Saturday Night Live returns for its milestone 50th season, with the season premiere airing tonight. The new series will feature a lineup of familiar faces along with three new cast members. Punkie Johnson and Molly Kearney have announced their departure from the show, while Chloe Troast will also not return for the upcoming season.
One of the most anticipated castings for season 50 is Maya Rudolph, who will be reprising her Emmy-winning impression of Vice President Kamala Harris. In a teaser for the first episode hosted by Jean Smart with musical guest Jelly Roll, Rudolph displayed her comedic chops with a Southern drawl, possibly referencing the memes surrounding Harris’s accent.
Jean Smart, fresh off her third Emmy win for her role in HBO’s Hacks, will host the season premiere. She will be joined by country star Jelly Roll, both making their SNL debuts. The upcoming episodes will feature hosts such as comedian Nate Bargatze, Ariana Grande, Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton, Billie Eilish, and John Mulaney with musical guests.
SNL will air live on NBC at 8:30pm PT/11:30pm ET, and viewers can also stream it on Peacock. The show is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a primetime special in February 2025. The cast for this season includes returning members like Colin Jost, Michael Che, Heidi Gardner, Kenan Thompson, Chloe Fineman, and others, along with new additions Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline.