Who is your all-time favorite SNL host?

A great Saturday Night Live host has to walk a narrow line between projecting their own vibe onto the show, while also working well within its established structure. Nobody embodies that careful balance better than seven-time host Christopher Walken, who has gamely contributed his odd cadences and ever-present smirk to everything from failed Lotharios, to the memetically inescapable “More Cowbell” sketch, all without a hint of restraining ego or dignity. Throughout the ’90s and 2000s, Walken got very comfortable (maybe a little too comfortable, *cough* Joe Dirt *cough*) playing with his quasi-alien public image for comedy. But for my money, he never milked more laughs out of it than when he was having a blast in Studio 8H, sitting across from Chris Parnell and asking him a series of too-personal questions about centaur life. [William Hughes]

Probably because I remember so many awful SNL hosts from when I was a kid, now I’m just grateful if they’re not obviously reading cue cards and seem to be game to get in the spirit of the whole thing. Maybe now after fortysome years, people have a better idea of what’s in store when they sign up to host; this season alone I was very impressed with Regina King, Daniel Kaluuya, and Regé-Jean Page for stepping in and killing it as first-timers. But my favorite example of this is when Jon Hamm hosts. The actor wasn’t really known for his comedy chops when he hosted for the first time in 2008 (returning twice in 2010), but he apparently took to the SNL stage so easily that he could commandeer entire sketches by himself (without a regular cast member in sight) like in “Jon Hamm’s John Ham,” or forcing Michael Bublé to sing at Hamm & Bublé’s restaurant. Hamm’s best SNL moments, though, are when he veers completely out of character, like playing Barney to Kirsten Wiig’s Darlique in a bizarre bickering lounge singer act. A return Hamm hosting visit to SNL is overdue; I’d love to see him with the current cast. [Gwen Ihnat]

There is one correct answer to this question, and it is this: Tom Hanks. America’s dad has hosted the show about 10 times, and has, almost without fail, contributed to an absolutely iconic sketch each appearance. Whether it’s as , , or even , Hanks brings a joie de vivre to SNL that’s nearly unmatched. He’s having fun there, and we at home are having fun watching him. He’s got such a handle on the show that he can even make fun of himself—see season 34’s —or the show as a whole, like back in 1990 when he was and then, years later, Hanks’ SNL appearances have always been appointment viewing for me, and I can’t see that changing any time soon. [Marah Eakin]

Adam Driver is great for SNL because he has both a good sense of humor about himself and the confidence to stick with what works. He’ll deliver a monologue poking fun at his reputation for being a capital-S, capital-A Serious Actor, then throw himself into very silly roles (and very silly wigs) with the same intensity he was just self-effacingly mocking. As , he does better in the pre-taped sketches, but even in his messier live moments Driver’s sheer commitment can turn a stale premise into something memorable. That being said, my favorite of his SNL bits is a digital short: Undercover Boss: Starkiller Base. What makes it so charming is the way Driver takes the exact same posture, vocal tics, and facial movements he uses playing Kylo Ren in the movies and exaggerates them for comedic effect, without going so far over the top that it delegitimizes the character. Kylo Ren would struggle to do a thumbs up, and he would make extremely awkward small talk in the cafeteria—all of which makes the jokes land that much better. [Katie Rife]

Look, we all know this conversation has to acknowledge the more universally lauded all-timers, and for my money, there’s a reason that Steve Martin has hosted the show more times than almost anyone (save for Alex Baldwin, damn his eyes). Yes, it’s been argued that in another universe he could’ve been one of the original Not Ready For Prime-Time Players, but I actually think it’s the way his comic sensibility is slightly different than the show’s—more cerebrally absurdist, less grounded—that makes him so good. His oddball postmodernist style fuses ideally with the show’s format in ways that bring them both out of their usual techniques to create something ever-so-slightly more idiosyncratic, thereby elevating both host and episode. It’s not just “ or ; it’s the way he shapes truly weird stuff like the “” skit as much as the earnest affect he brings to ridiculous shit like “.” The man can do it all. [Alex McLevy]