Let's be upfront: there's big, big expectations for Saturday Night Live this season. Season 42 was the biggest season for SNL in decades by almost every measure. Weekly ratings were the highest they've been for the show since Bill Clinton's first term and the show is more culturally relevant than ever with impressions from Alec Baldwin and Melissa McCarthy becoming overnight sensations. All of this comes as the result from one of the most disastrous presidencies in American history.
It'll be interesting to see how SNL rises to the occasion with the departures of Bobby Moynihan, Vanessa Bayer, & Sasheer Zamata. Every week the President of the United States, the entire news media of our country, and roughly 11 million Americans will be tuning in every week to see what Saturday Night Live does next. No pressure.
RETURNING CAST
Beck Bennett
Aidy Bryant
Michael Che
Pete Davidson
Mikey Day
Leslie Jones
Colin Jost
Kate McKinnon
Alex Moffat
Kyle Mooney
Cecily Strong
Kenan Thompson
Melissa Villaseñor
NEWCOMERS
Heidi Garnder
Luke Null
Chris Redd
Tonight's season premiers with Blade Runner 2049's Ryan Gosling as host with Jay-Z as musical guest.