Saturday_Night_Live_season_46

<i>Saturday Night Live</i> season 46

Saturday Night Live season 46

Season of television series

The forty-sixth season of the NBC sketch 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] and concluded on May 22, 2021, with host Anya Taylor-Joy and musical guest Lil Nas X. 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]

Quick Facts Saturday Night Live, No. of episodes ...

Cast

On September 15, 2020, it was announced that the entire cast from last season would be returning, with Ego Nwodim, who had been a featured player since 2018, being promoted to repertory status, while Chloe Fineman and Bowen Yang, both of whom had been hired in 2019 for the previous season, remained as featured players.[5][6]

On September 16, prior to the start of the season, SNL staff writer Andrew Dismukes, Upright Citizens Brigade alum Lauren Holt, and stand-up comedian Punkie Johnson were added to the cast as featured players.[4] The same day of Dismukes, Holt, and Johnson's additions to the cast, it was announced that Alec Baldwin and Maya Rudolph, though not members of the cast, 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.[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 Hulu show Shrill.[10][11] Both Strong and Bryant were still credited as cast members throughout the season.

This was the final season for longtime cast member Beck Bennett, who had been on the show since 2013, a total of 8 seasons. It was also Lauren Holt's only season on the show.[12]

Cast roster

bold denotes "Weekend Update" anchor

Writers

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live writers § season 46 (2020–21)

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.[13] Celeste Yim was added to the writing staff.[14]

Episodes

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live episodes
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Specials

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Notes

  1. 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.[17] White was announced as a replacement the day before the broadcast.[18] Wallen was later rescheduled for the December 5 episode.
  2. The episode was broadcast as planned in spite of an employee at 30 Rockefeller Plaza having tested positive for COVID-19 on air day.[19]
  3. Chappelle hosted the first episode immediately following the presidential election. He also hosted the first episode immediately following the 2016 presidential election.
  4. The episode was delayed due to a Clemson vs. Notre Dame college football game that went into double overtime.

References

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    White, Peter (September 10, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live' To Return To Studio 8H In October". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
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    Steinberg, Brian (September 10, 2020). "NBC Plans to Launch 46th Season of 'Saturday Night Live' October 3". Variety. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
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    "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: Chris Rock, Megan Thee Stallion Set for Season Premiere". September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
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    Maglio, Tony (September 16, 2020). "Jim Carrey to Play Joe Biden on Season 46 of 'SNL'; Show Adds 3 to Cast". The Wrap. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  5. [5]
    White, Peter (September 15, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live': Entire Cast To Return For Season 46, No Departures After Pandemic-Interrupted Season". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
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    Andreeva, Nellie (September 8, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live' Promotes Ego Nwodim To Main Cast Member For Season 46". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
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    Ausiello, Michael (September 16, 2020). "Saturday Night Live Tapes Jim Carrey to Join Season 46 as Joe Biden". TVLine. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. 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.
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    Caruso, Nick (December 19, 2020). "Saturday Night Live: Jim Carrey Bows Out as President-Elect Joe Biden". TVLine. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
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    Shaffer, Claire (October 9, 2020). "Jack White Replaces Morgan Wallen as 'SNL' Musical Guest". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
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