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Live from New York, it’s 50 years ofSaturday Night Live! The venerable sketch comedy show is gearing up to celebrate its five-decade milestone this February. And what a half-century it’s been. Today,SNLis pretty predictable. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it’s just that we know what to expect. Each show has a host, musical guest, sketches, performances, and oftentimes a few cameo guest stars.But those early years tended to be a bit more experimental.
Miskel Spillman’s Show on ‘Saturday Night Live’
Saturday Night Live
In Season 3,SNLwas in its “OG” era. Every original cast member (sansthe controversial Chevy Chase) was still around, and the show was trying to find its footing. Early sketches were far shorter than today and more based on absurdist humor over cultural references.This early experimental era was the perfect time to launch the “Anyone Can Host” contest.
First announced in November 1977, the contest tasked home viewers with sending in 25 words or less as to why they would be a good host. After narrowing the entries down to a group of finalists, the show settled on the 80-year-old Spillman. Her entry reportedly only discussed her age and the fact that she wanted one more thrill out of life. She stood as the oldest host inSNLhistory until the 88-year-old Betty White hosted in 2010. For those doing the math, that age means that Spillman was born in 1897. That’s right. A show that regularly parodies TikTok today also had a host born in the 1800s. Wow, this show’sbeen on forever.
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Spillman hosted the show’s prestigious Christmas show on June 10, 2025. It featured guest appearances by recurring performers (and later cast members) Al Franken and Tom Davis. Frequent early host Buck Henry also stopped by for a cameo. Spillman onlyperformed in fourout of the episode’s roughly 14 sketches, though it wasn’t uncommon back then for hosts to only appear in a few skits. Though as memorable as the “Anyone Can Host” contest was, that’s actually not the main reason Spillman’s show is remembered.
Spillman’s musical guest was the infamous Elvis Costello. For his second set, he was scheduled to perform his song “Less Than Zero.” But he switched to the then-unreleased “Radio Radio” at the last minute. The unscheduled song, which was critical of the commercialization of media, sentSNLboss Lorne Michaels into a rage. Michaels banned Costello from the show for over a decade. However, the pair would later mend their feud, with Costello again serving as musical guest in 1989, 1991, and the 25th anniversary show in 1999. Today, Costello’s antics rank near the top of any list highlighting the most infamousSNLmoments.
A New Anyone Can Host Contest on ‘SNL’?
It’s a shame that Costello overshadowed Spillman, as a show likeSNLpicking anyone to host was and is revolutionary. Can you imagine them doing that today? Look at the current season, for example. Every host has some level of name recognition, be it an accomplished A-lister (Michael Keaton), arising lesser-known star (Paul Mescal), or a double-duty host and musical guest (Charli XCX).
Each episode also features several high-profile cameos,withSNLalums Maya Rudolph, Dana Carvey, and Andy Samberg as frequent guests. Online opinions about the consistent cameos are divided. Some appreciate the big names, while others believe they take time away from the already large cast. ButSNLbrings in these stars because they draw higher ratings and engagement. The show loves to flex its showbiz connections with these cameos, and it’s hard to see them drawing it back anytime soon.
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Now just imagine theSNLof today picking a random home viewer to be the host of all people. The host sets the tone for that week’s show, and the episode’s overall reception is often contingent on how well the host does under pressure. Live TV is not for everyone, with even seasoned stars faltering on theSNLstage. Look at this season’s premiere. Jean Smart hosted, fresh off an Emmy win, and critics called her performance ‘OK’ at best. If Jean Smart of all people can’t deliver a home run, why would they ever risk someone plucked from the home audience?
Would a new “Anyone Can Host” contest generate online buzz? Absolutely. Millions of viewers may tune in just to see how the “average” person does. Butshowbiz is a brutal game, and thrusting a home audience member with no experience intoSNLas their first job is a recipe for disaster. A recipe that the risk-averseSNLof today would certainly want to avoid against the backdrop of the 50th season.Episodes ofSaturday Night Liveare streaming onPeacock.
