Actresses Who Got Banned From SNL

The history of ‘Saturday Night Live’ is filled with memorable performances and legendary comedy but it also includes several instances where guests were banned for life. From political protests to behind the scenes behavior some of the most famous women in entertainment have found themselves blacklisted from the Studio 8H stage. Whether they violated live television protocols or clashed with the production staff these actresses left a lasting and often controversial mark on the show. These are the actresses who were either officially or unofficially banned from returning to the long running series.

Louise Lasser

The actress was the first person ever banned from ‘Saturday Night Live’ after her appearance in 1976. She reportedly refused to perform in sketches with anyone other than Chevy Chase and had an emotional breakdown on air. Her erratic behavior led Lorne Michaels to prohibit her from returning to the show in any capacity. This incident established the professional standards required for hosts on the program.

Ashlee Simpson

During a 2004 performance the singer was caught lip-syncing when the wrong backing track began to play. She attempted to perform an awkward jig before walking off the stage in embarrassment during the live broadcast. This blunder became one of the most infamous moments in the history of the show and damaged her musical career. While she appeared the following year she was effectively blacklisted from the variety series afterward.

Paris Hilton

The socialite and actress hosted the show in 2005 and reportedly left a very negative impression on the entire cast. Cast members later described her as being rude to the writers and completely disinterested in the creative process. Tina Fey publicly criticized her behavior and noted that she was unpleasant to work with during rehearsals. Her lack of professional courtesy resulted in a lifetime ban from the ‘Saturday Night Live’ set.

Debra Winger

This acclaimed actress hosted the show in 1990 but her behavior behind the scenes caused significant friction. She reportedly refused to follow the scripts and was critical of the writing throughout the entire week of production. The tension between her and the creative team was so great that she was never considered for a return. This hosting stint is often cited as one of the most difficult collaborations in the history of the program.

Cybill Shepherd

The ‘Moonlighting’ star hosted the show in 1986 and allegedly demanded constant changes to the sketches. Her behavior was described as demanding and she reportedly clashed with several members of the writing staff. The production process became so difficult that the show runners decided not to invite her back. Her reputation for being a challenging host persisted for years within the television industry.

Shannen Doherty

She hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1993 during the height of her popularity on ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’. Her reputation for being difficult on set followed her to the show and reportedly caused tension during rehearsals. While she was not officially banned for a specific live incident her performance and behavior led to her never being invited back. This instance is often cited as a prime example of a host burning bridges with the legendary sketch program.

Nora Dunn

This cast member effectively banned herself from the show after a major public dispute with the producers. She famously boycotted an episode hosted by Andrew Dice Clay because she found his humor to be misogynistic. Her decision to skip the show caused a significant rift with Lorne Michaels and the rest of the cast. As a result of this protest her contract was not renewed and she never returned to the series.

Joan Rivers

The legendary comedian was banned from the show for many years due to her complex relationship with Lorne Michaels. While she was a pioneer for women in comedy her transition to a rival network caused lasting friction with the ‘Saturday Night Live’ producers. She was famously excluded from anniversary specials and other honorary events for decades. The ban was a notable part of her career history until the two parties eventually reconciled much later.

Kathy Griffin

The actress and comedian has claimed on several occasions that she is permanently banned from the program. She believes her abrasive comedic style and willingness to criticize industry figures made her persona non grata at the network. While she has never hosted the show she has been vocal about the lack of an invitation. This exclusion is often attributed to her public persona and clashes with traditional television executives.

Victoria Jackson

This former cast member became a controversial figure due to her shift in political views and public statements. While she was a staple of the show in the late eighties her later comments about her former colleagues created a divide. She was not invited back for several major reunions and anniversary programs that featured other alumni. Her exclusion from these events signaled an unofficial ban from the series she once called home.

Adrienne Barbeau

The actress hosted the show during a period of transition in 1981 and the experience was reportedly a disaster. The sketches were poorly received and there was significant tension between the guest and the production team. She later spoke about the difficulties of the live environment and her lack of chemistry with the writers. The show runners decided to move in a different direction and she was never asked to return.

Mary Steenburgen

This Oscar winning actress had a notoriously difficult time when she hosted the program in 1981. Reports suggest that she found the environment to be chaotic and was unhappy with the quality of the material she was given. The production staff felt the same way about the collaboration and decided not to extend a second invitation. This remains her only appearance on the show in her long and successful career.

Elizabeth Taylor

The legendary movie star made a brief appearance on the show that was described as chaotic and unprofessional. Her presence behind the scenes was reportedly difficult for the staff to manage during the high pressure week of production. Because of the logistical challenges and her unpredictable behavior she was never considered for a hosting role again. This brief stint remains a curious footnote in the history of celebrity guests on the program.

Sandra Bernhard

The actress and comedian was known for her provocative style which did not always sit well with the network executives. During her appearances she often pushed the boundaries of live television in ways that made the producers uncomfortable. Her behavior on set was described as erratic and difficult to manage during the live broadcast window. Consequently she was phased out of the guest rotation and was not invited back for future episodes.

Teri Garr

The talented actress was a frequent host during the early years of the show before falling out with the production. She reportedly supported a writers strike that the show runners found to be disruptive to the series. This act of solidarity with the striking staff led to a cooling of her relationship with Lorne Michaels. She eventually stopped appearing on the program altogether as a result of these internal conflicts.

Fran Drescher

The star of ‘The Nanny’ hosted the show in the mid nineties and the experience was reportedly plagued by creative differences. She had a very specific vision for her sketches that did not align with the goals of the writing staff. The lack of cooperation between the host and the crew resulted in an episode that many felt was underwhelming. She was never asked to host again following this tense production week.

Sarah Silverman

The comedian was a featured player on the show during the nineteenth season but was fired via fax after only one year. Her sketches rarely made it to air and she felt her comedic voice did not fit the structure of the program at the time. While she was not banned in the traditional sense she was persona non grata for many years following her departure. She eventually returned to host the show decades later once the tension with the production team had subsided.

Jenny Slate

The actress and comedian joined the cast in 2009 but her tenure lasted only one season. During her very first episode she accidentally used a profanity during a sketch that was broadcast live to millions of viewers. This mistake was a clear violation of network standards and contributed to her contract not being renewed. She remains one of the few performers to be let go primarily because of an on air slip of the tongue.

Janeane Garofalo

This actress joined the cast in the mid nineties but left before her first season was even completed. she was publicly critical of the show during her time there and described the environment as sexist and juvenile. Her outspoken nature and early departure created a permanent rift between her and the producers. She has not returned to the show in any capacity since her rocky exit in 1995.

Cheryl Ladd

The ‘Charlie’s Angels’ star hosted the show in 1980 and the episode is often cited as one of the weakest of that era. The production team felt that she lacked the comedic timing necessary for the live sketch format. There was very little chemistry between her and the cast members during the week of rehearsals. As a result of the poor reception she was never invited back to the Studio 8H stage.

Margot Kidder

The ‘Superman’ actress hosted the show in 1979 and her behavior was reportedly very unpredictable behind the scenes. She struggled to learn her lines and frequently missed her cues during the live broadcast. The production staff found the experience to be incredibly stressful and difficult to manage. This led to an unofficial ban as the producers decided she was too unreliable for live television.

Shelley Hack

The actress hosted the show in 1980 during a period when the series was struggling with its identity. Her performance was panned by critics and the audience response was largely negative. The writers felt she was not a good fit for the fast paced nature of sketch comedy. She was never asked to return and her episode is rarely discussed by the show in retrospectives.

Geena Davis

This Academy Award winner hosted the show in 1989 and reportedly had significant friction with the writers. She was unhappy with the sketches she was assigned and frequently requested major rewrites late in the week. This created a high level of stress for the production crew and the writing staff. Despite her status as a major movie star she was never invited back to host again.

Roseanne Barr

The actress and comedian was a frequent guest and host before her personal controversies led to a total ban. Her public statements and erratic behavior on social media eventually made her too high of a risk for the network. The show runners decided to distance the program from her to avoid negative publicity. She has not appeared on the show in years and is widely considered to be blacklisted.

Lana Del Rey

The singer and actress gave a musical performance in 2012 that was widely mocked by viewers and critics alike. Her perceived lack of stage presence and vocal inconsistencies led to an immediate media firestorm. The backlash was so intense that the show’s producers were criticized for booking her in the first place. She has not been invited back to perform or host in the years since that controversial debut.

Courtney Love

The musician and actress has a reputation for being unpredictable which has kept her away from the show for years. Producers reportedly feared that her live performances would be too chaotic or unprofessional for the network. While she was a major figure in the nineties she was never given a hosting slot or a recurring guest spot. This unofficial ban remains in place due to concerns over her reliability on a live set.

Madonna

The global icon has made several cameos on the show but she has famously never returned to host after her first stint. Reports from the set indicated that she was incredibly demanding and difficult to work with during the production week. She allegedly insisted on total control over her segments which clashed with the collaborative nature of the show. Her refusal to compromise led to an unofficial ban from the hosting chair.

Megan Mullally

The ‘Will and Grace’ star admitted that her hosting experience in 2004 was so poor that she likely wouldn’t be asked back. She felt that the writers did not understand her comedic style and she was unhappy with the sketches she performed. The lack of synergy between the actress and the creative team was apparent during the live broadcast. She has not returned to host the show in the twenty years since that appearance.

Tell us which of these notorious SNL bans surprised you the most in the comments.