Saturday Night Live season 48

Season of American television series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The forty-eighth season of the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live premiered on October 1, 2022, during the 2022–23 television season with host Miles Teller and musical guest Kendrick Lamar,[1][2] and concluded on April 15, 2023, with host Ana de Armas and musical guest Karol G. The season was originally scheduled to air 21 episodes and conclude on May 20, 2023.[3] However, due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, the last three planned episodes were cancelled.[4]

No. of episodes18
Original networkNBC/Peacock (select episodes)
Original releaseOctober 1, 2022 (2022-10-01) –
April 15, 2023 (2023-04-15)
Quick facts No. of episodes, Release ...
Saturday Night Live
Season 48
No. of episodes18
Release
Original networkNBC/Peacock (select episodes)
Original releaseOctober 1, 2022 (2022-10-01) –
April 15, 2023 (2023-04-15)
Season chronology
← Previous
season 47
Next →
season 49
List of episodes
Close

Cast

Eight cast members from season 47 left the show prior to the beginning of this season, making it the biggest cast exodus since 1995. The departures of longtime cast members Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, and Kyle Mooney were announced at the time of the season 47 finale, and in September 2022, several weeks prior to the start of this season, the departures of Alex Moffat, Chris Redd, Melissa Villaseñor, and featured player Aristotle Athari were announced.[5][6][7] In response to all these changes, executive producer Lorne Michaels called this season a "transition year".

Michaels also stated that the COVID-19 pandemic was the reason why all those cast members stayed on longer than usual, compared to previous casts, and that they would've left earlier had it not happened, saying most cast "had nowhere to go" during the pandemic.[8][9][10] Bryant and McKinnon separately confirmed this was the case for themselves.[11][12]

A few years later (ahead of the show's 50th season), he also stated that the reason why he had been hiring so many stand-ups (over the course of seasons 46–48) is because many of their go-to improv clubs like The Groundlings, Second City, and Upright Citizens Brigade were shut down during the pandemic. Stating in part that "a whole generation" of improv comedians weren't auditioning, but stand-ups were.[13]

Returning cast member Cecily Strong took a temporary leave of absence early in the season due to her commitments to perform in the Los Angeles revival of the one-woman stage play The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, returning to SNL for the October 29, 2022, episode.[14] Strong then departed several weeks later on December 17 after being on the show for eleven seasons since 2012, making her the longest-tenured female cast member in the show's history.[15]

On September 12, 2022, Michaels announced that four new cast members would be joining the show:[16] stand-up comedians Marcello Hernández, Molly Kearney (the show's first non-binary cast member[17]), Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker.

Andrew Dismukes and Punkie Johnson, who were both hired as featured players for season 46, were promoted to repertory status this season, while James Austin Johnson and Sarah Sherman, both of whom were hired for season 47, remained as featured players.

This season saw the death of longtime production designer Eugene Lee, who died on February 6, 2023, and had worked on the show since the show's premiere on October 11, 1975,[18] with the exception of seasons 6–10 (1980–1985).[19]

Cast roster

bold denotes "Weekend Update" anchor

Writers

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live writers § Season 48 (2022–23)

Prior to the start of the season, Colin Jost and Michael Che (who had been head writers since 2017), stepped down from their positions, though remained on the writing staff for the season. Writers Jimmy Fowlie, Ceara O'Sullivan, Auguste White, and KC Shornima were all hired as new writers (with Shornima specifically writing for Weekend Update).[20] Asha Ward joined the writing staff starting with the December 3, 2022 episode.[21]

Beginning with the February 4, 2023 episode, writers Gary Richardson (who joined the writing staff in 2017), Will Stephen (who joined the writing staff in 2015), and Celeste Yim (who joined the writing staff in 2020) were promoted to writing supervisors.[22]

Episodes

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live episodes


More information No. overall, No. in season ...
No.
overall		No. in
season		Host(s)Musical guestOriginal release date [23]U.S. viewers
(millions)
9311Miles TellerKendrick LamarOctober 1, 2022 (2022-10-01)4.02[24]

9322Brendan GleesonWillowOctober 8, 2022 (2022-10-08)3.76[27]

  • Willow performs "Curious/Furious" and "Ur a Stranger".
  • Colin Farrell appears in the opening monologue and the "Headshots" sketch.
  • Writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall appear in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Tommy" sketch.
9333Megan Thee StallionMegan Thee StallionOctober 15, 2022 (2022-10-15)3.72[28]

  • Megan Thee Stallion performs "Anxiety" for her first set and a medley of "NDA" and "Plan B" for her second.
  • Writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall appear in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Wellness" sketch.
  • Bowen Yang introduces Megan Thee Stallion's first performance.
  • Kenan Thompson introduces Megan Thee Stallion's second performance.
9344Jack HarlowJack HarlowOctober 29, 2022 (2022-10-29)4.12[29]

  • Jack Harlow performs a medley of "Lil Secret" and "First Class" for his first set and "State Fair" for his second.
  • Jeff Probst appears in the "Joker Wedding" sketch.
  • Tom Hanks appears in the "AA Meeting" sketch, introduces Harlow's first performance, and appears as David S. Pumpkins in the "David Pumpkins Returns" sketch.
  • Bobby Moynihan appears as Drunk Uncle on Weekend Update and appears in the "David Pumpkins Returns" sketch.
  • Cecily Strong returns after being absent for the first three episodes of the season.[30] She also introduces Harlow's second performance.
9355Amy SchumerSteve LacyNovember 5, 2022 (2022-11-05)4.32[31]

  • Steve Lacy performs "Bad Habit" and "Helmet".
  • After Weekend Update, a photo of rapper Takeoff, who died earlier in the week, is shown in silence.
9366Dave ChappelleBlack StarNovember 12, 2022 (2022-11-12)4.75[32]

9377Keke PalmerSZADecember 3, 2022 (2022-12-03)3.99[34]

  • SZA performs "Shirt" and "Blind" and appears in the pre-recorded "Big Boys" sketch.
  • During her monologue, Keke Palmer confirmed rumors that she is pregnant.[35]
  • Natasha Lyonne appears in the "Hello Kitty" sketch.
  • Kel Mitchell appears in the pre-recorded "Kenan & Kelly" sketch and in the goodnights.
9388Steve Martin & Martin ShortBrandi CarlileDecember 10, 2022 (2022-12-10)[a]5.06[37]

  • Brandi Carlile performs "The Story" for her first set and "You and Me on the Rock" with Lucius for her second.
  • Short introduces Carlile's first performance while Martin introduces Carlile's second performance.
  • Selena Gomez appears in the opening monologue and in the Father of the Bride – Part 8 sketch.
  • Writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall, as well as Sarah Sherman's father, Mike Sherman, appear in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Chelsea" sketch.[38]
  • Kieran Culkin appears in the Father of the Bride – Part 8 sketch.
9399Austin ButlerLizzo[b]December 17, 2022 (2022-12-17)4.36[40]

  • Lizzo performs "Break Up Twice" and "Someday at Christmas" and appears in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Plirts" sketch.
    • During her first performance, Lizzo honored deceased artist Annie Lee's painting, Blue Monday, by appearing in a white dress in front of a blue background.[41]
  • Writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall appear in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Plirts" sketch.
  • Cecily Strong’s final episode as a cast member; to mark her departure, Butler and the cast perform "Blue Christmas".
94010Aubrey PlazaSam SmithJanuary 21, 2023 (2023-01-21)4.81[42]

94111Michael B. JordanLil BabyJanuary 28, 2023 (2023-01-28)4.17[43]

  • Lil Baby performs "California Breeze" and "Forever" with Chloe Flower on piano and Fridayy appearing on the screen singing the chorus.
  • Writers Alex English and Ceara O'Sullivan appear in the pre-recorded “Falling Down” sketch.
  • Molly Kearney was credited in the opening montage but did not appear in the episode, although they was on stage during the goodnights.
94212Pedro PascalColdplayFebruary 4, 2023 (2023-02-04)4.30[44]

  • Coldplay performs "The Astronaut" and a medley of "Human Heart" and "Fix You" with Jacob Collier and the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers.
    • Actress Natasha Ofili appears in the first performance, performing ASL interpretation while wearing a blue Alien mask.
  • Sarah Paulson appears in the "Fancam Assembly" sketch.
  • The "Fancam Assembly" sketch features the song "Big Boys" from this season's Keke Palmer episode.
  • Andrew Dismukes was credited in the opening montage but did not appear in this episode, although he was on stage during the goodnights.
94313Woody HarrelsonJack WhiteFebruary 25, 2023 (2023-02-25)4.16[45]

  • Jack White performs a medley of "Taking Me Back" and "Fear of the Dawn" for his first set and "A Tip from You to Me" for his second.
  • Writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall appear in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Stakeout" sketch.
  • After Weekend Update, a tribute to longtime production designer Eugene Lee, who died February 6, is shown in silence.
  • Before the goodnights, a photo of Richard Belzer, who died earlier in the week, is shown in silence.
  • Scarlett Johansson appears in the goodnights to induct Harrelson into the Five-Timers Club. A jacket was also given to White, a five-time musical guest by Kenan Thompson.
  • Punkie Johnson was credited in the opening montage but did not appear in the episode, although she was on stage during the goodnights.
94414Travis KelceKelsea BalleriniMarch 4, 2023 (2023-03-04)4.52[46]

  • Kelsea Ballerini performs "Blindsided" and "Penthouse".
  • Writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall appear in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Self-Defense" sketch.
  • Kelce's parents, Ed and Donna, and his brother, Jason, appear in the opening monologue. Jason also appears in the "Abby the Ex-Girlfriend" sketch.
  • After Weekend Update, a photograph of John Head, one of the show's original editors, is shown in silence.[47]
  • Andrew Dismukes and Molly Kearney were credited in the opening montage but did not appear in the episode, although both were on stage during the goodnights.
94515Jenna OrtegaThe 1975March 11, 2023 (2023-03-11)4.24[48]

  • The 1975 performs "I'm in Love with You" and "Oh Caroline".
  • Fred Armisen appears in the opening monologue and in the "Parent Trap" sketch.
  • Writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall appear in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Road Trip" sketch.
  • Before the goodnights, a photo of Erin Maroney Fraser, an assistant who worked on the show for several years, and who died March 3, is shown in silence.
94616Quinta BrunsonLil YachtyApril 1, 2023 (2023-04-01)4.21[49]

  • Lil Yachty, with Diana Gordon, performs "the BLACK seminole." and "drive ME crazy!".
  • Writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall appear in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Street Eats" sketch.
94717Molly ShannonJonas BrothersApril 8, 2023 (2023-04-08)4.14[50]

  • Jonas Brothers perform "Waffle House" for their first set and "Walls" with Jon Bellion and Kirk Franklin for their second.
    • Nick Jonas appears in "The Play" sketch, and Nick, Joe and Kevin appear in the "New Choreographer" sketch.
  • Martin Short and Lorne Michaels appear in the opening monologue.
  • Writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall appear in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Molly Shannon 2K23" sketch.
  • Shannon reprises her roles as Jeannie Darcy in the pre-recorded "Jeannie Darcy: Selective Startage" sketch and Sally O'Malley in the "New Choreographer" sketch.
  • During the goodnights, James Austin Johnson and Devon Walker jointly hold and Punkie Johnson wears a shirt with Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson's names on them.
94818Ana de ArmasKarol GApril 15, 2023 (2023-04-15)3.80[51]

  • Karol G performs "Mientras Me Curo del Cora" and "Tus Gafitas" and appears in the "Spanish Class" sketch.
  • This is the first time in the show's history both the host and musical guest are Latina.[52]
  • Writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall appear in the pre-recorded "Please Don't Destroy – Hangxiety" sketch.
Close

Episodes canceled due to writers strike

The following episodes were publicly announced, but cancelled due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.

More information Scheduled airdate, Booked host ...
Scheduled airdate Booked host Booked musical guest Ref.
May 6, 2023 Pete Davidson[c] Lil Uzi Vert [54]
May 13, 2023 Kieran Culkin Labrinth [55]
May 20, 2023 Jennifer Coolidge Foo Fighters[d] [55]
Close

Notes

  1. [a]
    During the episode's original airing, the audio in some markets was out of sync during the cold open and part of the opening monologue. This issue was fixed partway through the monologue, and the rerun later that night had the audio synced with the video.[36]
  2. [b]
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs were originally booked as this episode's musical guest, but had to cancel the week prior due to guitarist Nick Zinner's hospitalization for pneumonia.[39]
  3. [c]
    Davidson hosted the next season's premiere episode, on October 14, 2023.[53]
  4. [d]
    Foo Fighters performed as the musical guest on October 28, 2023, the third episode of the next season.[56]

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI