Steve Carell to Return as 'SNL' Host for the Third Time

Getty Images

Steve Carell will host “Saturday Night Live” on Nov. 17, which will be his third time hosting NBC’s sketch comedy series.

He will be joined by R&B singer-songwriter Ella Mai, who will be making her debut at Studio 8H.

Carell currently stars in the drama “Beautiful Boy” and will next appear in the upcoming Robert Zemeckis film, “Welcome to Marwen,” which hits theaters on Dec. 21. Carell will also portray Donald Rumsfeld opposite Christian Bale’s Dick Cheney in Adam McKay’s “Vice” on Christmas Day.

Also Read: Dan Crenshaw, Veteran Pete Davidson Mocked on 'SNL,' Easily Wins Congressional Race

Most NBC fans would, of course, remember Carell for his starring role as Michael Scott on the sitcom, “The Office.” Carell last hosted the show’s season 33 finale in 2008. He first hosted in 2005.

Mai’s self-titled debut album reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums and No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums upon release last month.

This week’s shot will be hosted by “Ray Donovan” star Liev Schreiber with musical guest Lil Wayne.

Also Read: 'SNL': Pete Davidson Acknowledges Breakup With Ariana Grande (and Urges You to Vote)

The 44th season of “SNL” has already multiple political waves. The premiere episode featured a special guest appearance by Matt Damon, playing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and musical guest Kanye West wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat on stage and giving a pro-Donald Trump speech that didn’t air.

Cast member Pete Davidson addressed West’s pro-Trump speech during the “Weekend Update” portion of the Oct. 6 episode the following week.

During a “Weekend Update” routine on last week’s episode, Davidson was criticized after he appeared to mock Dan Crenshaw, who easily won his Texas congressional race on Tuesday. Davidson said of the then-candidate, a Navy SEAL who lost his right eye in Afghanistan when he was hit by an IED blast: “This guy is kinda cool, Dan Crenshaw. You may be surprised to hear he’s a congressional candidate from Texas and not a hitman in a porno movie. I’m sorry, I know he lost his eye in war, or whatever.”

'SNL' 5-Timers Club: Most Frequent Hosts, From Alec Baldwin to Will Ferrell (Photos)

In the world of sketch comedy, there is no fraternity more prestigious than the "Saturday Night Live Five-Timers Club." Those who have proven their worthiness by hosting "SNL" five times are invited into an elite circle, where they don luxurious satin robes, smoke expensive cigars and, for their entertainment, watch current cast members fight to the death.
NBC
Alec Baldwin - 17

Not counting his many guest appearances to play guys like Donald Trump, Baldwin has hosted 16 times, passing Steve Martin's record in 2011. Martin was there that night to demand a surprise drug test.
NBC
Steve Martin - 15

The esteemed president of the Five-Timers Club was also the fastest to get to that milestone, hosting his fifth less than two years after hosting his first. In total, Martin has hosted fifteen times, most recently in 2009.
NBC
John Goodman - 13

Goodman ranks third on the all-time "SNL" hosting list with 13 episodes, behind only Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.
NBC
Tom Hanks - 10

Hanks' fifth go-around as host in 1990 was what spawned the Five-Timers Club sketch. But now his most famous contribution to the series is definitely David S. Pumpkins. In April 2020, he also hosted remotely during the first "at home" edition during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.
NBC
Buck Henry - 10

From 1976 to 1980, it was tradition for the "Heaven Can Wait" director to host the "SNL" season finale. In total, Henry hosted 10 episodes, including a Mardi Gras special.
NBC
Chevy Chase - 8

The original anchor of "Weekend Update" hosted "SNL" eight times after being the first original cast member to leave in the middle of the show's second season.
NBC
Christopher Walken - 7

Walken was the first person to join the Five-Timers Club in the 21st Century after making his fifth appearance in May 2001.
NBC
Drew Barrymore - 6

Though we haven't seen her in a Five-Timers' robe, her portrait is in the club's luxurious quarters. She holds the record for youngest host ever, having appeared on the show at age 7 following the release of "E.T." in 1982.
NBC
Elliot Gould - 6

Gould hosted the show five times in the '70s, but his sixth appearance was his last after being blindsided by the sudden departure of Lorne Michaels from the show in 1980.
NBC
Danny DeVito - 6

Shortly after playing The Penguin in "Batman Returns," DeVito joined the club with an "SNL" appearance in January 1993.
FX
Tina Fey - 6

Arguably the most famous "SNL" cast member among millennials, Tina Fey joined the Club in 2015 after a hosting career that included (and still includes) her famous Sarah Palin impression.
NBC
Scarlett Johansson - 6

The actress made her fifth appearance in 2016, and kicked off her monologue by putting on a Five-Timers jacket handed to her by Kenan Thompson. (She hosted again with then-fiancé Colin Jost in December 2019.)
NBC
Candice Bergen - 5

Bergen was the first woman to host "SNL" and hosted five times from 1975 to 1990.
NBC
Bill Murray - 5

After starring on the show in Seasons 2-5, Murray returned to host five times in the '80s and '90s.
NBC
Ben Affleck - 5

The man "SNL" once mocked for his film "Gigli" joined the Five-Timers club in 2013, shortly after winning the Best Picture Oscar for "Argo."
NBC
Justin Timberlake - 5

The pop star's fifth appearance in 2013 saw "SNL" bring back the "Five-Timers" sketch, as Timberlake's induction was celebrated with a brawl between cast members Bobby Moynihan and Taran Killam.
NBC
Melissa McCarthy - 5

After a season of guest appearances as Donald Trump's White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, McCarthy grabbed her Five-Timers jacket in Season 42.
NBC
The Rock - 5

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson hosted the finale of the 42nd season of "SNL"
Jonah Hill - 5

Hill's five appearances as host spanned a decade, with the first coming in 2008 and the fifth on Nov. 3, 2018.
Will Ferrell - 5

One of the most successful "SNL" alums of the '90s, Ferrell joined the club on Nov. 23, 2019. Among his most famous "SNL" bits were his George W. Bush impression and his recurring role as Alex Trebek on "Celebrity Jeopardy."
Paul Simon - 4

Technically, Simon only hosted four times, but he's been included in "Five-Timers Club" sketches since he was the musical guest on a fifth show. He also owns arguably the most emotional moment in the history of "SNL": his performance of "The Boxer" in the cold open of the first post-9/11 episode.
Getty

1 of 22

TheWrap looks back at those who’ve joined the most elite club in sketch comedy

In the world of sketch comedy, there is no fraternity more prestigious than the "Saturday Night Live Five-Timers Club." Those who have proven their worthiness by hosting "SNL" five times are invited into an elite circle, where they don luxurious satin robes, smoke expensive cigars and, for their entertainment, watch current cast members fight to the death.

View In Gallery