25 best award show hosts
By Reed Gaudens
19. Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani
Show: 31st Film Independent Spirit Awards (2016)
Memorable Moments: Over the years, the Independent Spirit Awards have welcomed a wide variety of hosts to be the master of ceremonies, such as Joel McHale, Andy Samberg, Seth Rogen, Patton Oswalt, Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, Fred Armisen and Kristen Bell, and 2019’s host Aubrey Plaza. But the duo who really deserves recognition is Saturday Night Live Emmy winner Kate McKinnon and The Big Sick Oscar nominee Kumail Nanjiani. Together, the pair perfectly meshed their comedic sensibilities for parodies of Carol and Room and one killer opening monologue.
Public Reception: It’s hard to dislike Kate McKinnon and Kumail Nanjiani individually, so as a hosting pair, it’s even more difficult to find any fault in their delivery. While they didn’t redefine award show hosting as we know it, they hosted one of the smallest award shows during an especially tense year for, well, everything. If there were any complaints following 2016’s Independent Spirit Awards, it was probably Carol fans annoyed the film only won one award.
Why They’re One of the Best: As justified as it would be to simply say “see above,” let’s expand on what made McKinnon and Nanjiani’s joint debut as award show hosts so spectacular. First, as they pointed out in their monologue, their representation as a gay woman and Pakistani man defies a lot of the archaic values Hollywood continues to blindly push. Second, both comedians are just delightful and overdue to be appropriately rated after going underrate for too long. Kate and Kumail should have hosted the 2019 Oscars. There’s always next year.