When will Saturday Night Live season 47 release, and which cast members are leaving? The iconic NBC series aired its 46th season from October 2020 to May 2021, with Anya Taylor-Joy hosting the final episode. Due to low ratings, along with the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on the entertainment industry, streamers may be curious if creator Lorne Michaels will make any significant changes to his sketch comedy show.
NBC filmed Saturday Night Live season 46 at Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, after previously airing three "At Home" specials in April and May of 2020. The series introduced three new cast members - Andrew Dismukes, Lauren Holt, and Punkie Johnson - just two weeks before the first episode starring Chris Rock. The ratings peaked on November 7 when Dave Chappelle hosted the post-election episode, while the viewership numbers reached a season-low during the penultimate episode featuring Keegan-Michael Key and musical guest Olivia Rodrigo.
Saturday Night Live receives heavy criticism from year to year, primarily because of the overall comedic quality and how the hosts are utilized. Still, the series continues to be a mainstay at NBC; a reliable source of timely humor from cast members who often crossover into mainstream movies and television. Here's everything we know about Saturday Night Live season 47, and what audiences can expect.
SNL Season 47 Release Date
Saturday Night Live often premieres every September during sweeps week on NBC, so season 47 will likely align with previous schedules. However, season 46 did indeed commence on the first Saturday of October 2020. It's possible Saturday Night Live season 47 will debut on either September 25, 2021 or October 2, 2021.
SNL Season 47 Cast Members: Who's Leaving, Staying & Joining?
Saturday Night Live could have an entirely new look for season 47, at least in terms of the collective cast. The season 46 cold open begins with an emotional COVID-themed commentary from the highest-tenured performers - Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, and Kenan Thompson - with their demeanors implying that it could be their last show. According to a May 2021 report (via Deadline), none of the cast members are officially leaving, but it seems that Saturday Night Live anticipates a mass-departure and thus offered the performers a subtle send-off.
As of May 2021, the aforementioned Michaels hasn't hired any new cast members for Saturday Night Live season 47, but he'll likely audition performers during the summer and announce new additions in September 2021. When Saturday Night Live season 47 premieres, audiences can expect the usual format - cold open, host monologue, Weekend Update, musical performances, and sketches (of course) - but the comedic vibe could be significant different. Chloe Fineman will presumably be promoted from a feature player to a repertory player, along with the versatile Bowen Yang. It's been rumored that Colin Jost and Pete Davidson may be leaving, which would naturally change the Weekend Update dynamic in Saturday Night Live season 47, and potentially allow someone an opportunity to co-host with Michael Che.