SNL50 - Top 20 Monologues

 

The host monologue is always left to the last minute. The writers do not like writing them so it is often the weakest part of the show. There are the formulaic standbys like questions from the audience or tour through the backstage but there are also some gems. Comedians have an advantage of using their standup so they are usually good. For this list, I restricted myself that I couldn’t do multiple appearances by the same host in order to spread the love.

20. EMMY ENVY
EPISODE: S16E02 (10.06.1990)
HOST: Susan Lucci
MUSICAL GUEST: Hothouse Flowers
With so many Daytime Emmy losses, Susan Lucci is able to laugh at herself with everyone in the cast taking their multiple Emmys for granted, including using them as corn cob holders and ammo in an Emmy fight. (She won the Emmy 9 years later.)
LINK: Not Available

19. ASIAN STEREOTYPES
EPISODE: S26E08 (12.16.2000)
HOST: Lucy Liu
MUSICAL GUEST: Jay-Z
Fresh from Charlie’s Angels, Lucy Liu, as the first Asian host of SNL, is willing to play into the stereotypes in a look back at her week. The clips include Lucy taking photos, giving massages, dry cleaning, cooking dog, rickshaw running and giving manicures. Don’t know if they could do this today.
LINK: Click here

18. NINE DIRECTION
EPISODE: S39E08 (12.07.2013)
HOST: Paul Rudd
MUSICAL GUEST: One Direction
Paul Rudd combats getting overshadowed by yet another musical guest by bringing in his Anchorman costars for some “Afternoon Delight” singing. 
LINK: Click here

17. FRED’S WONDER YEARS
EPISODE: S15E14 (02.24.1990)
HOST: Fred Savage
MUSICAL GUEST: Technotronic
Great Wonder Years idea hearing Fred Savage’s inner monologue as he goes through puberty very quickly on stage.
LINK: Click here

16. LEO REELS IN JONAH
EPISODE: S39E12 (01.25.2014)
HOST: Jonah Hill
MUSICAL GUEST: Bastille
Jonah gets a chance to brag about his acting chops and Oscar nominations but goes too far and has to be reeled in by Leonardo DiCaprio. A killer cameo. Leo’s only time on the SNL stage.
LINK: Click here

15. LIVER TRANSPLANT
EPISODE: S20E14 (02.25.1995)
HOST: George Clooney
MUSICAL GUEST: The Cranberries
A fun gag with George Clooney of ER fame doing a liver transplant in the studio. Lots of blood and fun.
LINK: Click here

14. NATE DOES STAND-UP
EPISODE: S49E03 (10.28.2023)
HOST: Nate Bargatze
MUSICAL GUEST: Foo Fighters
This was my first introduction to Nate Bargatze and I instantly fell in love with his stand-up skills. A great set that includes showers, donkey high dives, fighting orangutans, old moms, nose spray and reading.
LINK: Click here

13. CHARLIE TAKES QUESTIONS
EPISODE: S26E09 (01.13.2001)
HOST: Charlie Sheen
MUSICAL GUEST: Nelly Furtado
Charlie Sheen does the classic taking questions from the audience although they include how much could I charge as a hooker and how much do these drugs cost? He also reimburses Higgins for watching the terrible film Men at Work.
LINK: Click here

12. NOT GONNA SING TONIGHT
EPISODE: S36E22 (05.21.2011)
HOST: Justin Timberlake
MUSICAL GUEST: Lady Gaga
Most of Justin’s monologues have been great but this one sticks out. I was tempted to include Ariana Grande’s similar toned song done for the 50^th season, but JT got there first with this meta performance. He even got an Emmy for this song.
LINK: Click here

11. LOUIS DOES STAND-UP
EPISODE: S39E16 (03.29.2014)
HOST: Louis C.K.
MUSICAL GUEST: Sam Smith
Before his cancellation, Louis CK was one of the top comedians. Here he performs another killer set including feeling hungry, child’s plays, heaven, and treatment of women.
LINK: Click here

10. IMPRESSIONS
EPISODE: S39E21 (05.17.2014)
HOST: Andy Samberg
MUSICAL GUEST: St. Vincent
Andy gets to do a string of good and sub-par impressions with Seth Meyers cheering him on. Fortunately, for us, it doesn’t stop there.
LINK: Click here

9. SHANNEN’S WEDDING VIDEO  
EPISODE: S19E02 (10.02.1993)
HOST: Shannen Doherty
MUSICAL GUEST: Cypress Hill
Shannen Doherty had a reputation of being difficult to work with on Beverly Hills 90210. She is able to laugh at herself with this disastrous wedding video that involves pushing, arguing and a full on brawl.
LINK: Click here

8. EULOGIES
EPISODE: S48E08 (12.10.2022)
HOSTS: Steve Martin, Martin Short
MUSICAL GUEST: Brandi Carlile
These comedy icons have a beautiful friendship that is full of playful insults. Reading eulogies to each other is hysterical. Plenty of laughs abound.
LINK: Click here

7. JOHN DOES STAND-UP
EPISODE: S45E14 (02.29.2020)
HOST: John Mulaney
MUSICAL GUEST: David Byrne
I love John’s stand-up. He covers things like dads without friends, leap year, the constitution and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
LINK: Click here

6. MY SHOT
EPISODE: S42E02 (10.08.2016)
HOST: Lin-Manuel Miranda
MUSICAL GUEST: Twenty One Pilots
Fresh off of Hamilton, of course Lin-Manuel is going to do some singing about his excitement being a part of SNL. He is such a fan boy. His interaction with Donald Trump’s portrait is wishful thinking though.
LINK: Click here

5. ZACH DOES STAND-UP
EPISODE: S35E16 (03.06.2010)
HOST: Zach Galifinakis
MUSICAL GUEST: Vampire Weekend
Zach is a weird guy and brings a lot of laughs with his bizarre non-sequiturs. He reminds me a little of Steven Wright. Almost every line out of his mouth is comedy gold. A great stand-up set.
LINK: Click here

4. THE RANDIEST TIME OF THE YEAR
EPISODE: S38E10 (12.15.2012)
HOST: Martin Short
MUSICAL GUEST: Paul McCartney
Okay, Martin Short is on the list already but he was co-hosting and I could not pass up this incredible song with innuendos galore. Love the cameos of Kristin Wiig, Jimmy Fallon, Tom Hanks, Samuel L Jackson, Tina Fey and a llama. Even the opening banter is full of laughs.
LINK: Not Available

3. THE SNL OFFICE
EPISODE: S32E14 (02.24.2007)
HOST: Rainn Wilson
MUSICAL GUEST: Arcade Fire
The cast gets to have some fun portraying The Office characters. Fun stuff. Nice mini Karen cameo.
LINK: Click here

2. ONE DAY MORE
EPISODE: S38E07 (11.10.2012)
HOST: Anne Hathaway
MUSICAL GUEST: Rihanna
Nothing like the full cast coming together for a rousing musical number. Fresh off of Les Miserables, Anne and the cast sing about their one-day weekend. Some great voices in that cast.
LINK: Click here

1. FOUL BALLS
EPISODE: S27E07 (12.01.2001)
HOST: Derek Jeter
MUSICAL GUEST: Bubba Sparxx, Shakira
Of course, New York loves their Yankee shortstop. Watching Derek Jeter knock foul balls into the audience is an incredibly stupid idea but makes me laugh so incredibly hard.
LINK: Click here