15 Worst SNL Episodes Of All Time According To IMDb

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Over the past five decades since its debut on NBC in 1975, “Saturday Night Live” has established itself as an American cultural cornerstone. Countless iconic episodes have graced our screens, and numerous former performers have gone on to achieve stardom in Hollywood due to their time on “SNL.” This groundbreaking show has served as a launchpad for some of the world’s most influential comedians. However, with a legacy spanning half a century, it’s inevitable that not every episode will be a hit, and given that “SNL” is produced in just one week with a guest host, there are always numerous factors at play.

Most of the individuals who have filled in as hosts on “SNL” are well-known actors, comics, or musicians, but occasionally the show decides to roll the dice with an athlete or a current event figure. Sometimes this gamble works out, but it can also lead to a major flop. Many episodes that receive poor ratings on IMDb fall under the “miscellaneous” category. While the quality of writing and performances by the cast are essential for any episode, it’s often the guest host who sets the mood and becomes the most memorable part of the show. Here are the 15 worst “SNL” episodes ever, according to IMDb ratings.

15. S30 E15: Ashton Kutcher (2005)

Musical Guest: Gwen Stefani

IMDb Rating: 4.7/10

Ashton Kutcher, who gained fame from “That ’70s Show,” has hosted “Saturday Night Live” on four occasions, and two of those episodes are featured here. The episode from 2005 was his second time as host and occurred during the intense media scrutiny surrounding his relationship with Demi Moore. Their age difference of 15 years generated a lot of negative attention when they began dating. Naturally, they used this opportunity to poke fun at the tabloids and their critics. In one scene, Moore donned elderly attire and makeup, and after a kiss, her fake dentures accidentally ended up in Kutcher’s mouth. However, the humor falls flat as it seems more icky than amusing. Another issue with this episode is that Maya Rudolph struggles to convincingly impersonate Oprah in one sketch, despite her comedic talents.

14. S28 E16: Bernie Mac (2003)

Musical Guest: Good Charlotte

IMDb Rating: 4.7/10

As a huge fan looking back at this 2003 Saturday Night Live episode with Bernie Mac as guest host, I can’t help but wonder why it has such a low rating on IMDb. It seems plausible that its timing during the height of the Iraq war may have played a role in its reception. For instance, a sketch featuring Rachel Dratch and Jimmy Fallon as Red Sox fans recording a video from Fenway Park on opening day for a family member serving overseas in Iraq could have been too raw for some viewers.

It appears that many jokes were simply too close to home during such a sensitive time. Bernie Mac’s monologue, delivered post-9/11, was centered around vigilance, but it may not have struck the right chord with the audience, despite his extensive stand-up experience and comedic talent.

The episode received predominantly 5/10 ratings from IMDb users, but a significant 14.8% of voters gave it a lowly 1/10, which might explain its lower overall score.

13. S27 E13: Jonny Moseley (2002)

Musical Guest: Outkast

IMDb Rating: 4.7/10

Today, if someone were to rewatch Season 27 of “Saturday Night Live,” they might find themselves puzzled by Jonny Moseley’s presence and ask, “Just who is Jonny Moseley?” Back in 2002, when Moseley was announced as the host for Season 27, Episode 13, that could have been the thought on viewers’ minds. Moseley is a retired professional freestyle skier who won a gold medal at the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998. In 2002, he also competed in the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and finished fourth in his event. It’s plausible that NBC asked producer Lorne Michaels to select a Winter Olympics athlete as host because the network had acquired exclusive broadcast rights for the games at a staggering $545 million. Despite Moseley’s good spirits and energy, he lacked the necessary skills related to sketch comedy to truly excel in the role, given that his whole life was dedicated to mastering a single skill unrelated to comedy.

12. S22 E9: Rosie O’Donnell (1996)

Musical Guest: Whitney Houston

IMDb Rating: 4.7/10

Rosie O’Donnell hosted “Saturday Night Live” on two occasions: first in 1993, then again in 1996. Her experience in stand-up comedy made it easy for her to deliver humorous monologues. However, the Christmas episode in 1996 led to a shortened stand-up segment due to a festive musical number with guest Penny Marshall. The Christmas episode is not well-liked, possibly because of Rosie’s controversial public image or the absence of original sketches. Instead, every sketch featured recurring characters like Molly Shannon’s Mary Katherine Gallagher, Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri’s Spartan cheerleaders, Tim Meadows and Tracy Morgan’s Russell and Tate. While these characters are not necessarily problematic, a lack of original concepts can make “SNL” episodes feel dull.

11. S22 E18: Pamela Lee (1997)

Musical Guest: Rollins Band

IMDb Rating: 4.7/10

Back in April 1997, Pamela Anderson – then known as Pamela Lee because she was still married to Tommy Lee – made an appearance on “Saturday Night Live”. Despite the episode receiving poor ratings, it’s worth a watch for Norm MacDonald’s hilarious impersonation of Tommy Lee and the unpredictable energy of Pamela Anderson herself. During her monologue, she even decided to take off some clothes due to being nervous. Unfortunately, the writers didn’t come up with many jokes beyond references to Anderson’s physique, which quickly grew repetitive. A notable sketch features Anderson’s cleavage causing accidents at a NASCAR event. Regrettably, this episode has not held up well over time, and it’s not just the sexist one-dimensional jokes that make it feel dated. One sketch featuring Tim Meadows and Tracy Morgan as Tiger Woods and his father in a mockumentary about Woods’ achievements also dates the episode to an era when Tiger Woods was viewed as an invincible athletic icon.

10. S46 E18: Elon Musk (2021)

Musical Guest: Miley Cyrus

IMDb Rating: 4.7/10

This latest episode on IMDb’s lowest fifteen ranks is quite fitting. Among various reasons, Elon Musk, as an unconventional host, stands out. He was given the chance to host “Saturday Night Live” primarily due to his high-profile status as a billionaire. The low ratings for this episode, produced and broadcasted during the COVID-19 pandemic, might be attributed to discussions about Musk. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that he isn’t a seasoned performer. Each sketch in the show featuring Musk seems slightly awkward, but none more so than the Wario trial. Without a doubt, this “SNL” sketch is one of the most cringeworthy in history and even the unexpected appearance of Pete Davidson as Governor Cuomo and a brief cameo from Musk’s then-partner, Grimes, couldn’t save it.

9. S28 E14: Queen Latifah (2003)

Musical Guest: Ms. Dynamite

IMDb Rating: 4.6/10

In this episode, the initial scene after the monologue features a part of a hip-hop program, hosted by characters from cast members Maya Rudolph and Dean Edwards. Queen Latifah, portraying a good sport throughout the show, plays the manager to the newest hip-hop prodigy, Baby K, who is actually a baby rapper played by Jeff Richards in this sketch. This segment is hard to watch. “Saturday Night Live” has repeatedly tried but failed to capture the essence of music talk shows. This sketch alone makes the episode one of the least favorite among fans due to its lack of humor. The disastrous Baby K sketch, coupled with a technical problem that caused Amy Poehler, Latifah, and Rudolph to perform without background music in another part, are instances that “SNL” enthusiasts won’t cherish in memory.

8. S24 E18: Cuba Gooding Jr. (1999)

Musical Guest: Ricky Martin

IMDb Rating: 4.5/10

Saturday Night Live”, renowned for its political satire, particularly during election periods, gained significant prominence during the 2008 presidential race, even airing an additional Thursday episode of Weekend Update to cover the campaign. However, public reception is usually not overly positive towards politically charged guest appearances, and Monica Lewinsky’s dual role in this episode was somewhat controversial. She appeared as Bill Clinton’s future wife in a dream during the opening sketch and later hosted a sex advice call-in show. It takes courage for Monica Lewinsky to poke fun at herself by appearing on live TV. Unfortunately, the attention surrounding her appearance made the episode primarily about her scandal, which was not improved by Cuba Gooding Jr.’s less impactful hosting performance.

7. S28 E5: Nia Vardalos (2002)

Musical Guest: Eve

IMDb Rating: 4.5/10

2002 saw Nia Vardalos gracing the stage as host of “Saturday Night Live,” hot on the heels of her blockbuster film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” The show features a couple of humorous sketches, such as Vardalos’s portrayal of an eccentric waxer alongside Rachel Dratch’s overly hairy client, and her convincing Kirstie Alley impersonation mimicking a popular Pier One commercial from the time. However, this episode is rated poorly on IMDb, and there seems to be no clear explanation for its low rating, as there are no discussions among fans of the show on platforms like IMDb or Reddit that offer an insight into its low rank. A plausible theory could be that the Weekend Update segment, a key component that often determines an episode’s success or failure, was less engaging compared to other segments from the same season.

6. S38 E13: Justin Bieber (2013)

Musical Guest: Justin Bieber

IMDb Rating: 4.5/10

On SNL’s Season 38, Justin Bieber stood alongside esteemed entertainers as both host and musical guest. Despite past appearances in 2010, 2011, and 2012, this visit to 30 Rockefeller Plaza was particularly noteworthy, albeit for the wrong reasons. The episode was largely unamusing and forgettable, and Bieber’s behavior added to the unpleasantness. According to former cast member Bill Hader on Watch What Happens Live (via The Hollywood Reporter), “Bieber was in a difficult state of mind. Perhaps he’s improved since then, but at that time… it was tough.” It seemed as though Bieber was drained or near exhaustion during his episode, failing to inject energy into any of the sketches he appeared in.

5. S28 E18: Ashton Kutcher (2003)

Musical Guest: 50 Cent

IMDb Rating: 4.4/10

In his debut as host of “Saturday Night Live” during Season 28, Ashton Kutcher’s performance can be described as less than stellar, to put it mildly. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that this episode was a flop. Kutcher’s monologue came across as excessively theatrical; he strutted onto the stage without pants, feigning forgetfulness. Unfortunately, things went from bad to worse after that. Kutcher’s frenzied performance style in the sketches didn’t resonate well. At times, it seemed like he was attempting to outshine energetic cast members such as Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sans, who were his co-stars in the post-monologue feature sketch. Kutcher appeared more compatible with a subtler comedian like Will Forte in the Falconer sketch, but even that fell short when compared to other Falconer performances. In short, this episode was one to forget.

4. S29 E16: Donald Trump (2004)

Musical Guest: Toots and the Maytals

IMDb Rating: 4.4/10

In 2004, Donald Trump made his debut on “Saturday Night Live” due to the immense popularity of his show “The Apprentice,” which premiered that year. This specific episode was heavy on Trump-related content, opening with a cold start reminiscent of “The Apprentice” and a monologue from Trump featuring Darrell Hammond’s impression of him. It’s obvious that Trump is a divisive individual, and it’s likely his polarizing nature contributed to the episode’s lower ratings. However, much like Jonny Moseley before him, Trump struggled with comedy, as his poor comedic timing often made jokes fall flat rather than hitting their mark as effectively as they could have.

3. S30 E11: Paris Hilton (2005)

Musical Guest: Keane

IMDb Rating: 4.1/10

As a gamer, I was a popular figure back in the 2000s, mainly due to my family heritage and my presence on the LA club scene. It wasn’t unexpected when “Saturday Night Live” asked me to host in 2005, considering the countless Paris Hilton jokes they’d been chuckling about during my tabloid days. However, it turned out that inviting me as a guest host didn’t work out in their favor – I’m often remembered as one of the worst hosts in “SNL” history. Though I tried to be part of the joke during my stint as host, I simply couldn’t shake off being myself, which made the sketches I starred in less effective (I portrayed Melania Trump opposite Darrell Hammond’s Donald Trump and the audience’s silence during that skit was quite uncomfortable).

2. S29 E7: Al Sharpton (2003)

Musical Guest: Pink

IMDb: 3.8/10

As a dedicated admirer, I’d like to share some insights about Reverend Al Sharpton, a renowned religious leader and civil rights icon who’s left an indelible mark on the 20th century and continues to shape politics and social issues today. However, it’s worth mentioning that his hosting stint on a certain show didn’t quite hit the mark with audiences – his episode ranks second-lowest in IMDb history. This particular show seemed to heavily feature Tracy Morgan beyond his opening monologue, despite him not being a regular cast member at that time.

Now, let me say this about Sharpton’s hosting skills: His performance was neither exceptionally terrible nor extraordinarily good. It’s safe to assume the low ratings are due to Sharpton’s polarizing presence in American culture. That said, Tracy Morgan delivers a stellar performance in this episode, which includes some intriguing sketch ideas. Unfortunately, despite these highlights, Sharpton’s complex reputation overshadows the episode.

1. S41 E4: Donald Trump (2015)

Musical Guest: Sia

IMDb Rating: 3.1/10

During Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, it was announced that he would host an episode of “Saturday Night Live.” This decision sparked outrage among many people, who felt that the show aimed to exploit the public excitement about Trump’s candidacy. The episode indeed attracted a massive live audience, recording some of the highest viewership figures in years. However, the IMDb rating tells a different tale: With a score of 3.1, it became the lowest-rated “SNL” episode to date. Those involved in the episode, including “SNL” alum Taran Killam, expressed their displeasure with the decision to let Trump host while campaigning for president. In a 2017 radio interview with NPR, Killam stated that the episode was not enjoyable at the time and has since become something that only grows more embarrassing and shameful as time passes. Despite Trump having only around 12 minutes of screen time during the episode, it is now infamously known as “the Trump episode.

Instead of dwelling on disappointing “SNL” episodes, let’s shift gears and take a look at Looper’s compilation of top-notch “Saturday Night Live” episodes throughout history.

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2025-01-19 22:31