• SNL will return for season 49.
• Saturday Night time Reside season 49 will premiere on October 14.
• Pete Davidson will host the premiere.

Saturday nights simply aren’t Saturday nights with out, properly, Saturday Night time Reside. The sketch comedy collection has turn into a cultural touchstone since its premiere in 1975. Creator Lorne Michaels has helmed SNL for almost all of its historic run, and the present is now inching nearer to a milestone season 50.

Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless one other season to go. Since SNL season 48 was lower quick, everybody’s been questioning concerning the standing of Saturday Night time Reside season 49. Nicely, we now have an replace! Season 49 will premiere this October.

SNL is at all times at its strongest throughout an election 12 months, and season 49 will undoubtedly embrace the 2024 presidential election cycle with epic and hilarious commentary. From the premiere date to the primary hosts of the season, right here’s a full rundown of all the newest updates about season 49.

Is SNL Season 49 Taking place?

Saturday Night time Reside season 49 is a positive factor. The long-lasting collection is a staple for the community, and the present is so near celebrating 50 years on the air.

SNL season 48 was lower quick as a result of writers’ strike in Could 2023. The ultimate episodes had been presupposed to be hosted by Kieran Culkin, Jennifer Coolidge, and SNL alum Pete Davidson, however the the rest of the season needed to be canceled.

Saturday Night time Reside Season 49 Premiere Date

Saturday Night time Reside season 49 will premiere on October 14. With the writers’ strike over, SNL was anticipated to return on both October 7 or 14, in accordance with Deadline. The present normally premieres in September as a part of NBC’s fall lineup, so SNL wasn’t too far off schedule!

NBC already revealed its fall lineup for 2023, and Saturday Night time Reside wasn’t initially on it. Nonetheless, the sketch comedy collection might simply be added again in. The present’s Saturday night time timeslot is normally reserved for reruns when the present isn’t airing stay.

Who Is Internet hosting Saturday Night time Reside Season 49?

Pete Davidson will host the season 49 premiere. Ice Spice would be the musical visitor. The SNL alum was initially presupposed to make his internet hosting debut in Could, however the present was compelled to go darkish as a result of writers’ strike. This may mark Pete’s return to SNL after leaving the sketch comedy collection in 2022. He joined the solid in 2014.

The next week, Unhealthy Bunny would be the host and musical visitor. This would be the Puerto Rican rapper and singer’s first time internet hosting the long-lasting present.

Season 49 begins subsequent week!!! pic.twitter.com/4YJgVumluS

— Saturday Night time Reside – SNL (@nbcsnl) October 4, 2023

Since SAG-AFTRA continues to be presently on strike (however in negotiations with the AMPTP), the vast majority of actors is not going to be allowed to host. Till the SAG strike ends, SNL must discover their choices with musicians, sports activities stars, and extra as hosts.

Who Is Returning for Saturday Night time Reside Season 49?

The solid listing for SNL season 49 hasn’t been formally revealed. Over the previous few seasons, Saturday Night time Reside has seen newbies arrive at Studio 8H and beloved veterans depart. SNL boss Lorne Michaels dubbed season 48 a “transition 12 months” after the exits of Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, Kyle Mooney, Alex Moffat, Chris Redd, Melissa Villaseñor, and Aristotle Athari.

On the finish of season 48, the solid included Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Punkie Johnson, Michael Che, Colin Jost, Ego Nwodim, Kenan Thompson, and Bowen Yang. Featured gamers for season 48 had been Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, Sarah Sherman, and Devon Walker.

Because the SAG-AFTRA strike continues to be ongoing, among the solid members might bow out of returning till a brand new deal is made. James and Sarah, who grew to become breakout stars of season 48, are anticipated to be promoted to repertory gamers for season 49. As for any potential new solid members, Lorne has been some folks however “hasn’t made any ultimate verdicts.”

Following the departure of SNL vet Cecily Sturdy throughout season 48, there’s now an open spot for a brand new repertory solid member. One of many featured gamers could possibly be bumped up in season 49. The present might additionally add new featured gamers within the upcoming season, particularly if any of the season 48 featured gamers determine to depart. As of now, it’s extremely seemingly Colin and Michael will return to the “Weekend Replace” desk.

Comedy group Please Don’t Destroy, consisting of Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy, joined the present in season 47 to provide digital shorts. They’ve had viral hits like “Three Unhappy Virgins” with Taylor Swift and “Street Journey” with Jenna Ortega. The trio’s debut movie, The Treasure of Foggy Mountain, will debut on Peacock in 2023. No phrase but about whether or not or not they’ll return for season 49.

Is Saturday Night time Reside Ending After Season 50?

Saturday Night time Reside creator Lorne Michaels has been candid about presumably retiring after season 50. “I feel I’m dedicated to doing this present till its fiftieth anniversary, which is in three years. I’d prefer to see that by and I’ve a sense that’d be a very good time to depart,” he mentioned on CBS Mornings in 2021. 

He added, “I received’t need the present ever to be dangerous. I care too deeply about it. It’s been my life’s work. So I’m gonna do every thing I can to see it stick with it and stick with it properly.” When Gayle King requested if there may even be a Saturday Night time Reside with out him, he responded, “Yeah, after all.” She additionally quizzed him about who might presumably take over for him. “I’ve a way of the place we’re headed with that,” he mentioned. 

Nonetheless, Lorne advised The New York Instances in 2022 that he had “no plans to retire.” He was nonetheless waiting for celebrating 50 years of SNL. “The fiftieth shall be an enormous occasion. We’ll carry everybody again from all 50 years and hosts and all of that. Will probably be a really emotional and really sturdy factor. There received’t be as many plus-ones, I can let you know that a lot,” he mentioned. 

In July 2023, The New York Publish reported that SNL vet Tina Fey was “being courted” to take over as government producer of SNL when Lorne decides to depart. Lorne and Tina have but to reply to the report. A spokesperson for NBC advised ET Canada that there was “no reality” to the declare about Tina taking up. Tina was a head author and solid member of SNL from 1997 to 2006.

Kenan Thompson is the present’s longest-running solid member. He joined the present in 2003 and has turn into the chief among the many solid members. When requested about ending SNL at season 50, Kenan advised Charlamagne tha God, “There could possibly be quite a lot of validity to that rumor as a result of 50 is an efficient quantity to cease at. That’s an unimaginable bundle.”

The comic additionally hinted that he was not sure the present might survive with out Lorne. “He’s the one which’s had his contact on the entire thing,” Kenan continued. “It opens the chance for lots of bulls**t to come back into the sport as a result of he’s such a legend that he retains off these company wolves.”