Frankie Muniz was once caught in the middle of a career dilemma involving Amanda Bynes.
Back in 2000, the year Muniz made his debut on Malcolm in the Middle, he was offered to host Saturday Night Live. But there was a scheduling conflict, and the then-14-year-old followed his heart.
“I got asked to cohost the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards,” Muniz said on the Sept. 2 episode of the Lightweights Podcast. “And Amanda Bynes was one of the other cohosts. And I was like, ‘I’m gonna meet Amanda Bynes!’ Huge deal. So I’m so excited, like ‘this is my chance.'”
The 39-year-old—who noted that he had a “huge crush” on the Amanda Show star as a kid—was soon presented with another career opportunity.
“My mom gets a call one day and she’s freaking out, so excited,” Muniz continued, “It’s Gail Berman, who at the time was the president of Fox. She goes, ‘You got asked to host Saturday Night Live.’ And I’m like, ‘What’s that?’ And she’s like, ‘You’ll be one of the youngest people ever.'”
But the production dates for SNL—which featured a then-7-year-old Drew Barrymore as its youngest host in 1982—clashed with the award show’s.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, hell no. I am going to the Kids’ Choice Awards,” Muniz said. “I don’t care. I’m meeting Amanda at the Kids’ Choice Awards.'”
The NASCAR driver said his mom then told him, “No, no, you don’t understand. Like, this is a really big deal,” and that for about a week and a half, he had “every executive, every producer, everybody in the history of Fox TV, Regency TV going, ‘What are you doing?'”
But he stood his ground.
“I was like, I don’t back out of obligation,” Muniz recalled. “They’ve been airing my commercial saying I’m going to be cohosting.”
Ultimately, Bynes ended up not cohosting the Kids’ Choice Awards with Muniz, although she did serve as a presenter. The actor actually cohosted the show with LL Cool J, David Arquette and Mandy Moore, with Rosie O’Donnell serving as the main host.
And although Muniz did eventually meet Bynes and even starred alongside her in the 2002 movie Big Fat Liar—he’s yet to host SNL.
To look back at celebs who have made a splash on SNL, keep reading.
Kim Kardashian
The Kardashians star poked fun at her relationship with ex Kanye West, her connection to O.J. Simpson and her sister Kourtney Kardashian‘s PDA-heavy romance with now-husband Travis Barker. But she really took flight in an Aladdin-themed sketch that saw her kiss cast member Pete Davidson. The pair would go on to date for nine months.
Tom Hanks
With 10 hosting gigs under his belt—including the show’s first remotely-filmed episode back in April 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic—you know that when America’s Dad is in Studio 8H, you’re in for a wonderful time. Don’t believe us? We have just three words for you: David. S. Pumpkins.
Jon Hamm
Hamm left audiences stunned with his considerable comedic chops when he hosted for the first time in 2008. He’s has sinced followed up two more times and has had a handful of surprise cameos.
From his unforgettable “Jon Hamm’s John Ham” sketch—you know, lunch meat you eat on the toilet—to his live-action Ace in an adaptation of the iconic Ambiguously Gay Duo animated sketch, he’s ingratiated himself with cast in a way few other hosts ever have.
Melissa McCarthy
There is arguably no one on this planet more committed to their craft than the Bridesmaids legend. Case in point? The “Taste Test” sketch in her first at bat as host, back in 2011, when she covered herself in Hidden Valley ranch dressing for a gag.
In less than a decade, she’s already joined the infamous Five-Timers Club, and even began making semi-regular appearances a particularly enraged Sean Spicer during his brief tenure in the Trump administration.
Justin Timberlake
Nearly every celeb on this list could’ve become a full-time cast member on SNL, easily. And for a time there, it seemed like JT actually might. From “Omletteville,” “D–k in a Box,” and “Barry Gibb Talk Show” to “Mother Lover,” each of Timberlake’s five appearances as host made moments that permeated pop culture. And his appearance as one of Beyonce‘s “Single Ladies” back-up dancers alongside Bobby Moynihan and Andy Samberg? Amazing.
Steve Martin
There are few people who have hosted SNL more than the legendary comedian—in fact, there’s only one—and in his 16 stints in Studio 8H between 1976 and 2009, he created memorable characters (the “wild and crazy” Festrunk Brothers, King Tut) and delivered what would become one of the show’s most heartfelt moments, honoring Gilda Radner‘s passing from cancer with a look back at a blissful dance the two shared through the studio.
Scarlett Johansson
Not only is ScarJo part of the SNL family thanks to her romance with Colin Jost, but the six-time host has created some indelible moments over the years since her debut in 2006.
She’s been on hand for whenever the show needed someone to step into Ivanka Trump‘s shoes, appeared in the grotesque Shud the Mermaid sketch opposite Kate McKinnon and played Lexi (daughter to Fred Armisen‘s Mark) as the duo hawk chandeliers, ceramic busts, marble columns and porcelain fountains in the fan-favorite sketch.
Betty White
Unlike everyone else on this list, the late TV icon only hosted SNL once. And, at 88 years old, she became the show’s oldest host in its history. The appearance was made even more special because it was literally fan-demanded through a successful Facebook campaign after White’s role in The Proposal.
She’s also on this list because, well, she was freaking hilarious. Our favorite sketch from the episode is this absurd one where Tina Fey‘s census taker tries, in vain, to get a straight answer out of White.
Dwayne Johnson
A member of the Five Timer’s Club, Johnson earned his spot on this list the minute he agreed to do The Rock Obama. Enough said.
Alec Baldwin
With 17 official hosting gigs on his resume and countless appearances as former President Donald Trump, Baldwin may be the only star not officially on the payroll who is more closely associated with SNL.
From classics like Canteen Boy and Schweddy Balls to impressions of Tony Bennett and, yes, Trump, Baldwin has given fans so much during his many, many visits to Studio 8H.
