This weekend marks the highly anticipated return of “Saturday Night Live” for its 51st season! Kicking things off, global superstar Bad Bunny, fresh from his Super Bowl halftime show announcement, will take on hosting duties, with the sensational Doja Cat performing as the musical guest.
The show’s milestone 50th season was a huge success, drawing in more viewers than ever and featuring an unforgettable, star-studded anniversary special.
While only time will tell if this momentum continues, here’s an exclusive peek at everything we know about Season 51 before it airs this Saturday.
Major Cast Shake-Up for Season 51!
Back in August, show creator Lorne Michaels dropped hints of a significant cast shake-up, and now it’s here. Five performers have officially left: long-time veterans Heidi Gardner (8 seasons) and Ego Nwodim (7 seasons), along with Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker (both from Season 48), and Emil Wakim (who spent just one season on the show).
Stepping into their shoes are five exciting new cast members: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska.
Interestingly, Ben Marshall is already a familiar face to many viewers, having frequently appeared in digital shorts as part of the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy, alongside John Higgins and Martin Herlihy. However, shortly after Marshall’s official casting was announced in September, Higgins confirmed that Please Don’t Destroy would no longer be creating shorts for the NBC program.
This new class of comedians built their reputations on a blend of traditional stages—like comedy clubs, improv, and sketch theaters—and modern digital platforms, regularly sharing original sketches and bits on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
Political Comedy Navigates a Tense Television Landscape
As the new season approaches, a shadow of political tension looms, a sentiment that has already impacted other late-night television shows.
Just last month, Disney executives temporarily removed “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from the airwaves after Kimmel’s on-air remarks concerning the tragic shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Following these comments, Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr even hinted at potential agency action against ABC.
While the suspension was brief, with Kimmel returning within a week, the incident ignited a widespread national conversation about free speech in media.
Similarly, in July, CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” citing economic concerns, effective next May. This news was particularly notable given Colbert’s well-known criticism of President Trump, and it coincided with Paramount, CBS’s parent company, seeking government approval for a merger with Skydance. Although the merger was finalized in August, speculation persists about whether political pressures, rather than purely financial motives, influenced CBS’s decision.
By its very design, “S.N.L.” is inherently topical, frequently satirizing the week’s news, especially political hot topics. Former President Trump, who famously hosted the show twice (in 2004 and again in 2015, shortly after announcing his presidential bid), has a long-standing record of criticizing “S.N.L.,” much like his critiques of Kimmel’s, Colbert’s, and other late-night shows.
In a 2019 social media post, following a cold open featuring Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of his declaration of a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, the former president lashed out, stating: “Nothing funny about tired Saturday Night Live on Fake News NBC! Question is, how do the Networks get away with these total Republican hit jobs without retribution? Likewise for many other shows? Very unfair and should be looked into. This is the real Collusion!”
Later, in 2022 on Truth Social, he again attacked the show, labeling it “a bad show that’s not funny or smart,” and claimed Lorne Michaels was “angry and exhausted.”
He further predicted, “The ratings are lower than ever before, and the show will probably be put to ‘rest.’”
However, Kate McKinnon, one of “S.N.L.’s” most celebrated alumni, recently praised Michaels’s unique talent for connecting with the American public during times of national difficulty.
“Every time there has been a national tragedy that has demanded a sincere cold open, that’s him,” McKinnon shared during a recent interview on the popular YouTube show “Hot Ones.” She added, “It’s his idea. Not just to do it but what it actually is. That’s just, that’s his heart. That’s him knowing instinctively how to respond to the country.”
Upcoming Hosts and Musical Guests Revealed!
If Bad Bunny’s appearance feels recent, you’re right! He was the musical guest for the Season 50 finale, hosted by Scarlett Johansson. His quick return as host makes him the first celebrity to both conclude one season and kick off the next.
Following that, on October 11th, beloved “S.N.L.” alum (2001-2008) Amy Poehler, whose new podcast “Good Hang” has become an instant hit, will host with musical guest Role Model.
Then, on October 18th, multi-talented Sabrina Carpenter will pull double duty as both host and musical guest.