Saturday Night Live (season 46)

Saturday Night Live
	Season 46
Country of origin	United States
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	October 3, 2020 –; present
Season chronology

The forty-sixth season of the NBC comedy series Saturday Night Live premiered on October 3, 2020, during the 2020–21 television season with host Chris Rock and musical guest Megan Thee Stallion.[1][2][3] With the previous season cut short amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the show instead airing three remotely produced episodes referred to as Saturday Night Live at Home, the season premiere marked the return to Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.[1] Lorne Michaels said that the show aimed to have a "limited" in-studio audience, and that they would "work closely with Gov. Cuomo's team."[4]

Cast

On September 15, 2020, it was announced that the entire cast from last season would be returning, with Ego Nwodim, a featured player since 2018, being promoted to repertory status while Chloe Fineman and Bowen Yang remained as featured players.[5][6]

On September 16, SNL staff writer Andrew Dismukes, Upright Citizens Brigade player Lauren Holt, and stand-up comedian Punkie Johnson were added to the cast as featured players.[4]

Though not members of the cast, on September 16, 2020 it was announced that Alec Baldwin and Maya Rudolph would reprise their respective roles as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris,[7] while Jim Carrey would take over impersonating Joe Biden.[4] Biden had been portrayed by Jason Sudeikis while he was Vice President and by Woody Harrelson, John Mulaney, and Sudeikis the previous season. On December 19, Carrey announced he would step down from playing Biden, stating it was the original intention that he would play Biden for only six weeks.[8] Current cast member Alex Moffat succeeded Carrey to portray as Biden during the cold open of the episode hosted by Kristen Wiig at the same day.[9]

Cecily Strong was absent from the first six episodes of the season due to filming commitments for her Apple TV+ series Schmigadoon!. Aidy Bryant appeared in the season premiere before taking an extended absence due to filming commitments for her show Shrill.[10][11] Both Strong and Bryant are still credited as cast members.

Cast roster

Repertory players

Featured players

bold denotes "Weekend Update" anchor

Writers

Prior to the start of the season, Anna Drezen was promoted to co-head writer alongside Michael Che, Colin Jost, and Kent Sublette, making her the first female head writer since Sarah Schneider.[12] Celeste Yim was added to the writing staff.[13]

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Host	Musical guest	Original air date	Ratings/ Share
890	1	Chris Rock	Megan Thee Stallion	October 3, 2020 (2020-10-03)	5.6[14]
Megan Thee Stallion performs "Savage" with pre-recorded vocals from Beyoncé, Malcolm X and Tamika Mallory, and "Don't Stop" with Young Thug. Stallion also appears in the pre-recorded "Bottom of Your Face" musical sketch and the "NBA Bubble Draft" sketch. In the cold open: Alec Baldwin appears as Donald Trump, Jim Carrey appears as Joe Biden, Maya Rudolph appears as Kamala Harris, and Harry Styles appears as himself (in a pre-recorded clip). Rudolph also appears in the "NBA Bubble Draft" sketch. The cold open generated controversy among conservatives who claimed that it was inappropriate to satirize Trump while he was hospitalized. Baldwin defended his portrayal of Trump saying that based on news released by the White House, Trump was not gravely ill, and that the satire was about Trump's debate performance, not about his illness.[15] The episode pays tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died two weeks prior, with McKinnon portraying Justice Ginsburg silently sitting in the audience at the end of Weekend Update, followed by a card honoring the late justice. Maddie Rice debuts as a member of The Saturday Night Live Band and appears in a commercial bumper performing a guitar solo during the final commercial break. Andrew Dismukes, Lauren Holt and Punkie Johnson's first episode as cast members. This episode marks the show's return to Studio 8H since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
891	2	Bill Burr	Jack White[lower-alpha 1]	October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)[lower-alpha 2]	4.7[19]
Jack White performs a medley of "Ball and Biscuit", "Don't Hurt Yourself" and Blind Willie Johnson's "Jesus is Coming Soon" for his first set and "Lazaretto" for his second. Jim Carrey and Maya Rudolph appear in the cold open. Rudolph portrays Kamala Harris and Carrey portrays Joe Biden, Jeff Goldblum, and Seth Brundle, Goldblum's character from the 1986 film The Fly. Jason Momoa appears in the pre-recorded "Enough is Enough" sketch. The episode pays multiple tributes to Eddie Van Halen, who had died earlier in the week: footage of him performing with the Robert Cray Band from season 12 is shown before the goodnights,[20] White uses a guitar designed especially for him by Van Halen during his performance of "Lazaretto",[21] and Burr wears a Van Halen shirt during the goodnights.
892	3	Issa Rae	Justin Bieber	October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17)	4.5[22]
Justin Bieber performs "Holy" with Chance the Rapper and "Lonely" with Benny Blanco on keyboard. Bieber and Chance also appear in Kyle Mooney's pre-recorded "Dancer" sketch. Alec Baldwin, Jim Carrey, and Maya Rudolph appear as Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, respectively, in the cold open. As part of his act, Carrey portrays Biden as impersonating Fred Rogers and Bob Ross. Rudolph also appears in the "Your Voice Chicago" sketch, in a parody of Diamond and Silk[23]
893	4	Adele	H.E.R.	October 24, 2020 (2020-10-24)	5.0[24]
H.E.R. performs "Damage" and "Hold On". Alec Baldwin, Jim Carrey, and Maya Rudolph appear in the cold open as Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Kristen Welker, respectively. Rudolph also appears in the "Visiting Grandma" sketch and the pre-recorded "Ass Angel Jeans" sketch.
894	5	John Mulaney	The Strokes	October 31, 2020 (2020-10-31)	4.7[25]
The Strokes perform "The Adults Are Talking" and "Bad Decisions". Jim Carrey and Maya Rudolph appear in the cold open as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, respectively. Rudolph also appears as the Statue of Liberty in the New York Musical sketch. Mulaney wears a t-shirt bearing the word "Hal" during the goodnights as a tribute to longtime SNL music producer Hal Willner, who had died in April.
895	6	Dave Chappelle[lower-alpha 3]	Foo Fighters	November 7, 2020 (2020-11-07)[lower-alpha 4]	9.1 million[26]
Foo Fighters perform "Shame Shame" and "Times Like These". Alec Baldwin, Jim Carrey, and Maya Rudolph appear in the cold open as Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, respectively. Baldwin also makes a vocal cameo as Trump in the "DC Morning" sketch. Additionally, Baldwin and Rudolph appear in the "Uncle Ben" sketch, with Rudolph appearing as Aunt Jemima.
896	7	Jason Bateman	Morgan Wallen	December 5, 2020 (2020-12-05)	6.1 million[27]
Morgan Wallen performs "7 Summers" and "Still Goin' Down" and appears in a sketch parodying the events leading up to the cancellation of his appearance in the second episode of the season. Eminem appears in the pre-recorded "Stu" sketch, which itself parodied his song "Stan". Cecily Strong returns after being absent from the first six episodes of the season. The January 16, 2021 repeat of this episode featured a clip of former band member Howard Johnson, who had died earlier in the week, performing with his band Gravity in 1978.
897	8	Timothée Chalamet	Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band	December 12, 2020 (2020-12-12)	6.7 million[28]
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band perform "Ghosts" and "I'll See You in My Dreams". Chalamet's mother, Nicole Flender, appears in the opening monologue. Jimmy Fallon appears in the pre-recorded "Tiny Horse" sketch. Questlove appears in the "XXL Rap Roundtable" sketch. During the goodnights, Chalamet wore a hoodie with the Legendary Pictures logo on it, in response to the news that Dune, which he starred in and was produced by Legendary but distributed by Warner Bros., would be released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max.[29]
898	9	Kristen Wiig	Dua Lipa	December 19, 2020 (2020-12-19)	6.3 million[30]
Dua Lipa performs "Don't Start Now" and "Levitating" and appears in the "U.S.O. Performance" sketch. Maya Rudolph appears in the cold open as Kamala Harris, and appears in the opening monologue.
899	10	John Krasinski	Machine Gun Kelly	January 30, 2021 (2021-01-30)	4.4[31]
Machine Gun Kelly performs "my ex’s best friend" and "Lonely". Before the goodnights, a photo of Cicely Tyson, who passed away two days before the episode aired, is shown is silence. Aidy Bryant returns after being absent for several episodes from the first half of the season.
900	11	Dan Levy[32]	Phoebe Bridgers[32]	February 6, 2021 (2021-02-06)	TBD
Announced on air.
901	12	Regina King[32]	Nathaniel Rateliff[32]	February 13, 2021 (2021-02-13)	TBD
902	13	TBA	TBA	February 20, 2021 (2021-02-20)[32]	TBD
903	14	TBA	TBA	February 27, 2021 (2021-02-27)[32]	TBD

Specials

Title	Original air date	Ratings/ Share
"The 2020 SNL Election Special"	November 2, 2020 (2020-11-02)	N/A
A special showing of all fan-favorite SNL political sketches.

Notes

Morgan Wallen's scheduled appearance as the musical guest was cancelled the week of the episode after videos surfaced showing him violating the show's COVID-19 protocols on mask wearing and social distancing.[16] White was announced as a replacement the day before the broadcast.[17] Wallen was later rescheduled for the December 5 episode.
The episode was broadcast as planned in spite of an employee at 30 Rockefeller Plaza having tested positive for COVID-19 on air day.[18]
Chappelle is hosting the first episode immediately following the presidential election. He also hosted the first episode immediately following the 2016 presidential election.
The episode was delayed due to a Clemson vs. Notre Dame college football game that went into double overtime.

References

White, Peter (September 10, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live' To Return To Studio 8H In October". Deadline. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
Steinberg, Brian (September 10, 2020). "NBC Plans to Launch 46th Season of 'Saturday Night Live' October 3". Variety. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: Chris Rock, Megan Thee Stallion Set for Season Premiere". September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
Maglio, Tony (September 16, 2020). "Jim Carrey to Play Joe Biden on Season 46 of 'SNL'; Show Adds 3 to Cast". The Wrap. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
White, Peter (September 15, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live': Entire Cast To Return For Season 46, No Departures After Pandemic-Interrupted Season". Deadline. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
Andreeva, Nellie (September 8, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live' Promotes Ego Nwodim To Main Cast Member For Season 46". Deadline. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
Ausiello, Michael (September 16, 2020). "Saturday Night Live Tapes Jim Carrey to Join Season 46 as Joe Biden". TVLine. Retrieved September 16, 2020. Michaels also confirmed that Alec Baldwin will be back as Trump, with Maya Rudolph set to once again play Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris.
Caruso, Nick (December 19, 2020). "Saturday Night Live: Jim Carrey Bows Out as President-Elect Joe Biden". TVLine. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/snl-alex-moffat-replaces-jim-carrey-as-joe-biden-in-cold-open/
"Cecily Strong's New Musical-Comedy Series Has a Stacked Cast". October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
"Hulu series 'Shrill' returns to film in Portland this fall, and extras are needed". September 25, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
White, Peter (September 16, 2020). "'SNL': Jim Carrey Set To Play Joe Biden As NBC Show Adds Three Featured Players & Will Have Limited Audience". Deadline. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
Wright, Megh (October 4, 2020). "Here's the Writing Staff of Saturday Night Live Season 46". Vulture. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
"'Saturday Night Live' Ratings Slip, Stay Strong With Host Bill Burr". October 11, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
Seemayer, Zach (October 4, 2020). "Alec Baldwin Defends Playing Donald Trump in 'Saturday Night Live' Season Premiere After Backlash".
Low, Elaine (October 7, 2020). "Morgan Wallen Says He Is No Longer Playing 'SNL' Due to COVID-19 Protocols". Variety. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
Shaffer, Claire (October 9, 2020). "Jack White Replaces Morgan Wallen as 'SNL' Musical Guest". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
Goldblatt, Daniel (October 10, 2020). "'SNL' and Other NBC Shows to Air as Planned Despite Positive COVID Test at 30 Rock (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
"'Saturday Night Live' Ratings Slip, Stay Strong With Host Bill Burr". October 11, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
Del Rosario, Alexandra (October 10, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live' Pays Tribute To Eddie Van Halen". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
Ryu, Jenna (October 11, 2020). "'Rest in peace sir': Jack White pays tribute to Eddie Van Halen on 'SNL' by playing special guitar". USA Today. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
"'Saturday Night Live' Ratings Slip With Host Issa Rae, Remain Above 2019 Levels". October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
Schwartz, Ryan (October 18, 2020). "Issa Rae Hosts SNL: Watch the Best & Worst Sketches, Plus Justin Bieber". TVLine.
"Overnight Ratings: "Saturday Night Live" Rises For Adele, H.E.R. Episode". October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
"'Saturday Night Live' Ratings Slip With Host John Mulaney, Remain Strong On Eve Of Election". November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
https://www.thewrap.com/snl-dave-chappelle-joe-biden-winner-election-trump-best-ratings-3-years-saturday-night-live/
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-saturday-sunday-dec-5-6-2020#:~:text=The%20Dec.%205%20episode%20of,%2D49%2C%20both%20season%20lows.
https://deadline.com/2020/12/saturday-night-live-ratings-host-kristen-wiig-1234659865/
Russian, Ale (December 14, 2020). "Timothée Chalamet Seemingly Takes Stance Against Dune's HBO Max Streaming Deal on SNL". People. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
https://deadline.com/2020/12/saturday-night-live-ratings-host-kristen-wiig-1234659865/
"'Saturday Night Live' Returns From Hiatus Steady In Ratings With Host John Krasinski". January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
White, Peter (January 22, 2021). "'SNL': John Krasinski Returns To Host Following Covid Cancellation With Dan Levy & Regina King Also Set For Hosting Debuts". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2021.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[18] Morgan Wallen's scheduled appearance as the musical guest was cancelled the week of the episode after videos surfaced showing him violating the show's COVID-19 protocols on mask wearing and social distancing.[16] White was announced as a replacement the day before the broadcast.[17] Wallen was later rescheduled for the December 5 episode.

[20] The episode was broadcast as planned in spite of an employee at 30 Rockefeller Plaza having tested positive for COVID-19 on air day.[18]

[28] Chappelle is hosting the first episode immediately following the presidential election. He also hosted the first episode immediately following the 2016 presidential election.

[29] The episode was delayed due to a Clemson vs. Notre Dame college football game that went into double overtime.

[return-1] White, Peter (September 10, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live' To Return To Studio 8H In October". Deadline. Retrieved September 14, 2020.

[2] Steinberg, Brian (September 10, 2020). "NBC Plans to Launch 46th Season of 'Saturday Night Live' October 3". Variety. Retrieved September 14, 2020.

[3] "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: Chris Rock, Megan Thee Stallion Set for Season Premiere". September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.

[carrey-4] Maglio, Tony (September 16, 2020). "Jim Carrey to Play Joe Biden on Season 46 of 'SNL'; Show Adds 3 to Cast". The Wrap. Retrieved September 16, 2020.

[5] White, Peter (September 15, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live': Entire Cast To Return For Season 46, No Departures After Pandemic-Interrupted Season". Deadline. Retrieved September 15, 2020.

[6] Andreeva, Nellie (September 8, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live' Promotes Ego Nwodim To Main Cast Member For Season 46". Deadline. Retrieved September 10, 2020.

[7] Ausiello, Michael (September 16, 2020). "Saturday Night Live Tapes Jim Carrey to Join Season 46 as Joe Biden". TVLine. Retrieved September 16, 2020. Michaels also confirmed that Alec Baldwin will be back as Trump, with Maya Rudolph set to once again play Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris.

[8] Caruso, Nick (December 19, 2020). "Saturday Night Live: Jim Carrey Bows Out as President-Elect Joe Biden". TVLine. Retrieved December 19, 2020.

[9] ttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/snl-alex-moffat-replaces-jim-carrey-as-joe-biden-in-cold-open/

[10] "Cecily Strong's New Musical-Comedy Series Has a Stacked Cast". October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.

[11] "Hulu series 'Shrill' returns to film in Portland this fall, and extras are needed". September 25, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.

[12] White, Peter (September 16, 2020). "'SNL': Jim Carrey Set To Play Joe Biden As NBC Show Adds Three Featured Players & Will Have Limited Audience". Deadline. Retrieved September 16, 2020.

[13] Wright, Megh (October 4, 2020). "Here's the Writing Staff of Saturday Night Live Season 46". Vulture. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

[14] "'Saturday Night Live' Ratings Slip, Stay Strong With Host Bill Burr". October 11, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.

[15] Seemayer, Zach (October 4, 2020). "Alec Baldwin Defends Playing Donald Trump in 'Saturday Night Live' Season Premiere After Backlash".

[16] Low, Elaine (October 7, 2020). "Morgan Wallen Says He Is No Longer Playing 'SNL' Due to COVID-19 Protocols". Variety. Retrieved October 7, 2020.

[17] Shaffer, Claire (October 9, 2020). "Jack White Replaces Morgan Wallen as 'SNL' Musical Guest". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 9, 2020.

[19] Goldblatt, Daniel (October 10, 2020). "'SNL' and Other NBC Shows to Air as Planned Despite Positive COVID Test at 30 Rock (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved October 10, 2020.

[21] "'Saturday Night Live' Ratings Slip, Stay Strong With Host Bill Burr". October 11, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.

[22] Del Rosario, Alexandra (October 10, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live' Pays Tribute To Eddie Van Halen". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 11, 2020.

[23] Ryu, Jenna (October 11, 2020). "'Rest in peace sir': Jack White pays tribute to Eddie Van Halen on 'SNL' by playing special guitar". USA Today. Retrieved October 11, 2020.

[24] "'Saturday Night Live' Ratings Slip With Host Issa Rae, Remain Above 2019 Levels". October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.

[25] Schwartz, Ryan (October 18, 2020). "Issa Rae Hosts SNL: Watch the Best & Worst Sketches, Plus Justin Bieber". TVLine.

[26] "Overnight Ratings: "Saturday Night Live" Rises For Adele, H.E.R. Episode". October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.

[27] "'Saturday Night Live' Ratings Slip With Host John Mulaney, Remain Strong On Eve Of Election". November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.

[30] ttps://www.thewrap.com/snl-dave-chappelle-joe-biden-winner-election-trump-best-ratings-3-years-saturday-night-live/

[31] ttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-saturday-sunday-dec-5-6-2020#:~:text=The%20Dec.%205%20episode%20of,%2D49%2C%20both%20season%20lows.

[32] ttps://deadline.com/2020/12/saturday-night-live-ratings-host-kristen-wiig-1234659865/

[33] Russian, Ale (December 14, 2020). "Timothée Chalamet Seemingly Takes Stance Against Dune's HBO Max Streaming Deal on SNL". People. Retrieved December 17, 2020.

[34] ttps://deadline.com/2020/12/saturday-night-live-ratings-host-kristen-wiig-1234659865/

[35] "'Saturday Night Live' Returns From Hiatus Steady In Ratings With Host John Krasinski". January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.

[jan-feb-36] White, Peter (January 22, 2021). "'SNL': John Krasinski Returns To Host Following Covid Cancellation With Dan Levy & Regina King Also Set For Hosting Debuts". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2021.