The two SNL hosts John Mulaney said “committed murder” were almost certainly O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake. Simpson hosted the show on February 25, 1978, and Blake hosted on November 13, 1982. Both later faced murder cases but were acquitted in criminal court; Simpson was also found civilly liable for wrongful death.
The dark line appeared during Steve Martin’s monologue at SNL50: The Anniversary Special on February 16, 2025. Mulaney helped deliver the segment with Martin and Martin Short, but the joke did not state the two names outright.
Key takeaways
- John Mulaney’s joke appears to refer to O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake, although neither man was named in the line.
- O.J. Simpson hosted Saturday Night Live on February 25, 1978, while Robert Blake hosted on November 13, 1982.
- Simpson was acquitted in the 1995 criminal case involving the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, but was later found civilly liable for wrongful death.
- Robert Blake was acquitted in 2005 of murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley.
- The joke was delivered during the Steve Martin, John Mulaney and Martin Short portion of SNL50: The Anniversary Special, which aired on February 16, 2025.
Who were the two SNL hosts John Mulaney said committed murder?
The two SNL hosts John Mulaney said “committed murder” were almost certainly O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake. Both had hosted Saturday Night Live before facing highly publicized murder cases, but neither was criminally convicted of the relevant murder. Mulaney strongly implied the names without saying them explicitly.
The line came during Steve Martin’s monologue in SNL50: The Anniversary Special, which aired on February 16, 2025. The official clip, titled “50th Monologue – SNL50”, identifies Martin performing with John Mulaney and Martin Short. Contemporary recaps likewise interpreted the dark joke as a reference to Simpson and Blake, while noting that the broadcast did not name either man.
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What was John Mulaney’s SNL 50 murder joke?
The reported wording was: “Over the course of 50 years, 894 people have hosted ‘Saturday Night Live,’ and it amazes me that only two of them have committed murder.” CBS News’ report on the anniversary special quoted the line.
The figure “894” belongs to the joke as delivered in 2025. The available research does not independently audit or verify that total, so it should not be treated as an official, separately confirmed count of every SNL host. The punchline depends on the audience recognizing two former hosts whose later legal histories made the wording shocking.
Did O.J. Simpson host Saturday Night Live?
Yes. O.J. Simpson hosted Saturday Night Live on February 25, 1978, with Ashford & Simpson as the musical guest. The episode is listed in Peacock’s official episode record and the Paley Center’s archival record.
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Simpson’s later murder case concerned the 1994 deaths of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. Simpson was acquitted of the criminal charges in 1995. A later civil proceeding found him liable for wrongful death, a civil judgment that must not be described as a criminal murder conviction. The Associated Press account of Simpson’s murder-trial acquittal documents that distinction.
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Did Robert Blake host SNL?
Yes. Robert Blake hosted Saturday Night Live on November 13, 1982. The episode is recorded in the SNL Archives episode listing.
Blake was later charged with murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley. A California jury found Blake not guilty in 2005. ABC News’ report on Blake’s acquittal identifies the criminal outcome as a not-guilty verdict, not a conviction.
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Why are Simpson and Blake the likely names?
Simpson and Blake fit the joke because they share the unusual combination of having hosted SNL and later becoming defendants in notorious murder cases. Simpson’s hosting date was 1978; Blake’s was 1982. Simpson’s case involved his former wife and Goldman, while Blake’s case involved his wife, Bakley.
| Former host | SNL hosting date | Later murder case | Criminal outcome | Important legal distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O.J. Simpson | February 25, 1978 | Deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman | Acquitted in 1995 | Later found civilly liable for wrongful death |
| Robert Blake | November 13, 1982 | Death of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley | Acquitted in 2005 | No criminal murder conviction |
The attribution remains an interpretation rather than a confirmed statement of Mulaney’s intent. The names were not spoken in the joke itself, but contemporary coverage widely understood the punchline to mean Simpson and Blake. That is why “almost certainly referring to” or “the joke appears to reference” is more accurate than presenting the identification as an explicit on-air announcement.
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Were either of the SNL hosts convicted of murder?
No. Neither O.J. Simpson nor Robert Blake was convicted of the murder referenced by the joke. Simpson was acquitted in the criminal trial involving Brown Simpson and Goldman, and Blake was acquitted of killing Bakley.
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- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
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Simpson’s later civil liability is legally different from criminal guilt. A civil wrongful-death finding and a criminal murder conviction use different proceedings, standards and consequences. Calling Simpson a convicted murderer would therefore be inaccurate, just as calling Blake a convicted murderer would be inaccurate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can viewers explore the SNL history behind the joke?
For readers interested in the broader history of the show’s hosts, writers and controversial moments, Live from New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers, and Guests is a relevant reference. Hachette Book Group lists the 2015 trade-paperback edition at 800 pages, making it a substantial oral history rather than a short episode guide.
Viewers looking specifically for early-era episodes can also consult the publisher information for the Saturday Night Live: 50th Anniversary Collection — Seasons One-Five. The collection covers the show’s first five seasons and is useful for exploring the program’s earlier host eras, although it is not a source specifically about Mulaney’s joke. The anniversary special itself is listed through Peacock’s official SNL50 episode page; availability can vary by location and date.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Did John Mulaney explicitly name O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake?
John Mulaney did not name the two men in the joke. The context and contemporary interpretations strongly indicate O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake, both of whom hosted Saturday Night Live before facing notorious murder cases.
When did O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake host SNL?
Yes. O.J. Simpson hosted Saturday Night Live on February 25, 1978, and Robert Blake hosted on November 13, 1982.
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Were O.J. Simpson or Robert Blake convicted of murder?
No. Simpson was acquitted in the 1995 criminal case involving Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, while Blake was acquitted in 2005 of murdering Bonny Lee Bakley. Simpson was later found civilly liable for wrongful death, which is not a criminal conviction.
The Bottom Line
John Mulaney’s “only two have committed murder” joke at SNL50 was almost certainly about O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake. Both hosted Saturday Night Live before facing murder charges, but both were acquitted in criminal court; Simpson was additionally found civilly liable for wrongful death.
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