‘Saturday Night Live’ kicks off 50th season with Jean Smart, Jelly Roll, three new cast members

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The landmark 50th anniversary season of “Saturday Night Live” will premiere live on NBC4 the final Saturday in September.

The network has shared new details about what fans can expect for the upcoming history-making broadcasts. In a news release, NBC announced the first five hosts and musical guests appearing this fall, along with three new cast members joining the show.

“Saturday Night Live” 50th season begins Sept. 28 at 11:30 p.m. on NBC4:

Sept. 28 – Jean Smart / Jelly Roll
Oct. 5 – Nate Bargatze / Coldplay
Oct. 12 – Ariana Grande / Stevie Nicks
Oct. 19 – Michael Keaton / Billie Eilis
Nov. 2 – John Mulaney / Chappell Roan

Coming off her third Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the Max streamer “Hacks,” Jean Smart will take on hosting duties for the first time on the season’s inaugural episode on Sept. 28. Smart will be joined by another first-timer, Jelly Roll who will serve as the night’s musical guest just before his new album “Beautifully Broken,” is released.

The next week, on Oct. 5 comedian Nate Bargatze will return for his second time, taking a break from his “The Be Funny Tour” this fall. Returning for the eighth time as the musical guest will be Coldplay, performing on the show the day after the release of the band’s new “Moon Music” album.

On Oct. 12, Ariana Grande will host “SNL” for the second time ahead of the singer’s star turn in “Wicked,” which will arrive in theaters in November. Alongside Grande, Stevie Nicks will act as the musical guest. This will be Nick’s second time on the show, following her first appearance more than 40 years ago in 1983. NBC notes that Nicks is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

The show on Oct. 19 will be hosted by Michael Keaton, the award-winning actor’s fourth time on “SNL.” Keaton’s new film “Goodrich,” is scheduled to open in theaters the day before. Fellow fourth-timer Billie Eilish will perform as the musical guest. The artist will also begin touring this fall featuring her latest album, “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT.”

The final pairing the network shared is for the Nov. 2 show. Comedian John Mulaney will host for the sixth time ahead of his new Broadway play, “All In: Comedy About Love,” opening Dec. 11. Debuting as the musical guest will be Chappell Roan. The “Good Luck, Babe!” singer has risen to fame after her album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” spent weeks in the Top 5 on the Billboard 200.

Additionally, three featured players will added to the cast this year including, Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline. In a news release, NBC shared details about the new performers.

Padilla, from the San Francisco Bay Area, comes to “SNL” after spending time as a member of the Groundlings Main Company since 2021.

Wakim is a Lebanese-American stand-up comedian, actor and writer. NBC noted the Chicago native was selected as a New Face of Comedy at the 2022 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and has performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

Wickline is making her move to broadcast TV from being a member of TikTok’s live show “Stapleview.” Wickline is from Los Angeles and performs sketch comedy on tour, according to NBC.

NBC also said that “SNL” will mark its moments 50th anniversary with a celebratory weekend culminating in a live primetime special on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.

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