Time will tell if SNL manages to up its Season 42 ratings surge with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, but the latter two weeks of October are shaping up nicely as well. Not only is Emily Blunt confirmed for October 15, but so too will Tom Hanks and Lady Gaga make their SNL returns.
SNL burst out of the gate for Season 42 over the weekend, having spent a summer in transition with headline after headline passing them by. Leslie Jones in particular had something to say about the hack she suffered in August, recruiting Mr. Robot himself to track down the culprit in a new sketch.
SNL will pick up with its 42nd season tomorrow night, albeit without recent mainstays Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah, who were unexpectedly dismissed from the cast over the summer. Now, SNL boss Lorne Michaels explains the decision, noting “They served the show well.”
Boy, that SNL train keeps right on chugging today. Following word that Lin-Manuel Miranda (and maybe Emily Blunt) would follow Margot Robbie as this weekend’s Season 42 premiere host, there’s even more breaking news. Jack Donaghy himself, Alec Baldwin will take over the role of Donald Trump, with the first debate promo already online.
SNL came in pretty close to the wire for Season 42, and just over a week from the fall 2016 premiere, our first host and musical guests have arrived. Suicide Squad star Margot Robbie will lead the October 1 premiere with musical accompaniment by The Weeknd.
We still don’t have a host or musical guest for the rapidly-approaching SNL premiere, but the turnover of Season 42 continues. Following the addition of three new cast members, SNL has hired a grand total of seven new writers, including viral comedy duo BriTANicK, Jimmy Kimmel Live! alum, UCB vets and more.
SNL fans are still reeling the loss of Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah (well, and Jon Rudnitsky), but little did we know, the pair already had backup plans. Showtime confirms that Killam will lead new comedy Mating, while Jay Pharoah lands the lead role in Jamie Foxx comedy White Famous.
Just when you thought Fred Armisen’s deleted SNL finale sketch the last of Season 41 to hold you over for summer, in swoops a bonus round of celebrity Star Wars auditions! SNL dusted off the November sketch for another round, this time including Matthew McConaughey, along with impressive impressions the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Shia LaBeouf and more.
At long last, all our efforts to brave another SNL season will pay off when distinguished alum Fred Armisen takes the stage to host the Season 41 finale. Armisen hasn’t exactly been a stranger to Studio 8H, but seems a bit forgetful in his first SNL finale promos with fellow veteran Kate McKinnon.