Though the cast is the backbone of the show, the host is usually what makes or breaks an episode of Saturday Night Live. Since its beginning, SNL has seen many hosts return to the show and fans often wait for their favorites to come back.

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Whether it's a classic comedian like Steve Martin or a surprise hit like Drew Barrymore, there is usually a good reason why hosts are asked back. The hosts with the most appearances have proven to be exceptionally skilled at the sketch comedy format, and they blend in well with the cast.

Bill Murray - 5 Times

Bill Murray sings as the Lounge Singer on SNL

Bill Murray is a former SNL cast member who left the show to star in some of the greatest comedies of the 1980s. However, he often returned to studio 8H when the show needed a host. Murray returned to host the show in the season following his departure and made most of his host appearances in the doldrums of the '80s.

Murray's dry wit and unflappable sense of humor made him a standout amongst the other hosts and his past on the show made him uniquely qualified. Though the times that he hosted were often some of the roughest periods in the shows, Murray was a bright spot. His first host gig saw him giving the cast a pep-talk to cheer them up about the bad ratings and it was hilariously difficult to tell what was a joke and what wasn't.

Elliott Gould - 6 Times

Elliott Gould poses with a cigarette in his mouth from SNL

Elliott Gould made a name for himself by starring in some of the funniest films of the 1970s. Naturally, he got the call to host SNL and was a frequent host through the first half decade of the series. Gould's own brand of dry humor fit well with the "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" and he was a sturdy and reliable host in the early days.

Though he was always skilled when appearing on the show, Gould didn't deliver too many memorable moments. The frequency of his appearances wasn't uncommon in the early days of the show and many hosts returned often during that era.

Drew Barrymore - 6 Times

Drew Barrymore hears audience questions from a person kneeling beside her from SNL

Drew Barrymore had a leg up on a lot of her contemporaries because she got an early start in the entertainment industry. Barrymore first hosted SNL in 1982 when she was only 7 years old, and she is still the youngest person ever to host the show.

As the years went on, Barrymore's appearances changed, as she did, and the characters she was able to portray progressed. Each appearance was stronger than the last and she proved herself to be a strong character performer when she portrayed conservative pundit Anne Coulter in the "Barry Gibb Talk Show" segment.

Christopher Walken - 7 Times

Christopher Walken emotes in the Cowbell sketch from SNL

The things that would usually disqualify a person from being a good host is what makes Christopher Walken such a classic host. His unusual personality and vocal delivery is so distinct that he isn't really known as a chameleon. Despite this, Walken could always be counted on to deliver a stellar performance on the show.

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Walken is known as a tremendous actor in dramatic roles but he proved to be a perfect straight man to the sillier characters in the sketches he hosted. Most notably, Walken made SNL history with his dry appearance in the "More Cowbell" sketch in which he played off Will Ferrel's energy perfectly.

Chevy Chase - 8 Times

Chevy Chase holds a telephone on the set of Weekend Update.

Chevy Chase was the first cast member to depart the show and it was only natural that he would be the first cast member to return to the hosting gig. Chase left the show after season one but was never very far from SNL in the years immediately following his exit.

Chase proved to be a competent host and filled the spot frequently over a three decade period between the 1970s and '90s. Chase brought a unique energy to the hosting spot because he often felt more like a returning cast member than host and he usually revived his old characters.

Tom Hanks - 9 Times

Tom Hanks poses with two skeletons in the David S. Pumpkins sketch from SNL

Though Tom Hanks is now known for his amazing dramatic performances, there was a time when he starred exclusively in comedies. In his many SNL appearances Hanks got a chance to flex his comedy muscles once again and the results have always been memorable.

Even as his career progressed into Oscar-winning dramatic territory, Hanks never failed to deliver great characters and hilarious impressions. Most notably, Hanks embodied one of SNL's funniest characters of recent memory, David S. Pumpkins in a side-splitting Halloween-themed sketch.

Buck Henry - 10 Times

John Belushi slashes Buck Henry with a sword from SNL

The most impressive thing about legendary actor and screenwriter Buck Henry's tenure with SNL was that all 10 of his appearances came within the first five seasons. Henry could always be counted on to anchor the show, and he served as a frequent host in lieu of another celebrity guest.

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Though Henry was always competent in his appearances, he rarely failed to leave a mark on the episodes he appeared in and instead allowed the cast to shine. Despite that, his legacy as a 10-time host is an undeniable and impressive achievement along with his many behind-the-scenes contributions to the show.

John Goodman - 13 Times

John Goodman scowls as Rex Tillerson on SNL

Though John Goodman may not be the first name that comes to mind when fans think of hosts that have appeared 10 or more times, Goodman has hosted a disproportionate amount of times. Goodman hosted in nearly every year of the 1990s and he proved to be a reliable player.

What sets him apart from many celebrity hosts is his experience in sketch comedy as a live performer. Goodman shined as a character performer and played an impressive range of people from politicians such as Rex Tillerson and celebrities like Marlon Brando.

Steve Martin - 15 Times

Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd as Two Wild and Crazy Guys in the popular SNL skit.

Of all the hosts of SNL, Steve Martin is perhaps the person most synonymous with the role. Martin has been with the show since the beginning and has hosted in three different decades. Martin brought his own unique style of comedy to his appearances and was already a bona fide star by the time he got the hosting spot for the first time.

Though he isn't known as an impersonator, Steve Martin's character work is spot on and he has helped to create some of the most memorable SNL characters of all time. Along with Dan Aykroyd, Martin's portrayal of Jorge Festrunk in the "Wild And Crazy Guys" sketches is still some of the funniest material in SNL history.

Alec Baldwin - 17 Times

Alec Baldwin poses with a red hat from SNL

Alec Baldwin has become one of SNL's most reliable celebrity hosts of recent memory and he brings star power with his appearances. Baldwin has been hosting SNL regularly since the 1990s, and he has found new ways to add to the show through his character work and memorable celebrity impersonations on SNL.

Though he has hosted more than anyone else, Baldwin also frequently has made non-host appearances on the show to revive impressions that he is known for. Baldwin is perhaps most known now for his portrayal of former U.S. President Donald Trump, but before that he made his mark in the infamous "Schwetty Balls" sketch.

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