Wishlist for New SNL Hosts this Season

Saturday Night Live's 38th season premier (on Sept. 15) is now less than 3 weeks away, which mean it's only a matter of time before we find out if Jason Sudeikis is returning to the cast, what new members will be joining the show, and most importantly, who will be hosting the first few episodes!  While we certainly have our favorite SNL hosts who we'd love to see come back to host this season (Justin Timberlake, Jon Hamm, Zach Galifianakis, etc.), it's always exciting to see someone host the show for the first time and see if they can join the ranks of those all-time great SNL hosts.  So now, before any official hosts have been announced for the upcoming season, here is my list of the Top 10 celebrities I would like to see host Saturday Night Live for the first time this season (in no particular order):

1. Stephen Colbert

You may be thinking that Stephen Colbert is not much of an actor, as he just plays the same character every night as host of the Colbert Report.  But Colbert actually has a background in sketch comedy, starring on the Dana Carvey Show back in 1996. (To read more about Stephen Colbert's long TV history before The Colbert Report, check out our Stephen Colbert TV Star Spotlight.)  Colbert is also the voice of Ace from the popular  SNL TV Funhouse cartoon "The Ambiguously Gay Duo", and even made a guest appearance on SNL in a special live-action "Ambiguously Gay Duo" 2 years ago.  Even further, when SNL's Seth Meyers appeared on The Report, Colbert made it clear that he'd love to host the show, but he was never asked.  Awww.  Someone please ask Colbert to host!  He'd be great!

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2. Aziz Ansari

Aziz Ansari is hilarious every week on NBC's Parks and Recreation, and his stand up career has really been taking off.  And like Colbert, he too has a background in sketch comedy, creating and starring on the cult favorite MTV show Human Giant.  (For more on Human Giant and Aziz's work, check out our Azzi Ansari TV Star Spotlight.) Aziz is a very funny guy, and he'd make a great host of Saturday Night Live.  Aziz co-stars on Parks & Rec with SNL alum Amy Poehler, so I'm sure she can pull a few strings.

3. Mindy Kaling

For 8 seasons, Mindy Kaling has starred on The Office as the scene-stealing Kelly, and has also written some of the show's funniest and most memorable episodes such as "The Dundies", "The Injury", "Niagara", and "Michael's Last Dundies".  This season, she will star in her own FOX comedy The Mindy Project, which is already receiving a lot of buzz about possibly being the breakout hit of the season.  Just as Zooey Deschanel hosted SNL after the success of her FOX comedy New Girl, hopefully Mindy Kaling can follow in her footsteps and and host this year.  Kaling has actually already appeared on SNL as a non-speaking guest on the "What Up With That" sketch (alongside US Vice President Al Gore!), so if her show does well, I think she has a good shot of finally hosting.

4. Ty Burrell

Modern Family stars an excellent ensemble cast of actors.  They're so great that for the second year in a row, all 6 adult leads have earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Actor/Actress.  And while I agree that they're all great, the one who stands above the rest in my opinion is Ty Burrell.  He won the Emmy award last season, and he has a good chance of winning it again this Fall.  And after Sofia Vergara hosted last season, I think the next Modern Family star who should host is Ty Burrell.  If not him, then I'll settle for Eric Stonestreet who is also quite hilarious on the show (and won the Emmy the year before).

5. Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks is a very versatile actress, who has memorably guest starred on many comedy shows like 30 Rock, Scrubs, and Modern Family and even starred in hit comedy films like Zack and Miri Make a Porno and 40 Year Old Virgin.  But one thing she's never done is host Saturday Night Live.  Especially after the success of The Hunger Games, I think it's finally time to see her host.

6. Louis C.K.

Louis C.K. has quickly become one of the funniest and most respected comedians of our time.  He currently stars in the 3rd season of his hit FX comedy series Louie, which he also writes, directs, and usually edits himself.  And when he's not shooting the series, he's touring the country with a brand new hour of stand up that's completely fresh and new from the previous year. He just received a record 7 Emmy nominations (for both the show and his stand up special).  And after recently winning a Grammy for Best Comedy Album, it certainly seems to be Louis's year, so hosting SNL would be the next logical step.  And like Colbert, Louis has some sketch comedy background as a writer and occasional performer on The Dana Carvey Show, and also as a writer for some of the TV Funhouse cartoons that aired on SNL.

7. Mila Kunis
Actress Mila Kunis may have been nominated for an Oscar for her dramatic performance in Black Swan, but she certainly knows how to be funny as well.  She started out as a cast member on the sitcom That 70's Show, and has now transitioned to film, starring in many comedies such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Friends with Benefits, and Ted (all while also voicing Meg on Family Guy).  Hopefully her on-screen "friend with benefits" and frequent SNL host Justin Timberlake can help  get her a hosting gig (and then maybe make a cameo too, please?).


8. Will  Arnett

On some magical day in Spring of 2013, the day we've all been waiting for will finally arrive - the much anticipated 4th season on the cult-favorite sitcom Arrested Development will be released all at once on Netflix.  To promote the new season (as if it needed any promoting), I'm hoping they get Will Arnett to host SNL.  Despite having a lead role on the Lorne Michaels-produced Up All Night, a recurring role on the Lorne Michaels-produced 30 Rock, and being married to SNL alum Amy Poehler, Will Arnett has never actually appeared on SNL (with the small exception of being seen during the "good byes" of the recent Jimmy Fallon-hosted episode, which included a guest appearance from his wife Amy Poehler).  The 4-time Emmy nominated actor (once for Arrested Development and three times for 30 Rock) was one of the breakout stars of Arrested Development for his hilarious performance as the "illusionist" GOB, and has since gone on to appear in many other TV shows and films.  (Fun fact, he is the only person [as far as I know] who has appeared on all 4 NBC Thursday night comedies!)  It's definitely about time for Will Arnett to host.

9. Michael Cera

If for some reason Will Arnett doesn't host, then the next logical choice from the Arrested Development cast would be Michael Cera.  (BTW, Jason Bateman already hosted in 2005).  Now technically, Cera did host an episode of Saturday Night Live, but it wasn't an official episode.  During the 2007-2008 Writer's Strike, Michael Cera hosted a special un-televised episode of SNL in front of a small group of lucky fans at the Upright Citizen's Brigade theater to try to raise money for the crew members who were out of work during the strike.  Interestingly, no video of the show was ever released, and he's never been back to host a real televised episode.  And while Cera's star may not shine as bright as it did a few years ago (when he starred in a slew of hit films such as Superbad, Juno, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, Year One, Youth in Revolt, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), he is certainly a very funny actor and he would make a great SNL host.  I'd especially love to see a confrontation with the real Michael Cera and Taran Killam's hilarious Michael Cera impression!

10. Ken Jeong
In May of 2013, as SNL will be looking for the final few hosts of the season, the highly anticipated The Hangover Part III will be released.  And while the three main Hangover stars have already hosted (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis), breakout star Ken Jeong has not.  Ken Jeong also stars on the low-rated but cult favorite NBC comedy Community, so having Ken Jeong host might also help to boost the ratings of that show.  But the main reason that Ken Joeng should host is that he is incredibly funny and he's not afraid to look ridiculous to get a laugh (anyone who's seen The Hangover films knows what I'm talking about).  While he may have been a bigger star a few years ago than he is now, with the 3rd Hangover film coming out, I think it's the perfect time to finally see Ken Joeng host SNL.

So what first-time SNL hosts would you like to see on the show this season?  Comment below and let us know who I missed!

(Also, bonus points for anyone who can correctly identify the SNL host pictured at the top of this post behind the question mark!)