“My vote for worst host is Robert Blake,” longtime SNL writer David Sheffield once shared. Apparently, during preproduction of the broadcast, Blake was going over the particulars of a skit he was set to perform with a group of the show’s comedians. Hosts on the show generally appear in skits throughout the program, so Blake was geared up for a few of them. The incident in question took place while the production team was outlining a skit involving a renegade school teacher (portrayed by Blake) who quoted famed existentialist Søren Kierkegaard and, despite his vast knowledge, repeatedly responded to his students’ inquiries by saying “I don’t know” indifferently as he combed his greasy hair atop a motorcycle, Fonzie style (via Far Out Magazine).
Blake, after finding the script disagreeable for one reason or another, elected to display his discontent in a way that the SNL production team agreed was far too abrasive to tolerate. After deciding that he would hear no more of it, he crumpled up a sheet of script paper and declared, “I hope you got a tough a******, pal, ’cause you’re going to have to wipe your a** with that one,” and tossed in the face of SNL writer Gary Kroeger. The team of actors were so stunned by Blake’s abrasive and uncalled for behavior that they vowed then and there to keep him out of SNL territory for good (via Far Out Magazine).
