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Saturday Night Live season 50

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Saturday Night Live
Season 50
No. of episodes2
Release
Original networkNBC / Peacock
Original releaseSeptember 28, 2024 (2024-09-28) –
present
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 49
List of episodes

The fiftieth season of the American sketch comedy late night television program Saturday Night Live premiered on September 28, 2024[1] on NBC,[2] with host Jean Smart and musical guest Jelly Roll.[3] In addition to the standard episodes hosted by celebrity guests and featuring musical acts, the series will also have several months of acknowledgements, leading to a three-hour celebratory 50th anniversary special retrospective, which is set to air on February 16, 2025.[4]

This season is occasionally marketed with art titling it SNL50: The Anniversary Season.

Cast

Prior to the start of the season, Punkie Johnson, Molly Kearney, and Chloe Troast departed from the show.[5] Johnson joined in 2020, Kearney joined in 2022, and Troast joined the previous season.

On September 9, three new cast members were added: Ashley Padilla of The Groundlings, stand-up comic Emil Wakim, and TikTok sketch comedienne Jane Wickline.

Marcello Hernandez, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker, all of whom joined the cast in 2022, were promoted to repertory status.

bold denotes "Weekend Update" anchor

Writers

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live writers § Season 50 (2024–25)

Prior to the start of the season, Allie Levitan, Moss Perricone, and Carl Tart joined the writing staff. In addition, writers Dan Bulla (who has written for the show since 2019) and Auguste White (who joined the writing staff back in 2022) have been promoted to writing supervisors, joining alongside current supervisors Celeste Yim and Will Stephen.[6]

Additionally, writer Rosebud Baker (who joined the writing staff back in 2022) is now named as a writer for Weekend Update.[7]

Production

In late 2021, long-time producer Lorne Michaels stated that he was committed to continuing on the series through the fiftieth season (at the time, the show was in its forty-seventh) and suggested that he may retire afterward.[8] The subsequent year, Kenan Thompson speculated that the series may end if Michaels left, saying, "He's the one that's had his touch on the whole thing . . . It opens the opportunity for a lot of bullshit to come into the game because he's such a legend that he keeps off those corporate wolves."[9] During season forty-nine, Michaels suggested that 2000s-era member Tina Fey could take over, but insisted that he would finish the next season before any dramatic changes.[10] He reiterated these plans in May, when a fiftieth anniversary special was announced that would celebrate the series' history on February 16, 2025.[11] Prior to the season start on September 28, NBC will begin retrospectives on the show with their mid-year coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics,[2] and Michaels intends to bring back everyone from the previous decades as well as hosts and a variety of musical guests who have helped shape the show.[12]

On July 31, it was announced that Maya Rudolph would return to portray vice president and presidential nominee Kamala Harris through the 2024 election season.[13] The next day, cast member Punkie Johnson announced that she would be leaving the show after four years.[14] On August 2, cast member Molly Kearney announced their departure after two seasons as a featured player.[15] On September 9, it was announced that Chloe Troast would also be departing after one season as a featured player.[16] On the same day, it was announced that three new cast members would be hired as featured players: Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline. Featured players Marcello Hernandez, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker, who joined the cast along with Kearney prior to season 48, will be promoted to repertory status.[16] This season also marks Kenan Thompson's 20th season as a repertory cast member, becoming one during the 31st season in 2005.

Coinciding with the fiftieth season, the biographical film Saturday Night, directed by Jason Reitman, will be released in theaters by Columbia Pictures on October 11, 2024, after a limited theatrical release on September 27, depicting the story of the show's tumultuous premiere on NBC.[17]

Episodes

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		Host [18]Musical guest [18]Original air date [18]U.S. viewers
(millions)
9691Jean SmartJelly RollSeptember 28, 2024 (2024-09-28)5.39[21]

  • Jelly Roll performs "Liar" and "Winning Streak" and appears in the cut-for-time “Blonde Dragon People” sketch.
  • Maya Rudolph, Jim Gaffigan, Andy Samberg, and Dana Carvey appear as Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, Doug Emhoff, and Joe Biden, respectively, in the cold open.
    • Additionally, Samberg appears in the cut-for-time "Blonde Dragon People" sketch.
  • This episode marks the debut of a new arrangement of the theme song.
  • Smart sings "I Happen to Like New York" in her opening monologue.
  • Before the goodnights, a photo of Tom McCarthy, former senior vice president and global chief security officer for NBC, who died July 10, is shown in silence.
  • Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline’s first episode as cast members.
  • In versions distributed online and internationally, the "Textbook Writer" sketch is amended to include a shot from the dress rehearsal version, owing to a props error made by Smart in the live program.[20]
  • According to NBC, this is the most-watched episode ever on Peacock, "through the first weekend".[21]
9702Nate BargatzeColdplayOctober 5, 2024 (2024-10-05)4.76[22]

9713Ariana GrandeStevie NicksOctober 12, 2024 (2024-10-12)N/A

  • Confirmed on air.
9724Michael KeatonBillie EilishOctober 19, 2024 (2024-10-19)N/A
9735John MulaneyChappell RoanNovember 2, 2024 (2024-11-02)TBD

Specials

TitleOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
"The 2024 SNL Election Special"[18]November 4, 2024 (2024-11-04)TBD
"Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special"[4]February 16, 2025 (2025-02-16)TBD
A three hour prime-time special celebrating SNL's 50th year on the air. This special will assemble together a large list of current and former cast members, hosts, and musical acts from throughout the show's fifty seasons.

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of Saturday Night Live season 50
No. Title Air date Rating
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)		 Ref.
1 "Jean Smart / Jelly Roll" September 28, 2024 0.84 5.388 TBD TBD [23][21]
2 "Nate Bargatze / Coldplay" October 5, 2024 TBD 4.762 TBD TBD [22]

References

  1. ^ Martinez, Kelly (July 16, 2024). "'Saturday Night Live' Sets Season 50 Premiere Date". LateNighter. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Dibdin, Emma (April 26, 2024). "Will 'SNL' End With Season 50? Everything to Know About the Show's Milestone Season". TV. Parade. ISSN 1049-0434. OCLC 21114137. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (September 18, 2024). "'SNL' Sets Season 50 Hosts Ariana Grande, John Mulaney, Michael Keaton and More — Plus Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan as Musical Guests". Variety. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Goldberg, Lesley (May 10, 2024). "'SNL' to Mark 50th Anniversary With a Live Primetime Special (on a Sunday)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  5. ^ Phillips, Zoe G. (September 12, 2024). "'SNL' Actor Chloe Troast Says Season 50 Exit "Was Not My Choice"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Fox, Jesse David (September 23, 2024). "SNL Adds 3 New Writers for Season 50". Vulture. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Jean Smart/Jelly Roll". Saturday Night Live. Season 50. Episode 1. September 28, 2024. Event occurs at Closing credits. NBC.
  8. ^ Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (December 20, 2022). "Lorne Michaels eyeing retirement from SNL at show's 50th anniversary—in 3 years". TV. Entertainment Weekly. ISSN 1049-0434. OCLC 21114137. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  9. ^ Netzley, Sara (July 29, 2022). "Kenan Thompson explains why Saturday Night Live ending after season 50 'might not be a bad idea'". TV. Entertainment Weekly. ISSN 1049-0434. OCLC 21114137. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (January 17, 2024). "'SNL' Without Lorne Michaels? "It Could Easily be Tina Fey," Creator Says". TV > TV News. The Hollywood Reporter. ISSN 0018-3660. OCLC 44653726. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 10, 2024). "'SNL' to Mark 50th Anniversary With a Live Primetime Special (on a Sunday)". TV > TV News. The Hollywood Reporter. ISSN 0018-3660. OCLC 44653726. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  12. ^ White, Abbey (September 24, 2022). "Lorne Michaels Credits Pandemic for 'SNL' Cast Exodus, Teases Plans for 50th Anniversary: "We'll Bring Everyone Back"". TV > TV News. The Hollywood Reporter. ISSN 0018-3660. OCLC 44653726. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; White, Peter (July 31, 2024). "Maya Rudolph To Play Kamala Harris On 'Saturday Night Live' Through 2024 Presidential Election". Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  14. ^ White, Peter (August 1, 2024). "Punkie Johnson Leaving 'SNL' After 4 Seasons". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  15. ^ Petski, Denise (August 2, 2024). "Molly Kearney Exiting 'Saturday Night Live' Ahead Of 50th Season". Deadline. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (September 10, 2024). "'SNL' Adds Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim & Jane Wickline To Cast For Season 50, Promotes Trio As Chloe Troast Departs". Deadline. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  17. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 1, 2024). "'Saturday Night' Is Quite Alive For Awards Season: What The Critics Are Saying Out Of Telluride World Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d "Saturday Night Live – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  19. ^ White, Peter (September 28, 2024). "Hannah Einbinder, Daughter Of 'SNL' Star Laraine Newman, Makes Cameo Alongside 'Hacks' Co-Star Jean Smart". Deadline Hollywood.
  20. ^ Rosenzweig, Jed (September 30, 2024). "SNL Flubs: Jean Smart / Jelly Roll (S50 E1)". LateNighter. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Katz, A.J. (October 1, 2024). "Jean Smart-Hosted SNL Draws Best Premiere Ratings Since 2020". LateNighter. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Katz, A.J. (October 8, 2024). "Ratings: Nate Bargatze's SNL Return Sheds Viewers". LateNighter. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  23. ^ "Saturday Night Live (SNL) Ratings on NBC". USTVDB. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
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