John Mulaney Will Join the 'SNL' Five-Timers Club This Saturday
Feb. 25 2022, Updated 2:49 p.m. ET
Get pumped! Comedian John Mulaney is hosting Saturday Night Live on Feb. 26.
During this special episode, John, who was previously a writer for the sketch comedy show, will become the latest member of a very exclusive group: the SNL Five-Timers Club. For those unfamiliar with it, the club's concept originated as a bit in a 1990 sketch with host Tom Hanks. Ever since it has become a coveted honor that celebs aspire to attain: hosting the iconic sketch comedy series five times.
So far, the membership roster totals 24 (including John), with a handful of four-timers just waiting for that call from Lorne Michaels that will earn them their coveted Five-Timers Club member jacket (yup, they get a fancy jacket!). As we await John's ceremony/opening monologue, let's take a look back at the club's history.
A brief history of the SNL Five Timers Club...
On Dec. 8, 1990, Tom Hanks hosted the show for a fifth time, and as part of his opening monologue, he was inducted into the "Five Timers Club" with several privileges that a host only attains after they've gotten that billing five times. He's shown to a luxe lounge where five-time hosts Steve Martin and Elliot Gould sit with Paul Simon — who actually has only hosted four times, but was granted membership under a special condition that we'll get to later.
The bit came back in 1993 when Danny DeVito qualified, and since then it's been trotted out for many a five-timer on the occasion of their fifth hosting appearance.
Alec Baldwin has hosted the most...
(L-R): Alec Baldwin, Dwayne Johnson, Tom Hanks
Alec Baldwin became a five-timer on Dec. 10, 1994, and has gone on to host a total of 17 times, making him the most frequent headliner in the show's history. He's closely followed by Steve Martin's 15 and John Goodman with 13 appearances as host — and all three have made countless cameo appearances in sketches in addition to hosting.
Actor Buck Henry and America's Dad Tom Hanks round out the top five five-timers with 10 and 9 host appearances, respectively. Unfortunately, the Five-Timers club is kind of a boys' club, though there are a few female inductees: Drew Barrymore, Tina Fey, Candice Bergen, Scarlett Johansson, and Melissa McCarthy.
Steve Martin was both the first to achieve five host appearances and in the shortest span of time, with just one year and 181 days between his first and fifth gigs.
Here's a full list of SNL Five-Timers in order of number of times hosted...
A few notes to make: Paul Simon has only hosted four times but he has appeared eight times as a musical guest and five times as a special guest. Furthermore, Tina Fey's fifth time hosting was a dual episode with her former Weekend Update co-anchor Amy Poehler.
A few four-timers are waiting in the wings, too.
Emma Stone has hosted four times and even referenced this fact in her fourth appearance (*cough cough* she's ready). Cameron Diaz, Lindsay Lohan, Ashton Kutcher, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, and Tom Arnold also have four hosting stints under their belts. Who do you think will be next?
SNL airs Saturday nights (live!) at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
