the best characters in all of SNL history. Many of her best impressions, including Martha Stewart and Hillary Clinton, are still very much relevant. There are loads of reasons to give her a shot at a monologue. 

Chris Parnell is certainly in the running for the most underrated SNL cast member of all time. The man is hysterical, and he can make just about anything funny. He’d fit in perfectly with some of the current writers like the Please Don’t Destroy guys. 

Why Rachel Dratch has never hosted SNL is a mystery. She’s responsible for Debbie Downer, one of the most iconic SNL characters of all time, and that character is perpetually topical.

Tim Meadows brings a droll sense of humor to everything he does. He was on SNL for years, so he’s clearly got the chops. Meadows believes he’s one of Lorne Michaels’ least favorite former cast members, so perhaps that has something to do with him not hosting. 

Aidy Bryant hasn’t been away from SNL for very long, so it’s possible that she’ll get her chance to host soon enough. But the opportunity should not be wasted. Bryant is a comedic treasure, and she brings so much joy to all of her work. 

Cecily Strong left the same year Aidy Bryant did, so like Bryant, there’s still a definite possibility that she’ll return to host. The people deserve to see "The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party" at least one more time. 

Abby Elliott was underrated during her time at SNL. She’s been gone for well over 10 years and has been killing it in her role on The Bear, so there’s no better time than now for her to make her return. 

Why Cheri Oteri hasn’t hosted SNL is one of today’s greatest mysteries. There’s probably a person or two out there who knows the reason, but the public deserves answers. 

Vanessa Bayer is talented and funny, and she does great impressions. She knows what's topical and could deliver a quirky and unique monologue. SNL needs to let Bayer host. 

Tragically, not many of the cast members from the first year at SNL are still living, but the ones who still are are as hilarious as ever. Laraine Newman is one such person, and her simply still being alive is reason enough to let her host. 

While SNL is at it, they should let Jane Curtin, another original cast member, give hosting a shot. It would be nostalgic for longtime viewers and a great way to introduce some OGs to newer viewers. 

Joan Cusack was only on SNL for one season, but her career has clearly been fruitful since. Although things didn’t work out as well at the sketch comedy show for Cusack as it does for some cast members, the actress is still plenty funny and would make a great host. 

Chris Elliott should’ve hosted SNL when Schitt’s Creek was at its peak. But there’s no reason he couldn’t give the gig a go now. The actor was part of the sketch comedy cast for one year in the mid-'90s. 

David Koechner was another one-and-done SNL cast member from the mid-'90s. He went on to have roles in a variety of sitcoms, notably playing the infamous Todd Packer on The Office. Character acting is what he does best, and he could definitely host. 

It’s a bit of a wonder that Tim Robinson hasn’t hosted SNL, especially given the success of his own show, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. There may be some bad blood between him and Lorne Michaels, though, and that would be enough to keep Robinson from doing the job. 

Darrell Hammond’s work as an announcer might interfere with his ability to effectively host SNL, but surely the AV team could make the arrangement work. The comedian has given too much of himself to SNL to not get at least one chance to host. 

Jenny Slate is another hysterical woman whose time at SNL  was cut short. But plenty of one- or two-season cast members have gone on to host the show, like Sarah Silverman, and Slate should be afforded the same opportunity. 

Taran Killam had good characters and did a slew of impressions while he was on SNL . he’s a treasure whose talents deserve to be recognized via a hosting gig. He’d be a good candidate for a joint hosting episode, like Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have done. 

No one has ever done as good an impression of Barack Obama as Jay Pharoah. And that wasn’t his only good impression. Pharoah can imitate almost anyone, and there’s a high possibility he’s added some new ones to his collection since leaving SNL. Fans need to see them. 

Leslie Jones was great on SNL. She was in several of the most iconic sketches from the 2010s, and there’s no shot she’s become less funny since leaving the NBC program. Somebody needs to write her a monologue stat.