Benedict Cumberbatch may make for a Strange SNL host this weekend, but as everyone knows, next week might be the most in need of some levity. Thankfully, Dave Chappelle will answer that call in a rare TV appearance, hosting the followup outing with an equally exciting musical guest.
Tom Hanks had us a bit worried that SNL would forgo its Wednesday promos for a look back at the Inferno star’s eight previous hostings, but the man always delivers. See for yourself, as Hanks and Leslie Jones enjoy a round of mimosas, before being chased off of NBC’s roof.
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 finally shook off the cobwebs with a strong showing for Season 42's premiere with Margot Robbie, but it’s Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda whose story we want told. The newest promos have arrived, and poor Miranda hasn’t even seen his own Tony Award-winning show yet.
If ever we thought SNL was keeping unusually coy with Season 42, the floodgates are open now. After this morning’s news of Lin-Manuel Miranda hosting next week, our first premiere promos with Margot Robbie have arrived, along with reports of a third host for October.
SNL sailed from the 40th anniversary into Season 41 rather smoothly, though the waters roughened in recent weeks with the departures of Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah and Jon Rudnitsky. Thankfully, it’s clear skies ahead for Season 42, as the rest of the beloved cast will be staying aboard. Sailing metaphors!
SNL is built for a bit of turnover here and there, but that doesn’t remove the sting from losing some of its best not-ready-for-primetime-players. To wit, Season 42 has some surprising departures, including series veterans Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah.
Not that the Republican National Convention lacked for its own special breed of entertainment night after night, but the political arena at least managed to bring SNL out of summer break early. Watch Colin Jost and Michael Che bring Weekend Update to Cleveland with the requisite Pokémon GO sketch you never wanted, plus bonus Kate McKinnon!
It may seem like it’s been forever since The Lonely Island delivered a new Digital Short on SNL, but it’s only been a little over a year (which is like, eight years in Adult Time). In any case, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone are back with their latest music offering, this one taken straight from their upcoming film Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping — which also happens to be an early contender for the best movie title of the year.
It has been way too long since Beck Bennett’s Mr. Patterson made an appearance on SNL, but the man-baby makes his hilarious return this week, transitioning from running an office to running for office — it really doesn’t take much to see how this sketch came to be, but it’s still absolutely delightful nonetheless.
SNL hasn’t yet revealed its final host of Season 41, let alone what, if any cast turnover to expect in Season 42, but a notable change is already afoot. The NBC mainstay will cut at least two commercial breaks from live airings next season, but what might replace the additional runtime?
SNL had always intended to take off the coming weekend in preparation for its final May shows, but given the tragic passing of music icon Prince, NBC will pay tribute to the late star with a special highlight of the artist’s musical performances.
Maybe a better title for this fake trailer for a fake faith-based drama would be God's Not Gay, but you can see how that one might have been a bit too risky. In the one sketch that didn't feature guest host Julia Louis-Dreyfus, SNL offers this hilariously silly satire of movies like God's Not Dead (okay, mostly just that movie alone), complete with Lifetime Original movie production values and melodramatic courtroom scenes.