Saturday Night Live has experienced chaos in its episodes throughout the years. Although many stars have given memorable moments, some have gone to such an extent that Lorne Michaels and the SNL team said “never again”. These guests were not just failures; their behavior was so outrageous that they were indefinitely banned from the show.
10. Frank Zappa
In 1978, musical legend Frank Zappa bombed spectacularly as host. He ridiculed the show on live TV, confessed he wasn’t even trying, and read everything directly from cue cards. Not surprisingly, the cast and crew weren’t having it—and Zappa never received a second invitation.
9. Milton Berle
When comedy legend Milton Berle hosted in 1979, he made SNL his own variety show. He produced his own sketches, dominated the spotlight, and even managed to get a standing ovation for himself. Lorne Michaels wasn’t pleased, and Berle was blacklisted.
8. Robert Blake
Robert Blake alienated enemies in 1982. He apparently crumpled up a script and hurled it at a writer, sneering that it was good for nothing but toilet paper. That was all Lorne and company needed to ban him for life.
7. Louise Lasser
The Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman star hosted in 1976 during a time of personal turmoil, and the show immediately descended into anarchy. It was so disorganized that NBC removed it from syndication, and Lasser never came back.
6. Andy Kaufman
Andy Kaufman, known for his boundary-pushing antics, had his time on SNL come to an end with a vote by the live audience. The fans voted to “Dump Andy,” and that was it for his off-kilter tenure on the show.
5. Martin Lawrence
Martin Lawrence’s opening monologue in 1994 went off the rails into raunchy material, with graphic humor regarding women’s grooming that left censors in a state of panic. Re-airings of the episode cut the segment altogether and substituted a disclaimer. His name was verboten around SNL for years to follow.
4. Adrien Brody
Fresh from his Oscar win in 2003, Adrien Brody ad-libbed Sean Paul’s introduction by sporting fake dreadlocks and a fake Jamaican accent. The sketch was not approved, and Lorne Michaels made sure to never cast him again.
3. Sinéad O’Connor
In 1992, Sinéad O’Connor shocked the audience by tearing up a photograph of Pope John Paul II live on TV during a performance of Bob Marley’s War, yelling, “Fight the real enemy!” Instantly, the reaction was there, and her SNL appearance was finished.
2. Kanye West
Kanye’s 2018 appearance was classic Kanye—controversial and explosive. Wearing a MAGA hat despite producers’ protests, West began a political rant on Trump’s behalf as the show wrapped up. The cast members froze while West berated the audience, solidifying his position on SNL’s blacklist.
1. Steven Seagal
Commonly referred to as the worst SNL host ever, Steven Seagal’s 1991 episode was a disaster. He insisted on not making jokes about himself, cursed at writers, and harangued the cast. Tim Meadows reported Seagal didn’t realize you can’t call writers “stupid” during the week and then ask them to make you shine on Saturday. Lorne Michaels later joked that Seagal was the largest jerk to ever host—sealing his status as SNL’s most banned guest.
Through the decades, Saturday Night Live has been the site of hilarious history, but these forbidden hosts and guests serve as reminders of what occurs when things go irrevocably off-script. In an environment where timing, teamwork, and humility are of the utmost importance, not everyone is cut out to shine on the stage—and SNL’s blacklist demonstrates it.