“Saturday Night Live” has been the ultimate comedy stage for nearly 50 years, catapulting unknowns into superstardom and giving legendary hosts a chance to shine. From first-timers stealing the spotlight to iconic cast members we just can’t stop talking about, SNL keeps delivering the cultural moments that get America buzzing. This brings us to a fun question—ever wondered which SNL stars your state is totally obsessed with?
To celebrate SNL’s 50th anniversary, we dove into Google Trends data to reveal the most searched celebrity hosts and cast members across the U.S.
Here’s how we did it: For the most-searched hosts, we tracked every celebrity guest over the past two years from seasons 48 to 50 (so far) and analyzed their search popularity during the month they hosted. As for cast members, we looked at both current SNL stars and unforgettable alumni from the show’s five-decade history. By crunching search data from the past year, we found out exactly who’s dominating Google in each state—and nationwide.
The Top-Searched SNL Host in Every U.S. State
It’s no secret that “Saturday Night Live” hosts often steal the show, sparking conversations and viral moments long after their episodes air. While each host brings their own unique style, some generate more buzz than others. Using Google Trends search data, we found the most searched SNL hosts by state during the month they took the stage.
Here’s a look at the hosts who stood out across multiple states:
- Nate Bargatze – 4 states
- Brendan Gleeson – 3 states
- Quinta Brunson – 3 states
Nate Bargatze is a fan favorite in four states (Delaware, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia), proving his stand-up style is hitting all the right notes with audiences across the country. His October 2023 hosting debut pulled in 4.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched episode of Season 49. Bargatze’s standout moment? Playing General George Washington in the clever sketch “Washington’s Dream,” where he hilariously questions how America ended up rejecting the metric system.
Meanwhile, Brendan Gleeson and Quinta Brunson followed closely behind, each dominating searches in three states. Quinta Brunson is the top-searched host in Maryland, Missouri, and Wisconsin, while Brendan Gleeson leads Google search volume in Michigan, New Jersey, and South Carolina.
A diverse group of actors, musicians, and comedians—including Adam Driver, Austin Butler, Bad Bunny, Charli XCX, Dakota Johnson, Josh Brolin, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Shane Gillis, Sydney Sweeney, Timothée Chalamet, and Woody Harrelson—tied with two states each. Comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short also made the list as the top-searched in Philadelphia and Ohio, showing their iconic partnership still has audiences hooked today. Their December 2022 episode pulled in 5.1 million viewers, the highest of Season 48.
The Top-Searched SNL Cast Members in Every U.S. State
Few shows have shaped the comedy landscape like “Saturday Night Live.” Over nearly five decades, SNL has introduced audiences to some of the most iconic comedians in entertainment history. But which cast members—past and present—are still capturing America’s attention today?
Here’s a look at the cast members who stood out across multiple states:
- Eddie Murphy – 11 states
- Dan Aykroyd – 5 states
- Will Ferrell – 5 states
- Mikey Day – 4 states
With Eddie Murphy leading searches in 11 states, his impact on comedy remains undeniable. From his groundbreaking work on SNL to a blockbuster film career, Murphy continues to be one of the most influential comedians of all time. Beyond SNL, films like “Coming to America” and “Beverly Hills Cop” solidified his status as a Hollywood legend.
Dan Aykroyd and Will Ferrell followed closely behind, each topping Google searches in five states, proving that both SNL alumni still resonate with audiences—Aykroyd co-created and starred in the iconic “Ghostbusters” franchise, while Will Ferrell became a comedy powerhouse with films like “Anchorman” and “Step Brothers.” Not to mention, Ferrell led one of the most beloved SNL skits of all time, “More Cowbell.”
A mix of long-time favorites and current cast members—including Mikey Day, Bill Murray, Chris Parnell, David Spade, Phil Hartman, and Rob Schneider—also made the top-searched list, showing that both past legends and present stars continue to leave their mark on pop
Closing Thoughts
“Saturday Night Live” has given us decades of laughs, unforgettable performances, and a lineup of cast members and guest hosts who’ve made their mark on pop culture. At BetMGM, we know that entertainment—whether it’s comedy, sports, or online casino games—has a way of bringing people together, just like SNL has done for nearly 50 years. Whether it’s the thrill of online slots, live comedy, or the excitement of exploring your favorite stars’ legacies, we believe in keeping the fun alive. And if you sign up with BetMGM Casino, don’t forget to use your welcome casino bonus, valid for new players only.
Methodology
To determine the most Googled Saturday Night Live stars in every U.S. state, we compiled a list of every celebrity guest host over the last two years from Seasons 48 through 50 (up to December 21, 2024). Using Google Trends search data from the month each host appeared on the show, we identified the top-searched SNL hosts in each state and nationwide.
For cast members, we started with rankings of the most successful current cast members and alumni in the show’s history, as highlighted by Esquire and Entertainment Weekly. Using these rankings, we compiled a list of 50 cast members. We then analyzed Google Trends search data from the past 12 months to measure the ongoing interest of these cast members across the U.S. By comparing search interest, we pinpointed the top-searched SNL cast members in each state and nationwide.