For many celebrities, hosting Saturday Night Live a dream come true. Actors in particular seem to be loving the whole thing, with the likes of Ben Affleck, Emma Stone, Dwayne Johnson, Jonah Hill, and Jack Black hosting the show five times over.
But, anyway It’s SNL as much as it is part of the A-list, there are still plenty of famous, very famous people who, for one reason or another, never land the coveted acting gig. This includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Viola Davis, Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, and, finally, Tom Holland.
Of the big names on that list, I’m always surprised that Tom (Holland, not Cruise) has never hosted us. It’s SNL. He’s very talented, he’s good at talking, and he’s not afraid to be a little silly – Lip Sync Battle The episode is iconic for a reason! The big question is, why didn’t he do it? This is something that fans have been speculating for a long time, and now we have some solid answers.
Chatting with It’s SNL alum Amy Poehler to him Go Good On the podcast this week, 30-year-old Tom shared his concerns about joining Studio 8H as a host. “I’m very dyslexic, which is one of the reasons why – and I’d like to talk to you today about it, actually – it’s why I’ve never done it. It’s SNL,” Amy said, causing Amy to let out a sigh of understanding.
In context, from the first episode in 1975, It’s SNL he relies on the actors to read their lines from handwritten cards. As old-fashioned as it may seem, cue cards have been described as a “no-nonsense” way to avoid some technical issues during live broadcasts. That said, it doesn’t work for everyone – especially if you have dyslexia, like Tom.
“I’m worried about trying to learn something, and then they change [it],” Tom told Amy. “For me, I can read well, but when I have to read out loud, it’s like a kind of—it’s like a mental breakdown, and I can be cold.”
Interestingly, he went on to explain how he manages dyslexia in his daily work as a movie star. “For me, my worst day at work is studying,” he said. “I’m going to really try to highlight everything and read my lines ahead of time so I read them less than I read them. [in front of everyone].”
Going back It’s SNL in an interview, Tom confirmed that he had turned down offers to host over the years, saying: “I’ve been really lucky to have been asked a few times to do it, and the truth is I’m actually really nervous. I love the show, and I love the idea of having fun and being silly in a fun, creative way. It’s just that cue card thing.”
While a few celebrities who are clearly dyslexic, such as Jennifer Aniston and Salma Hayek, have caught on successfully. It’s SNL in the past, Tom certainly wouldn’t be the first star to turn it down because of an index card concern. His Marvel counterpart, Mark Ruffalo, shared similar comments in 2024, saying, “It scares me. I can’t read … When I hear how this show works, it changes things at the last second, and I want to be good at it. I’ve been watching that my whole life, and like, I don’t want to be a guy, a fat host. I owe Lorne a lot.”
Interestingly, Zendaya has never hosted It’s SNL or, so maybe she and Tom can do it together next season? Couples have hosted before! Lorne, if you are reading this…
Catch Tom in the latest episode of Nice Meeting with Amy Poehler here.
