John Mulaney Joked 2 SNL Hosts 'Committed Murder,' But Who Did He Mean?
During the SNL 50 special that celebrated 50 years of Saturday Night Live, John Mulaney made a joke that everyone is still talking about. While reminiscing about the various guest hosts of SNL, Mulaney noted that 894 people have hosted the show, "and it amazes me that only two of them have committed murder."
But which two hosts was Mulaney talking about? And could there honestly have been more than two? To be clear, none of the candidates for Mulaney's joke were ever convicted of murder, but it's pretty easy for most people to guess one of the people he was talking about.
First, O.J. Simpson certainly seems to be someone Mulaney was referencing. Simpson hosted SNL in 1976. In 1994, he was accused of killing his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, as well as Ron Goldman. Simpson was famously acquitted in 1995.
So, Mulaney was probably referring to Simpson. But who else? It's possible he was talking about Robert Blake, who hosted SNL in 1982 and, because of his difficult behavior, was banned from ever being on the show again. In 2002, Blake was arrested on charges of murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, though he was acquitted in 2005.
Because of Simpson's infamous reputation and the SNL ban on Blake, it seems likely these were the targets of Mulaney's joke.
However, fans have noted some other connections. In 2021 on the set of the film Rust, Alec Baldwin accidentally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, resulting in her death. This incident was very much an accident. Baldwin said he believed the gun in question was a prop weapon and did not know it was loaded. Baldwin was charged with manslaughter, but ultimately was found not guilty. However, it seems unlikely that Mulaney was referencing Baldwin here, considering Baldwin was present during the SNL 50 festivities.
Finally, Robert Wagner, who hosted the show in 1989, was rumored to have been involved in the drowning of his wife, Natalie Wood, in 1981, though no formal charges were ever filed.
Mulaney wasn't actually saying any former host were legally found to have "committed murder," but the reality of this dark joke might be bigger than two people, depending on how you look at it.
SNL 50 streams on Peacock.
Related: The Nostalgic Opening of 'SNL 50' Stole the Entire Show