Are you ready for some laughter, entertainment, and unforgettable sketches? Well, look no further because the iconic comedy show, Saturday Night Live is back for its highly anticipated 49th season!
The iconic spotlight that illuminates Saturday Night Live’s stage will once again shine this month after being shut down back in May by the Hollywood writer’s strike. After such a long hiatus, the show is all set to grace the television screens for its 49th season on NBC, as the writer’s strike is officially resolved! It’s a big relief as the time has finally arrived when the fans can brace themselves for a night filled with uproarious comedy, brilliant impressions, and hilarious skits that will leave you in stitches.
With a star-studded cast of talented comedians and guest hosts that range from A-list celebrities to up-and-coming stars, SNL never fails to deliver memorable moments every season!
And it will soon return, as the premiere of the new season has been postponed by one or two weeks from when the show would typically premiere in the fall. It will now back its comeback next week on Saturday, October 14, 2023, marking the first of three consecutive weeks of original broadcasts, NBC said in an announcement Wednesday. Ice Spice will serve as a musical guest.
While former cast member Pete Davidson will host the premiere, he had been slated to make his hosting debut in May before the show went dark during the writer’s strike. In addition to this, details about the next episode have also been disclosed, as in the following week, the fans will get to see Bad Bunny host and perform on October 21, 2023.
Season 49 starts next week!!! pic.twitter.com/4YJgVumluS
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) October 4, 2023
The Hollywood actors’ strike is nearing the three-month mark as the negotiations are still ongoing in order to reach an agreement, while the screenwriters’ strike officially ended on September 27, 2023. “The program is a SAG-AFTRA non-dramatic production under a separate agreement that is not subject to the union’s strike order,” the statement reads. Further adding, “The majority of our members who are regular cast members on Saturday Night Live had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike. Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producers exercise their option which the producers have done.”
Although SAG-AFTRA and the major studios are still at odds, the union indicated that “SNL” cast members may rejoin the production.
“SAG-AFTRA members appearing on Saturday Night Live either as hosts, guests, or cast members are working under the Network Code agreement, which is not a contract we are striking. They are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules, and we support them in fulfilling their contractual obligations.” As a result, the entire cast is set to return, with a single addition: Chloe Troast, who has performed with the writer trio that makes up SNL’s “Please Don’t Destroy,” joins as a featured player. NBC did not say whether any of the current group of featured players, which include Sarah Sherman and James Austin Johnson, had been promoted to the main cast.
Welcome to the cast, Chloe Troast! pic.twitter.com/3KlRvgQWAe
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) October 4, 2023
Subsequently, there is still a lot of time left for Saturday Night Live Season 49 to premiere tonight. We’ll just have to wait a week, but it’s great to see that Saturday Night Live, which is one of the longest-running and most iconic sketch comedy shows in television history, is back in action. We know that SNL has consistently brought laughter, wit, and satire into our lives for over four decades, so it is cheerful to know that the show isn’t stopping anytime soon. With its unparalleled ability to captivate audiences, the show Over the Seasons has become a cultural phenomenon that continues to redefine the comedy landscape.
At last, there is no doubt that the show is one of the most-watched entertainment programs on TV among viewers between 18 and 49, the demographic most preferred by advertisers.
Due to this, NBCUniversal has already started negotiating with advertisers for sponsorships tied to the landmark 50th season of “SNL,” slated to debut in the fall of 2024. In March, “SNL” executive producer Lorne Michaels made a presentation in Studio 8H, the show’s longtime home at NBC’s New York headquarters, to around 100 advertisers about what to expect as the anniversary draws near. NBC plans a series of retrospectives around “SNL” as well as at least one documentary about the program. We speculate that NBCUniversal hopes to capitalize on the show’s long-standing popularity and cultural significance to attract advertisers and create a memorable anniversary celebration.
Until then, the fans will just have to wait and see what more SNL has to offer its loyal viewers.
Congrats to everyone here at SNL!
⭐️ #Emmys ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/rjZ1lnXJDh— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) July 12, 2023