'SNL' Five-Timers Club: See who's hosted the most

This club has everyone: Tom Hanks, Tina Fey, Drew Barrymore, Dwayne Johnson, Steve Martin, and now Kristen Wiig. The Saturday Night Live alum and Bridesmaids star made her SNL return to host the April 6, 2024 episode, joining an elite class of hosts known as the Five-Timers Club. The group — made up of those who have hosted the show five or more times, of course — has steadily grown over the decades with lots of famous faces, including former cast members who just couldn't stay away. Ahead, see who else belongs to the club, in order of the most times hosting the show. Plus, two honorary members.

Kristen Wiig on SNL — Kristen Wiig on 'SNL'.
NBC

01 of 27

Alec Baldwin

Saturday Night Live - Season 42 — Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

No. of times hosting: 17

First time: April 21, 1990

Joined the Club: Dec. 10, 1994

Alec Baldwin holds the record for hosting the most SNL episodes, not including all the times he popped in to play Donald Trump. Baldwin broke the 15-time marker left by Steve Martin in 2011 when the Father of the Bride funnyman was on hand to jokingly demand a drug test. One of Baldwin's hosting highlights is his appearance in the "Schweddy Balls" sketch. Though, he has since earned both praise and ire — including from Trump himself — over his ongoing impression of the sitting president.

02 of 27

Steve Martin

Saturday Night Live — Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

No. of times hosting: 16

First time: Oct. 23, 1976

Joined the Club: April 22, 1978

Steve Martin was the quickest to join the Five-Timers Club (546 days), appearing on the show so many times in its early days that he was nearly an honorary cast member. He was such a popular host that viewership increased by nearly a million when he appeared on the show. Martin created many iconic characters while hosting, including "wild and crazy guy" Georgi Festrunk alongside cast member Dan Aykroyd. He also debuted his novelty song "King Tut" on a 1978 episode, previewing it before its release as a single that would go on to sell over one million copies.

03 of 27

John Goodman

No. of times hosting: 13

First time: Dec. 2, 1989

Joined the Club: May 7, 1994

John Goodman's illustrious history with SNL includes a Wilford Brimley impression, a skinny jeans H&M bit, and Rex Tillerson, Trump's pick for secretary of state, who Goodman reprised in December alongside Baldwin's Trump and Kate McKinnon's Kellyanne Conway. The actor is also one of the most frequent hosts.

04 of 27

Buck Henry

No. of times hosting: 10

First time: Jan. 17, 1976

Joined the Club: Nov. 19, 1977

The Graduate scribe Buck Henry last hosted in 1980. He was the first person to join the club and the only member besides Steve Martin to join in less than four years, hosting five times in 671 days. Henry was the host for the show's only live remote attempt from Mardi Gras 1977 in New Orleans. Lorne Michaels credits him with the idea for "recurring sketches," and Henry himself recurred as Mr. Dantley, a straight man to John Belushi's Samurai Futabi. In a second season sketch called "Samurai Stockbroker," Belushi accidentally cut Henry with his samurai sword, leading Henry to wear a bandage on his head for the remainder of the show. Chevy Chase, in what was his final episode, included the incident in the Weekend Update News and by the end of the show, all of the cast members appeared with bandaged heads.

05 of 27

Tom Hanks

No. of times hosting: 10

First time: Dec. 14, 1985

Joined the Club: Dec. 8, 1990

The Oscar-winner returned to hosting duties for the first time in 10 years in 2016 with a memorable set of sketches including "Black Jeopardy" and the invention of David S. Pumpkins, which kicked off a Halloween costume craze. But Hanks was actually the first host to mention the Five-Timers Club when he became a member in December 1990 with a monologue that featured other club members Steve Martin, Elliott Gould, and Paul Simon (more on him later). Hanks showed off his membership card and gave an exclusive glimpse inside the club, officially making the "Five-Timers Club" a thing.

06 of 27

Chevy Chase

No. of times hosting: 8

First time: Feb. 18, 1978

Joined the Club: Dec. 6, 1986

"I'm Chevy Chase, and you're not." This was the first Weekend Update host's famous opener. He became the first cast member to leave the show after only one season, though he said he later regretted it. Chase ended up returning to the show a number of times as host, his latest one being 1997.

07 of 27

Christopher Walken

No. of times hosting: 7

First time: Jan. 20, 1990

Joined the Club: May 19, 2001

More cowbell! Christopher Walken instantly joined the annals of SNL history with that iconic phrase in a 2000 sketch where he played a rock producer demanding more cowbell from musician Gene Frenkle (Ferrell). The Oscar-winning actor known for playing creepy or unsettling roles is an unlikely member of this club, but he has his own recurring SNL character – The Continental, a debonair gentleman who believes he's a "ladies man" but is constantly rebuffed for his sexually predatory behavior. The sketch was a parody of a 1950s CBS show of the same name, and in 2002, Walken was rumored to express interest in portraying the character in a feature film.

08 of 27

Elliott Gould

No. of times hosting: 6

First time: Jan. 10, 1976

Joined the Club: Feb. 16, 1980

Elliott Gould's sixth and last time hosting SNL was in 1980 after the notorious sixth season, when boss Lorne Michaels, the entire writing staff, and cast left. It was a rickety time as Jonathan Demme took the helm. Gould never hosted again, but appeared in one of Tom Hanks' episodes in 1990.

09 of 27

Danny DeVito

No. of times hosting: 6

First time: May 15, 1982

Joined the Club: Jan. 9, 1993

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Danny DeVito delivered his latest hosting turn in 1999, just before he was to appear on screen in Man on the Moon. But he broke into the Five-Timer's Club in 1993, after debuting as The Penguin in Tim Burton's Batman Returns.

10 of 27

Drew Barrymore

No. of times hosting: 6

First time: Nov. 20, 1982

Joined the Club: Feb. 3, 2007

In 1982, a 7-year-old Drew Barrymore hosted SNL fresh off her performance in Steven Spielberg's E.T., making her the youngest host in the history of the sketch comedy series. Her sixth time leading SNL came in 2009. During her opening monologue, she noted this was the most for any female host.

11 of 27

Tina Fey

Saturday Night Live - Season 39 — Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

No. of times hosting: 6

First time: Feb. 23, 2008

Joined the Club: Dec. 19, 2015

Another longtime mainstay of SNL with her stint on the Weekend Update news desk, head writer duties, and various impressions, Tina Fey's first hosting turn came on the first episode back from the 2007-2008 writers' strike. She left her post on the show in 2006 and created 30 Rock, but has since hosted a total of six times, on top of her guest appearances. Fey brought her iconic Sarah Palin impersonation back to SNL during a 2016 cold open with Darrell Hammond's Donald Trump.

12 of 27

Scarlett Johansson

No. of times hosting: 6

First time: Jan. 14, 2006

Joined the Club: March 11, 2017

On her fifth turn hosting in 2017, Scarlett Johansson made waves playing Ivanka Trump in a satirical perfume ad for a scent named "Complicit," and it wasn't the first time she'd played the first daughter – back in 2007, she appeared as Ivanka in a sketch parodying Live with Regis and Kelly.

13 of 27

Candice Bergen

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: Nov. 8, 1975

Joined the Club: May 19, 1990

Candice Bergen, a favorite of SNL, made history when she became the first woman to host the show in 1975. She quickly added a second appearance that same year in December. "Consumer Probe" and "The Right to Extreme Stupidity" are two sketches fans continuously point to as highlights.

14 of 27

Bill Murray

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: March 7, 1981

Joined the Club: Feb. 20, 1999

Bill Murray was the second SNL cast member to come back as a host and join the Five-Timer club (original cast member Chevy Chase was the first, who, ironically, Murray was hired to replace in the show's second season). Murray made a memorable cameo in season 42, joining his hometown Chicago Cubs to celebrate their World Series victory, but the elusive actor hasn't hosted since he joined the club in 1999. In addition to his stint hosting Weekend Update alongside Jane Curtin, Murray created many memorable characters as a cast member on SNL from Nick the lounge singer to Gilda Radner's boyfriend Todd DiLaMuca.

15 of 27

Justin Timberlake

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: Oct. 11, 2003

Joined the Club: March 9, 2013

When Justin Timberlake clinched his membership in 2013, SNL revived the "Five-Timer Club" sketch with members Paul Simon, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, and Candice Bergen, as well as portraits of John Goodman and Drew Barrymore. Timberlake holds the record for sharing hosting duties and musical guest responsibilities — he's done it three out of five times. Timberlake debuted one of his signature roles, Robin Gibb on Jimmy Fallon's The Barry Gibb Talk Show, on his first outing as host, but he secured his position as a hosting MVP with the premiere of the Lonely Island digital short "Dick in a Box" alongside Andy Samberg in 2006. Timberlake has created a series of recurring roles — perhaps most beloved beside his Lonely Island gig is his "Bring it on Down to [insert product]-ville" sketches where he dons a mascot costume and shills product with a series of modified pop songs.

16 of 27

Ben Affleck

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: Feb. 19, 2000

Joined the Club: May 18, 2013

Ben Affleck first appeared on SNL in 1999 for a surprise pop-in during Gwyneth Paltrow's opening monologue as host. So when it was his turn to take the Studio 8H main stage a few months later, Paltrow was on hand to return the favor with a jokey, awkward appearance. Affleck came back to host four more times, his last being in 2013 with musical guest Kanye West.

17 of 27

Melissa McCarthy

Saturday Night Live - Season 41 — Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: Oct. 1, 2011

Joined the Club: May 13, 2017

Bridesmaids star Melissa McCarthy joined the club in 2017, despite her monologue on her fourth outing being all about joining (she claimed her appearance on the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary qualified her for membership). McCarthy brought her signature brand of humor to the 42nd season, appearing as White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Her live-wire volatility has made her a favorite host since her first appearance in 2011 and her instant classic "Hidden Valley Ranch Taste Test" sketch in which she squeezed an entire jug of ranch all over her face. McCarthy also already has a recurring character, Sheila Kelly — an aggressive and violent woman who first appeared as a Bobby Knight-esque women's basketball coach in a 2013 sketch.

18 of 27

Dwayne Johnson

Saturday Night Live - Season 40 — Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: March 18, 2000

Joined the Club: May 20, 2017

Dwayne Johnson's induction into the Five-Timers Club came just one week after Melissa McCarthy earned the distinction and a special jacket from Steve Martin. The Baywatch star hosted SNL twice under his WWE wrestler name the Rock and thrice as Dwayne Johnson. He reflected on some of his favorite moments from the late-night sketch comedy series in a "Rock Reacts" YouTube video. "When it comes to comedy, you either commit or you don't commit. So, you gotta f---ing commit," he said.

19 of 27

Jonah Hill

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: March 15, 2008

Joined the Club: Nov. 3, 2018

Fellow Five-Timers Tina Fey, Candice Bergen, and Drew Barrymore welcomed 21 Jump Street star Jonah Hill to the club in 2018 with another revival of the signature sketch introduced for Tom Hanks' fifth go-round. Hill first hosted in 2008, on the heels of Superbad's success, and has made his mark on the show with such characters as six-year-old Borscht Belt comedian Adam Grossman.

20 of 27

Will Ferrell

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: May 14, 2005

Joined the Club: Nov. 23, 2019

Will Ferrell is a true SNL all-star, with his seven-year tenure as a cast member yielding such iconic sketches as "More Cowbell" and "Celebrity Jeopardy." He's since popped back up on the show many times, including five turns as host. For his inauguration into the Five-Timers Club in 2019, the Anchorman star didn't reprise any of his recurring characters, simply relying on his formidable comedic skills.

21 of 27

Paul Rudd

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: Nov. 15, 2008

Joined the Club: Dec. 18, 2021

Even Paul Rudd admitted he was "extremely disappointed" by the circumstances surrounding his fifth turn as host. After a new wave of COVID hit the SNL studio hard, the show decided to go on with the Rudd-fronted Christmas episode sans live audience, musical guest, and most of the cast and crew — which meant it was basically a clip show with a few fresh pre-recorded sketches and many old faves. The current PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive titleholder was joined in studio by fellow club members Tina Fey and Tom Hanks to receive his official club jacket. As a fan-favorite past host, here's hoping Rudd will get his shot again soon.

22 of 27

John Mulaney

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: April 14, 2018

Joined the Club: Feb. 26, 2022

Just four episodes after Paul Rudd's induction, the club got another new member: former SNL writer John Mulaney. Although the comedian was never a cast member during his stint on the show from 2008-2012 (in which he most notably co-created Bill Hader's Stefon character), he quickly became a fan-favorite host when he anchored the show for the first time in season 43. Mulaney-fronted episodes became infamous for stand-up monologues centering on candid bits about his personal life and elaborate musical sketches, beginning with Les Miserables parody, Diner Lobster. Mulaney's fifth time hosting came less than four years after his first host appearance, making him the quickest to enter the club since Steve Martin and Buck Henry both made it in under two years in the 1970s. And his induction ceremony was full of appropriate fan-fare, including appearances from fellow members Martin, Rudd, Candice Bergen, Tina Fey, and Elliott Gould, who had not appeared on the show since a 1990 cameo. Also there to crash the fun was another former SNL writer, Conan O'Brien, who has only hosted once so far.

23 of 27

Woody Harrelson

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: Nov. 18, 1989

Joined the Club: Feb. 25, 2023

It took him a few decades, but Woody Harrelson finally earned a spot in the club in 2023, more than 33 years after the Cheers star first hosted. After opening his fifth show saying he was expecting a jacket that never came, the Oscar nominee was officially entered into the club during goodnights when fellow member Scarlett Johansson came out to give him his covering alongside the night's musical guest Jack White, who was also making his own fifth appearance on the show.

24 of 27

Emma Stone

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: Oct. 23, 2010

Joined the Club: Dec. 2, 2023

Since her first hosting stint in 2010, Emma Stone has become a fan-favorite host and star of many iconic sketches, including hilariously slipping on lube in 2019's "The Actress" and as the understanding mom of a sensitive child in 2016's "Wells for Boys." The latter of which is also where Stone first met her now husband, Dave McCary, who directed the beloved digital short. During her monologue, Stone was welcomed into the Five-Timers Club by Tina Fey and Candice Bergen, the latter of whom was the first woman to become a member.

25 of 27

Kristen Wiig

No. of times hosting: 5

First time: May 11, 2013

Joined the Club: April 6, 2024

A fan favorite SNL cast member from 2005 to 2012, Kristen Wiig took just over 10 years since leaving the show to reach Five-Timers Club status. She was welcomed to the club during season 49 in a delightful monologue surrounded by fellow member Paul Rudd, and future hopefuls Martin Short, Will Forte, Jon Hamm, Matt Damon, Fred Armisen, and Ryan Gosling.

26 of 27

Honorary Member: Paul Simon

Saturday Night Live - Season 13 — Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

No. of times hosting: 4

First time: October 18, 1975

Joined the Club: May 10, 1986

Paul Simon shouldn't technically be a member — he's only hosted four times, but he got his membership card for his fifth appearance on the show as a musical guest. Despite his membership being on a technicality, Simon has appeared in two Five-Timer Club sketches (the 1990 Tom Hanks sketch and a 2013 sketch where Justin Timberlake joined the club). Simon also holds the distinction of being the first to perform double duty as host and musical guest on the same episode. In total, he's appeared as a musical guest nine times and as a special guest of the show five times, including a moving performance of "The Boxer" for New York police officers and firemen on the first episode of the show following 9/11.

27 of 27

Honorary Member: Jack White

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- âWoody Harrelson, Jack Whiteâ Episode 1839 -- Pictured: (l-r) Musical Guest Jack White, Host Woody Harrelson, and Chloe Fineman during Promos in Studio 8H on Thursday, February 23, 2023 — Rosalind OâConnor/NBC

No. of times hosting: 0

First time: Oct. 19, 2002 (as musical guest)

Joined the Club: Feb. 25, 2023

Although Jack White has never actually hosted the show, he was presented an official Five-Timers Club jacket during his fifth time as musical guest in 2023, mostly because official fifth-time host Woody Harrelson also received one in the same episode. White first performed on the show in 2002 as part of the White Stripes before making four solo turns on the Studio 8H stage. White may be the only musical performer officially inducted into the Five-Timers Club, but he is not the most frequent SNL musical guest. That honor belongs to Dave Grohl, who has performed on 16 episodes since 1992.

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