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Live from New York, it's career suicide! Join us as we count down the celebrities whose appearances on Saturday Night Live spelled disaster for their careers. From lip-sync nightmares to controversial rants, these stars learned the hard way that live television can be unforgiving. Which SNL disaster do you think was the most career-damaging?
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00:00They've been through my notorious periods, they've been through just about everything
00:05with me."
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the 20 celebrities who
00:10significantly hurt their own careers after appearing on Saturday Night Live.
00:13So I won't make a lot of eye contact with the cast tonight.
00:17But alright, I'm pretty good at running human in emulation mode.
00:22Number 20.
00:23Anne Risley
00:24Anne Risley was part of the ill-fated Saturday Night Live 80 cast, the infamous lineup that
00:36followed the departure of Lorne Michaels and most of the original not-ready-for-prime-time
00:40players.
00:41Risley was brought in as a cast member, but the season was a critical disaster and ratings
00:45plummeted.
00:46She later admitted she didn't even want to join the show, calling it a horrible experience.
00:50And after SNL, her career never really recovered, taking a few small TV roles before leaving
00:55Hollywood altogether and opening an acting school.
00:57While the whole cast suffered to some degree, Risley is often remembered as one of the most
01:01tragic performers in SNL history, a promising career cut short by factors outside of her
01:06control.
01:07I've read that.
01:08Have you?
01:09Yes.
01:10You like to read?
01:11Yes.
01:12I love to read.
01:13Gothic novel?
01:14Yes.
01:15Nothing else?
01:16Never.
01:17I am a true devotee to the literature of romance.
01:20Hmm.
01:21You've come to the right shop.
01:22Number 19.
01:23Robert Blake
01:24Winnis is one of your favorite stars.
01:26He's controversial, he's exciting, not afraid to speak his mind.
01:30And I can't wait to hear what's on his mind tonight.
01:32Would you welcome the wild man of Hollywood, Robert Blake.
01:36Even before his notorious legal troubles of the early 2000s, Robert Blake had already
01:40taken a hit with Saturday Night Live.
01:42When invited to host back in 1982, the Beretta star reportedly hated the sketches, clashed
01:47with the cast, and even threw a crumpled script at writer Gary Kroger.
01:50Needless to say, he was never invited back.
01:53The hosting gig cast a shadowy pall on his professional reputation, and whether from SNL,
01:57age, or some combination of both, the roles dried up shortly after.
02:01Blake would later face much darker headlines involving murder charges, but his disastrous SNL
02:06appearance was an early sign that his time in the spotlight was dimming, and dimming fast.
02:11Tough guy.
02:13Right.
02:14Oh?
02:15You don't think I'm tough?
02:18You don't think I'm tough?
02:20You want me to show you how tough I am?
02:22You with your big mouth, you want me to show you?
02:24Number 18.
02:25Carmen
02:26Is it time?
02:27Green light.
02:28Egotistic battle cry.
02:29I was right.
02:30You was wrong.
02:31Called you out.
02:32Finish strong.
02:33In early 2010s, Carmen was a YouTube sensation turned major label pop act, known for their
02:38rapid fire covers and upbeat tracks.
02:40But when they performed on SNL in 2012, the duo's quirky, internet polished style just didn't
02:45translate to live TV.
02:46Critics panned to the performance as awkward and forced, with many calling it one of the weakest
02:51musical segments in the show's history.
02:53That's rough.
02:54The backlash was brutal, and Carmen's mainstream career basically vanished overnight.
02:58Despite reinventing themselves later under a new name, Carmen never reached the level
03:02of fame that their viral videos promised.
03:04Sometimes, the big stage just isn't the right stage.
03:12Number 17.
03:14Dan Vitale
03:15Do you remember Dan Vitale?
03:16Exactly.
03:17Hired in 1985 during the show's famous rebuilding year, his debut was nothing short of a trainwreck.
03:22Struggling with nerves, shaky delivery, and behind the scenes personal troubles, his first
03:27sketches bombed so hard that audiences barely remember them.
03:30Unlike other cast members who bounced back from rocky starts, Vitale never got another
03:34chance.
03:35He was fired before the season wrapped, reportedly due to those aforementioned personal troubles.
03:39The disastrous appearance effectively torpedoed his career, relegating him to trivia question
03:44status in SNL history as that guy who appeared in Peewee Herman's episode.
03:48Megan, Tommy Sinegan.
03:49What's your name?
03:50Herman Peewee.
03:51Number 16.
03:53Louise Lasser
03:54It's just, uh, also I'll tell you, it's a relief to be here.
03:58Because right now in my show I'm having a nervous breakdown.
04:01I'm...
04:03Some of you watched it, I've just been committed to an institution.
04:06So tonight I'm here committed to you.
04:09Best known as the star of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Louise Lasser hosted SNL in 1976
04:14during his very first season.
04:16But the episode turned into one of the strangest in the show's history.
04:19Lasser, who had recently been arrested for drug possession, did not get along with the
04:22regular performers and insisted on mostly performing solo bits.
04:26The result was an awkward, disjointed mess that both critics and her fellow cast members
04:31absolutely hated.
04:32She was called a few not-so-nice names by her co-workers, and her reputation as a difficult
04:37actress followed her for years.
04:39To this day, Lasser's hosting gig is still remembered as one of SNL's most infamous and
04:44earliest disasters.
04:45So here I am, I'm putting my shoes on in front of 22 million people at about 1.30 in the morning.
04:52Something you see every day.
04:54Number 15.
04:55Andrew Dice Clay
04:56Not to talk about this week's news, but I think they should all be very embarrassed
05:01because there are so many things going on in this world that the whole media wants to
05:05pick on a guy that tells jokes.
05:07So you can take your papers and you know what to do with them, alright?
05:10By the early 90s, stand-up comedian Andrew Dice Clay was already controversial for his vulgar
05:16and misogynistic routines.
05:17So, when he hosted SNL in 1990, protests erupted both inside and outside the studio.
05:23Cast member Nora Dunn boycotted the episode in protest, and musical guest Sinead O'Connor
05:28dropped out entirely after learning that Clay would be involved.
05:30And while he did well enough on the show, the negative publicity dealt a major blow to Clay's
05:34career, cementing his reputation as a toxic comedian.
05:37His film and TV opportunities quickly dried up, and while he still has a cult legion of fans,
05:42his SNL stint was certainly a deflating moment, at least for his mainstream career.
05:46And some of you might recognize this particular jacket because, you see, the only other time I wore this jacket...
05:53Go white! Go white! Go white!
05:56Alright, snap a head, sit down, shut your mouth and pay attention, alright?
06:00Number 14, Frank Zappa.
06:03Hiya, hiya, hiya.
06:07And remember, I'm reading this off these cards underneath this camera here.
06:11It's an awesome responsibility being selected out of millions of people to become the banner of NBC's new look.
06:18God, I hope I'm good.
06:20While he was a genius musician, live television wasn't exactly Frank Zappa's strong suit.
06:24When he hosted SNL in 1978, Zappa played the bad guy.
06:28He openly mocked the cue cards, frequently broke character, and generally acted like he was above the whole production.
06:33The cast and crew were furious at him, and audiences were put off by his smug attitude.
06:38Lorne Michaels swore never to have him back, and the debacle reinforced Zappa's reputation as a brilliant but insufferable man.
06:45Though his music career continued, he struggled to stay relevant throughout the 1980s,
06:49and the hosting gig remains one of the most notoriously uncomfortable episodes in the show's history.
06:54Frank, you are one of the most dynamic performers in the industry today.
06:59But you know, Jerry and I feel that if you were to update your image a little,
07:04you could probably tap a whole new segment of today's youth market.
07:09Number 13, Elon Musk.
07:12It's an honor to be hosting Saturday Night Live. I mean that.
07:16Sometimes, after I say something, I have to say, I mean that.
07:21So people really know that I mean it.
07:24That's because I don't always have a lot of intonation or variation in how I speak.
07:29Remember when people actually liked Elon Musk?
07:31WatchMojo remembers.
07:33The tech mogul took a shot at comedy by hosting SNL in 2021, but the episode sparked instant controversy.
07:39Critics questioned why a billionaire with questionable PR should be spotlighted,
07:43and Musk's stiff comedic timing didn't win anyone over.
07:46While some praised him for at least trying, unlike some other celebs on this list,
07:49the backlash was swift and intense.
07:51The episode highlighted Musk's awkwardness outside the boardroom,
07:54and combined with later, much worse controversies, it hurt his reputation forever.
07:59This was the beginning of the end for poor Mr. Musk.
08:02The second dose knocked me out for about 24 hours.
08:05Wow, that sounds like a unique experience you should tell everyone about.
08:08Oh, s***, I said that out loud.
08:10Quick laugh so she thinks you were kidding.
08:14I'll f***ing kill you.
08:16Number 12, Chevy Chase.
08:18And your host, Chevy Chase.
08:22He might have been SNL's first breakout star, but Chevy Chase's repeated return to hosting was nothing short of disastrous.
08:28Known behind the scenes as one of the most difficult celebrities to work with, Chase has reportedly insulted cast members,
08:34made racist jokes, and burned bridges every time he went back to the show.
08:38His gig on February 15th, 1997 was especially rough.
08:42And for many, that was the absolute last straw.
08:44Chase's career soon went into decline following the episode,
08:47with his reputation as a comedy legend overshadowed by his reputation as an unfathomable jerk.
08:52He made a brief resurgence on community, but he even managed to ruin that.
08:56It's no wonder he's basically persona non grata at 30 Rock.
09:00I'm also a Toastmaster, so perhaps I should do the introduction.
09:02Definitely.
09:03Right, you already know Brittles?
09:04Britta?
09:05Abed the Arab.
09:06Is that inappropriate?
09:07Sure.
09:08Number 11, The Replacements.
09:10Once again, The Replacements.
09:12When The Replacements performed on SNL in 1986, they were posed to be America's next great rock band.
09:18Instead, the famously rowdy group lived up to their reputation, showing up drunk, swearing on live TV, and sloppily tearing through their songs.
09:26It's therefore no surprise to hear that the bigwigs were not happy, and the band was never asked to return.
09:31The incident also fed into their image as self-saboteurs, and while critics generally loved their music,
09:36the mainstream success that seemed just within reach, slipped away forever.
09:40Their SNL gig has gone down as one of the ultimate examples of a band blowing their big break, and for all of us to see.
09:47I can hardly wait.
09:51Number 10, Fear.
09:53This punk rock band might not have been a household name in 1981.
09:56However, Fear had at least one prominent fan, John Belushi.
10:00When Belushi returned in what would ultimately be his final SNL appearance, he was adamant that Fear would be the musical guest, with Slam Dancers.
10:27The performance got out of control, with one of their songs being cut short.
10:31It was rumored that a riot broke out with thousands of dollars in property damage.
10:34While some say that's grossly embellished, the appearance gave the band a reputation.
10:49Although Fear recorded their first record shortly after, various clubs refused to book them.
10:54Fellow punk rockers have cited Fear as an influence, but their infamous SNL performance has arguably clotted their music.
11:01Number 9, Jenny Slate.
11:09This stand-up joined SNL during its 35th season.
11:12Jenny Slate immediately left an impression, although not in the ideal way.
11:16The premiere episode included a sketch, where several words beginning with F were uttered.
11:32Slate accidentally let the wrong F word slip.
11:34Hey Beth, what'd you do this weekend?
11:36I freakin' drank beer and made jean shorts.
11:38I freakin' love you.
11:39I freakin' know, so who's your first guest?
11:42Are you freakin' kidding me right now?
11:44It's who it always is, it's my freakin' best friend Donna.
11:46Get off my freakin' back, I know it's Donna, I was just trying to make an atmosphere.
11:50Then bust into a freakin' Yankee Candle store and get a freakin' Bayberry candle.
11:55You know what?
12:02She did her best not to break character, but the moment still felt like a slow motion train wreck.
12:07While Slate remained with SNL for his season, it almost seemed as if she were in the penalty box, with few other sketches showcasing her talent.
12:14Nevertheless, Slate claims the F-bomb isn't solely why she was let go from SNL, saying it just wasn't the right fit.
12:20It seemed like her big break was a setback, but Slate soon found a claim in film and television.
12:25On behalf of me, my freakin' best friend Donna, and my mom's freakin' best friend Beth, you just do you and we're gonna be fine.
12:32I fuckin' love you.
12:33I fuckin' love you.
12:34I fuckin' love you.
12:35Number 8.
12:37Damon Wayans
12:38Damon Wayans felt he was being underutilized during his first and only season on SNL.
12:43The Mr. Monopoly sketch, in which he played a cop, is one example of how the show treated Wayans as a glorified extra.
12:49The Parker brothers could see you now, they puke.
12:51Why you ain't in jail, Mr-
12:53Oh, that's right, you're Mr. Monopoly.
12:55Live on the air, Wayans put his own spin on the character, playing him in a stereotypically gay manner.
13:00Wayans knew going off script was grounds for termination, which is precisely what happened.
13:04Some were convinced Wayans sabotaged his career.
13:07Others argued the stunt would make his career.
13:09While Wayans briefly returned to SNL that season, it was uncertain if he'd ever truly break out beyond the standup scene.
13:15That was until he joined another sketch comedy series, In Living Color, four years after his SNL firing.
13:20I feel that they should have spent more time where the real story is, in the prisons.
13:25Number 7.
13:26Andy Kaufman
13:27Many wouldn't understand the genius of Andy Kaufman until he was gone.
13:31Although never officially a cast member, Kaufman had sporadically appeared on SNL since the first episode.
13:36With Kaufman's act becoming increasingly divisive, SNL left his fate in the viewers' hands.
13:50Two numbers were provided, one to keep Andy, and the other to dump him.
13:53While Kaufman was in on this bit, it backfired, with the public ultimately voting to give him the boot.
13:58Ladies and gentlemen, the moment of truth has arrived.
14:02But before I give you the final tally, I want to thank everyone for calling, and I want to apologize to all of you who tried to get through but couldn't.
14:10That's just the way the phone company works sometimes.
14:13Although Kaufman accepted the results, the negative press only made it harder for him to find work.
14:17Some felt antagonizing executive producer Dick Ebersole was one example of Kaufman's self-destructive behavior.
14:23To an extent, this foreshadowed his premature death in 1984, almost a year after his last SNL appearance.
14:30Well, as you said, I was wrestling women and I went down to Memphis and I wrestled a lot of women down there.
14:38And in doing so, I made fun of Memphis and said a lot of things against Memphis and against a lot of the people down there.
14:48And so I was challenged by this man, Jerry Lawler.
14:52Number 6. Kanye West
14:55Yang is no stranger to causing a ruckus on live television, be it a hurricane relief telethon or the VMAs.
15:01Despite West's unpredictable track record, he served as SNL's musical guest several times without major incident.
15:07Hi, I'm Adam Driver and I'm hosting the season premiere of SNL this week with musical guest Kanye West.
15:12Alright, now you're Kylo Ren in Star Wars.
15:14Hey, Kanye, what do you think your Star Wars name will be? Kanye West?
15:18Well, until West's September 2018 appearance, that is.
15:21Closing out the season 44 premiere, West donned his MAGA hat, launching a rant supporting President Donald Trump.
15:27So many times I've talked to like a white person about this and they say, how could you like Trump? He's racist.
15:34Although the tirade wasn't aired, Kenan Thompson joked that West essentially held everyone in the room hostage.
15:39Contrary to rumors, West wasn't banned from SNL.
15:42Although between this scandal and his feud with Pete Davidson, it's not surprising that he hasn't appeared on the show since.
15:47And we all had to stand behind him and here's what it looked like.
15:52So like, I'm like on the left. I'm like, oh God.
15:56Meanwhile, West's career has continued to spiral amid mental health issues and other controversial statements.
16:01Number five, Milton Berle.
16:04From vaudeville to radio to the dawn of television, Milton Berle left his mark as a comedy legend.
16:10I'm staying over here at the Essex house. They put me over here.
16:13And I really last night, by mistake, I walked in the wrong door, knocked on the door.
16:18A girl opened the door. She said yes. I didn't even ask her.
16:21By the late 70s, though, Berle was generally seen as a fading star.
16:25Hosting SNL provided an opportunity to connect with a new generation.
16:28Yet, the SNL team knew they were in trouble as the notoriously egotistical Berle attempted to hijack the production,
16:35plaguing the set with humor that ranged from dated to deeply offensive.
16:39I'm sorry I was late. You see, when I was walking out of the supermarket, the security guard stopped me.
16:56Berle proved so self-congratulatory that he guaranteed a standing ovation for his performance of September Song,
17:02although Lorne Michaels claims only about 10 stood up.
17:05Not only was he banned from SNL, but his appearance seemingly proved something everyone other than Berle knew.
17:10His time in the spotlight had come and gone.
17:26With the exit of Lorne Michaels and the original cast, SNL Season 6 desperately needed a life preserver.
17:32The season found his saving grace in Eddie Murphy, although executive producer Gene Dumanian expected Charles Rocket to be the show's latest breakout.
17:39Central Park, a veritable oasis in the heart of New York City.
17:43Acres and acres of places to have fun and places to be the victim of a crime. Hi, Charles Rocket!
17:49Ironically, Rocket would be Dumanian's undoing.
17:52After Rocket dropped an F-bomb during a 1981 taping, director Dave Wilson thought it might be the end of live television.
17:58It wasn't, but Dumanian was swiftly replaced with Dick Ebersole, who opted not to bring back Rocket or several others for the following season.
18:16Between his SNL firing and self-inflicted death in 2005, Rocket found work as a supporting player in projects like Dumb and Dumber.
18:23Oh, don't play dumb with me, asshole. I'm the rightful owner of that briefcase that you've been carrying around.
18:28Oh, well then.
18:31He never became the superstar the Dumanian envisioned, however.
18:34Number 3, Sinead O'Connor.
18:36Sinead O'Connor was perhaps even more well-known for her outspoken political and social views than her music.
18:42The late singer's legacy has been overshadowed by her 1992 SNL appearance.
18:47Following a performance of Bob Marley's War, O'Connor tore a photograph of Pope John Paul II vaguely encouraging the audience to fight the real enemy.
18:55In the victory of good over evil.
19:08She later elaborated, accusing the Catholic Church of abuse.
19:12While O'Connor expressed no regrets, her protest received a whirlwind of criticism that followed her like a storm cloud.
19:18As more accusations surrounding the church came to light and were addressed by the Pope himself, people began to reevaluate how O'Connor was treated.
19:25Some at SNL even called her brave, although this reappraisal was largely reserved for after she died in 2023.
19:31At least when I studied the history, I found out that the people who were responsible for telling lies in the first place were the Vatican,
19:37who through permitting the invasion of countries and the destruction and murder of entire races of people.
19:45Number 2, Steven Seagal.
19:47Once among the biggest action stars in the world, Steven Seagal is now primarily known for being the worst SNL host ever.
19:54That's not just our opinion.
19:55Lorne Michaels and multiple cast members have cited Seagal as the most hated host in SNL history.
20:01When he came in, we wrote it, we wrote it, we did it at read-through, and all of it was them making fun of Steven.
20:07Like Arnold is stronger than you, he could flick you with your little baby finger and you would fly across the room and land in your own baby pool.
20:14Seagal didn't earn his title simply because he wasn't funny or because his range is incredibly limited, although both are fair assessments.
20:21Above all else, Seagal came off as a jerk who was not only incapable of taking a joke, but seemed baffled by the sheer notion of humor.
20:28And he said, if I do this sketch, if I do it.
20:33And, you know, they want to fight him.
20:35Hey, we'll take you on.
20:37He goes, if I do it, I have to beat them up.
20:42Although Seagal continued to make movies, some more successful than others, his star eventually plummeted.
20:47SNL was all too happy to revel in his downfall, getting the last laugh.
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21:19Number one, Ashley Simpson.
21:32Before 2004, this pop singer was best known as Jessica Simpson's little sister.
21:36Ever since then, Ashley Simpson has been the one who got caught lip syncing on SNL.
21:41At the time, it appeared Simpson's career was at a turning point with pieces of me making it onto the Billboard Hot 100.
21:47Simpson performed the song on SNL, although the audience grew confused when Pieces of Me started playing again during her second set.
22:02Simpson looked equally bewildered as autobiography was supposed to play.
22:06Jigging off stage, Simpson later explained she was losing her voice.
22:10Simpson has joked about the technical mix-up and even returned to SNL.
22:20In a career spanning music, screen, and stage though, Simpson can't seem to escape this awkward incident.
22:25What do you make of these incidents? Let us know in the comments below.
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