Will ‘SNL’ be an Oscar lucky charm for Emma Stone again?

Less than two months after she hosted “Saturday Night Live” for the third time, Emma Stone picked up her first Best Actress Oscar nomination for “La La Land,” which soon led to a victory at the 2017 Academy Awards. As the star of “Poor Things,” she is now on a quest for a bookend trophy that would coincide with her recent entry into said NBC sketch series’ prestigious Five-Timers Club. Even if history doesn’t fully repeat itself, just being included in 2024’s lead actress lineup would give her the impressive distinction of being the only performer with multiple same-category Oscar bids directly linked to “SNL” hosting gigs.

Stone’s fifth official “SNL” appearance (not counting three mid-2010s cameos) occurred on December 2, just one day before the seventh anniversary of her fortuitous third outing. She had also previously served as emcee in October 2010, November 2011, and April 2019. This time, she began by delivering a monologue centered on her long history with the show before receiving her Five-Timers Club jacket from fellow members Tina Fey and Candice Bergen. She then acted in five live and two prerecorded sketches, playing such characters as a frazzled trumpeter struggling to get through a holiday performance, Cass Elliot’s overzealous male record producer, and (for the third time) ditzy pinup model Krissy Knox.

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The strategy of hosting “SNL” while on the Oscar campaign trail dates back to the variety show’s inaugural season, during which Lily Tomlin fulfilled the duty less than three months prior to receiving a 1976 Best Supporting Actress notice for “Nashville.” Since then, 14 other female hosts have successfully caught the academy’s attention, with Stone standing as one of the group’s five winners. She is joined in that regard by lead champs Helen Hunt (“As Good As It Gets,” 1998) and Gwyneth Paltrow (“Shakespeare in Love,” 1999) as well as supporting victors Anne Hathaway (“Les Misérables,” 2013) and Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story,” 2022).

Two other Best Actress winners – Hilary Swank (“Million Dollar Baby,” 2005) and Jennifer Lawrence (“Silver Linings Playbook,” 2013) – followed slightly different paths by guest starring on “SNL” after being nominated and before triumphing. Those who took the same approach but did not end up clinching the gold are leads Sissy Spacek (“Carrie,” 1977), Glenn Close (“Dangerous Liaisons,” 1989), Salma Hayek (“Frida,” 2003), and Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman,” 2021) and featured players Miranda Richardson (“Damage,” 1993), Julianne Moore (“Boogie Nights,” 1998), and Queen Latifah (“Chicago,” 2003).

If Stone does prevail once more, December will be further solidified as the luckiest month for a female “SNL” host with Oscar prospects, as already evidenced by her and Hunt’s past wins. Hathaway was honored after a November stint, while DeBose led a January midseason premiere episode and Paltrow hosted in February, just three days before her nomination was announced.

To date, no actress has won an Oscar directly after hosting “SNL” earlier than November, but such gigs have resulted in nominations for Sigourney Weaver (“Aliens,” 1987), Kate Hudson (“Almost Famous,” 2001), Kate Winslet (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” 2005), Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married,” 2009), and Melissa McCarthy (“Bridesmaids,” 2012). Rounding out this list of female contenders are November host Jodie Foster (“Taxi Driver,” 1977) and December emcees Ellen Burstyn (“Resurrection,” 1981), Melanie Griffith (“Working Girl,” 1989), Saoirse Ronan (“Lady Bird,” 2018), and Scarlett Johansson (“Marriage Story” and “Jojo Rabbit,” 2020).

While it is true that plenty of actresses – such as Claire Foy (“First Man”), Jennifer Lopez (“Hustlers”), and Keke Palmer (“Nope”) – have missed out on Oscar nominations even after appearing on “SNL,” Stone seems to be in a much safer position and is practically already in the hunt for a win. Indeed, nearly all of Gold Derby’s 5,000+ Oscar predictors believe she will land in this year’s lead actress final five, and over half posit her as the one to beat. In the end, it should come as no surprise if she again goes from “SNL” host to Oscar champion.

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