Elon Musk is hosting Saturday Night Live. Critics think that’s a terrible idea

‘Elon Musk hosting SNL is huge for guys still making ‘that’s what she said’ jokes who think they’d be great at hosting SNL,’ one sceptic tweeted

Elon Musk will host Saturday Night Live on 8 May, with Miley Cyrus booked as the show’s musical guest.

Musk getting the coveted hosting gig has raised more than a few eyebrows. Many critics are complaining the Tesla and SpaceX boss only landed the spot because he happens to be very rich. Others have pointed out that other non-performer hosts have flopped in the same position.

Jenelle Riley, a writer and editor for Variety, said she was “really beyond disappointed in SNL” over the move.

“They’ve learned nothing. A host should have some discernible talent other than … being rich? Or at least not be someone who lies about a takeover, spreads misinformation about a pandemic, and is known for abusing employees.”

Other writers mocked the decision and said it would appeal to a very limited demographic.

“Elon Musk hosting SNL is huge for guys still making ‘that's what she said’ jokes who think they'd be great at hosting SNL,” tweeted writer and comedian Josh Gondelman.

Siobhan Thompson, a writer for the animated comedy series Rick & Morty, quipped: “Guy Who Still Brags About Being Able To Quote All Of Anchorman Thrilled For Elon Musk To Be Hosting SNL.”

Writer Josh Benton said it felt like the show’s “biggest misstep” since having Trump host.

In November 2015, Donald Trump got to deliver the opening monologue two months before the start of the Republican presidential primary.

Two years later, formerSNL-regular Taran Killam, who parodied Trump on the sketch show before Alec Baldwin took on the role, said he looked back on Trump’s hosting gig as “something that only grows more embarrassing and shameful as time goes on”.

Musk, known most prominently as a tech billionaire, has very little in the way of entertainment credits. He has appeared in The Big Bang Theory and The Simpsons, and also had a cameo in Iron Man 2, in a brief scene with Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow.