The iconic NBC sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live, just premiered it’s 50th season! We’re sharing what you can expect from the season including hosts and musical guests.
The moment we have all been waiting for is here, Saturday Night Live’s 50th season made an exciting return. The episode was hosted by Jean Smart, star of Hacks, who made her SNL debut following her Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She was joined by first-time musical guest Jelly Roll.
Lorne Michaels has been hinting at this milestone for some time, teasing and telling the New York Times in 2022 that the big anniversary would be a “major event.” He stated, “We’ll bring everyone back from all 50 years and hosts and all of that. It will be a very emotional and very strong thing.” Here’s what we know about this significant season: an impressive lineup of hosts and musical guests.
The full announced lineup includes:
Sept. 28 — Host Jean Smart with musical guest Jelly Roll
Oct. 5 – Host Nate Bargatze with musical guest Coldplay
Oct. 12 – Host Ariana Grande with musical guest Stevie Nicks
Oct. 19 – Host Michael Keaton with musical guest Billie Eilish
Nov. 2 – Host John Mulaney with musical guest Chappell Roan
Typically, featured players are either promoted to repertory status or let go after two years. In this case, Marcello Hernandez, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker were promoted to the main cast for season 50.
New faces will also join the lineup, with Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline coming on as featured players. Returning cast members include Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, James Austin Johnson, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, and Bowen Yang, along with longtime “Weekend Update” anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost.
I think we can all agree that after the recent election, we need humor more than ever. We are dying of anticipation to see what SNL has in store for the new election skits. Former SNL cast member Maya Rudolph will return to portray Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris, taking on James Austin Johnson as former President Donald Trump, which we got a little taste of in the cold open.
Additionally, there are several shakeup cast changes as the new season approaches. Punkie Johnson announced in August that she would be departing Saturday Night Live after four seasons on the show. Following that, it was revealed that two featured players would not be returning for season 50: Molly Kearney, the show’s first nonbinary cast member, and Chloe Troast.
As we prepare for what promises to be a thrilling season, one thing is certain: SNL will never fail to be the source of many shared laughs and enjoyment. With an impressive lineup of hosts and musical guests, including the debut of Jean Smart and the return of beloved faces, SNL is poised to deliver unforgettable moments that honor its rich legacy.
Saturday Night Live premiered on Saturday September 28, and you can catch new episodes every Saturday on NBC and Peacock at 11:30pm ET!
