Support NeoGAF

[vatstep]

"Saturday Night Live," NBC's Emmy Award-winning late-night comedy showcase, enters its 40th season in September for another year of laughs, surprises and great performances.

Since its inception in 1975, "SNL" has launched the careers of many of the brightest comedy performers of their generation. As The New York Times noted on the occasion of the show's Emmy-winning 25th Anniversary special in 1999, "in defiance of both time and show business convention, 'SNL' is still the most pervasive influence on the art of comedy in contemporary culture." At the close of the century, "Saturday Night Live" placed seventh on Entertainment Weekly's list of the Top 100 Entertainers of the past fifty years.

UPCOMING EPISODES

5/2/15 – Scarlett Johansson w/ Wiz Khalifa (e19)

5/9/15 – Reese Witherspoon w/ Florence + The Machine (e20)

5/16/15 – Louis C.K. w/ Rihanna (e21 – season finale)

CAST

WHAT'S NEW?

'SNL Vintage'

In honor of SNL's 40th season, fans will be treated to a double dose of the show on Saturdays. NBC will air one classic show from each of the last 40 years at 10 p.m. ET/PT starting Saturday, September 27. The first classic episode is hosted by Richard Pryor with musician Gil Scott-Heron and comes from the show's debut season in 1975.

New Announcer
The legendary Don Pardo died at the age of 96 this past August after serving as the show's announcer for 39 seasons, from its very first episode on October 11, 1975. The iconic intro and cast introductions won't be the same, as 14-year SNL alum Darrell Hammond takes over the role.

Kenan Thompson's last season?
As first reported by TMZ, the cast's longest-tenured member, now in his twelfth year, may be leaving the show at season's end. NBC has deemed the report inaccurate, while Thompson himself deflected the rumor, saying, "You don't have to worry about stuff like that."

Casting changes
Up-and-coming standup Pete Davidson is the lone new featured player, while 3/5 of last season's new cast members and Nasim Pedrad are on their way out. Weekend Update will be, uh, updated again, as Cecily Strong has left the desk and been replaced by Michael Che, entering his third season as a writer on the show.

Grantland Celebrates 'Saturday Night Live'
A number of excellent features, including the full bracket/results of the Battle for the Best SNL Cast Member tournament, voted upon by readers (Will Ferrell defeated Phil Hartman in the final). A few great ones:

• What About the Movies? Accounting for the Cinema of ‘SNL’
• 'SNL' and the State of Live TV
• What Does the Next Generation of Young Comedians Think of ‘Saturday Night Live’?
• My ‘SNL’: Testimonials From Cast Members Who Lived It
• Darrell Hammond Remembers Don Pardo, the Voice of ‘SNL’

 

[enigmatic_alex44]

Nice OP!

I gave up on this show a few years ago but the Chris Pratt episode coming up could be hilarious, I think I'll tune in! (Love him on Parks and Rec and Guardians).

Sad to see Krisitin Wiig and Jason Sudeikis gone though but half the top row and most of the bottom row are totally new to me so maybe they've found the humor again. Will give it a shot!

 

[Mariolee]

I heard a rumor that Bill Murray would be hosting this season. Is that true?

 

[HylianTom]

'SNL Vintage'

In honor of SNL's 40th season, fans will be treated to a double dose of the show on Saturdays. NBC will air one classic show from each of the last 40 years at 10 p.m. ET/PT starting Saturday, September 27. The first classic episode is hosted by Richard Pryor with musician Gil Scott-Heron and comes from the show's debut season in 1975.

Now this is something I could really appreciate. Thanks, OP!

 

[TheMan]

i'm excited to see what the new people can do (assuming they even get airtime)

 

[kirblar]

I heard a rumor that Bill Murray would be hosting this season. Is that true?

Bill Hader has the spot he was rumored to have, but seems like something they're trying to make happen.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

Kenan's last season eh

Wassup Wit That....

 

[SoundsOfScience]

Amazing trio of hosts to kick off the season, but it looks like I'll be skipping the musical guests again. So happy to have Hader back, if only for one episode. One of my all time favorite cast members.

 

[vatstep]

I heard a rumor that Bill Murray would be hosting this season. Is that true?

I think it was just a rumor. The thought was that he'd be hosting within the first three weeks, but it was eventually confirmed to be Hader. I think someone, somewhere got their Bills mixed up or something.

Apparently, Jim Carrey will be hosting again, presumably in November for the release of Dumb and Dumber To.

 

[The Lamonster]

Been an SNL fan pretty much my whole life. Pumped for this new season

 

[botty]

ugh.. why did you make this thread. I wanted to make one about Ariana and Chris Patt being on.

 

[enigmatic_alex44]

Seeing Chris Pratt as the opening host also gives me hope that my boy Chris Evans may actually host one day. He's my fave actor and has been A-List for a few years now and is extremely funny, should have done it by now..... but he also battles severe anxiety irl so it may not happen
(doing live TV must be 100x more nerve-wracking that being on a movie set where your best takes will be viewed later)

ugh.. why did you make this thread. I wanted to make one about Ariana and Chris Patt being on.

I spotted her in the Big Brother audience during last night's finale.... shocked Julie Chen didn't bring it up at any point tbh

 

[Catalix]

A timeline of SNL's cast turnover (1975 - 2014):

http://m.ew.com/saturday-night-live-cast-turnover/

 

[gabbo]

Kenan's last season eh

Wassup Wit That....

One sketch I will be happy to see go

 

[Camwi]

Last season was really really weak. Hopefully they've made the right changes for this upcoming season.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Happy anniversary, SNL

 

[TimeKillr]

So Cecily Strong will no longer be co-anchor on Weekend Update?

Good. She sucked at it. In general, I still don't understand why she's on the show - she's consistently boring.

 

[joeyjoejoeshabadoo]

So Cecily Strong will no longer be co-anchor on Weekend Update?

Good. She sucked at it. In general, I still don't understand why she's on the show - she's consistently boring.

She's better than Jost. He's a charisma black hole. I know that they generally put the head writers in the WU desk but, goddamn, he sucks on camera.

 

[AniHawk]

and returning for his 25th consecutive season, BOBBBYYYYY MOOOOOYNIHAAAAAAAN!

 

[TimeKillr]

She's better than Jost. He's a charisma black hole. I know that they generally put the head writers in the WU desk but, goddamn, he sucks on camera.

He's not that good either, you're right, but she still has no place there, or on the show at all, to be honest. She's never funny. The only skit I sort of liked that she was in was the porn stars trying to do an infomercial and even then Vanessa Bayer is funnier.

I wish they put Jay Pharaoh on more and more, though. He's hilarious - every skit he's in works very well, especially when he's front and center (the "attention teachers and students" principal is AMAZING).

Kate McKinnon is awesome, too.

 

[perfectchaos007]

and returning for his 25th consecutive season, BOBBBYYYYY MOOOOOYNIHAAAAAAAN!

Keenan is actually the longest tenured player on the cast.

Also, poor Cecily was bumped off weekend update.

October 11th is the return of Stefon!?

 

[noomi]

Really looking forward to the new season, Chris Pratt is going to be awesome, I JUST KNOW IT!

 

[kingocfs]

Last season was really really weak. Hopefully they've made the right changes for this upcoming season.

Agreed, I thought it was pretty disappointing. Specifically the way they have been trying to replicate Digital Shorts without Samberg, they were pretty cringeworthy.

It was going to be hard to top one of the best overall casts the show had ever seen, though. I think they made the right cuts.

 

[Diprosalic]

Nasim gone

 

[AniHawk]

Keenan is actually the longest tenured player on the cast.

Also, poor Cecily was bumped off weekend update.

October 11th is the return of Stefon!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaHKS_Nyc2s

 

[perfectchaos007]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaHKS_Nyc2s

ahh okay

 

[systemfehler]

Do I have to understand why Noel Wells got the boot instead of Aidy Bryant? Probably some "read the card and don't improvise" rule violation. Also Cecily >> Jost on any Weekend Update I have seen. Well at least more sketches with her again.

 

[Akahige]

Bill Hader hosting! Great, that should a good episode.

Cecily off Update is a shame though.

 

[perfectchaos007]

Bill Hader hosting! Great, that should a good episode.

Cecily off Update is a shame though.

Colin and Cecily didn't really mesh well imo. Neither of them could probably hold their own like Seth or Norm either, so someone had to be cut. I would only favor her slightly over Colin, but either way you're not losing much. The weekend update guests make or break the segment anyways. More drunk uncle!

 

[vatstep]

Welp, it's about that time.

 

[jimbobb]

I'm excited for another season. Can't wait for Weekend Update.

 

[vatstep]

I seem to recall Pharoah's Sharpe being a little less over the top before.

The intros, man. Don

 

[sixteen-bit]

Did they get a new announcer?

 

[Avon Barksdale]

Did they get a new announcer?

Darrell Hammond.

 

[Bgamer90]

I like the new opening sequence. Doesn't feel right without Don Pardo though.

 

[SoundsOfScience]

She's better than Jost. He's a charisma black hole. I know that they generally put the head writers in the WU desk but, goddamn, he sucks on camera.

Seriously, Jost is just terrible. Poehler was the last great host they had for it (sorry, not the biggest fan of Seth though i like the guy).

Really wishing I had the means to watch now... But I'll just watch it tomorrow. Hopefully its good!

 

[vatstep]

First monologue of the season and it's totally mailed in. Weaksauce.

 

[Bgamer90]

I believe the SNL logo for this season is a throwback to the very first season of the show.:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SNLseason1.jpg

 

[Milabrega]

Chris Pratt does not skip leg day.

 

[rude]

The last good episode was that one with Drake. Will be watching tonight; hope it's good.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Shit episode so far

 

[SlowRevolution]

Hammond sounds good, but it's kind of hard to hear him.

 

[TheMan]

pratt did not do well in that last sketch...he better get with it

 

[Tucah]

This episode has been awful so far.

 

[ShabbadooJr]

Pratt has messed up too much. And not the good kind of mess up.

 

[shadyspace]

Pratt has messed up too much. And not the good kind of mess up.

He's a lot more nervous than I would have expected.

 

[vatstep]

Animal Hospital... yeesh

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Bill Hader is already coming back to host?

 

[shadyspace]

I couldn't make out a goddamn word of that Marvel sketch. Music was drowning out the voiceover. Is that just my tv?

 

[Avon Barksdale]

I hope Eddie Murphy hosts SNL at some point again.

Spoiler

It's never gonna happen.