Saturday Night Live has announced its initial roster of hosts and musical guests for Season 52, featuring New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, comedian Shane Gillis, and actor Dakota Johnson for the fall lineup.
Saturday Night Live is returning for its 52nd season, and it will be a star-studded affair. The sketch show announced that the season premiere, set to air on Sept. 26, will be hosted by Jalen Brunson, who recently led the New York Knicks to their first NBA Championship in 53 years, with music from popular K-pop group Katseye. Both Brunson and Katseye will be making their “SNL” debut.
Saturday Night Live
announced the hosts and musical guests for the first four shows of its 52nd season in a Wednesday post on social media. Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks’ point guard who led his team to their first NBA championship in 53 years, will host the season premiere on Sept. 26 with girl group Katseye as the musical guest. Jalen Brunson, fresh off of helping the Knicks win the NBA championship for the first time since 1973, will host the opening episode of Saturday Night Live’s 52nd season on Sept. 26. It’ll be Brunson’s first time hosting SNL. Pop girl group Katseye will be the musical guest. Brunson earned NBA Finals MVP as the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win the franchise’s third championship.
SNL announces Jalen Brunson, Shane Gillis, Dakota Johnson as
The Oct. 3 episode will be headlined by Dakota Johnson and hardcore rock band Turnstile. Johnson, whose film “Verity” hits theaters on Oct. 2, returns to “SNL” for the third time, while Turnstile makes their “SNL” debut amid their Never Enough Tour Pt. 2. Dakota Johnson, promoting the film Verity, will host with Turnstile as the musical guest on Oct. 3, making their SNL debut.
Shane Gillis will host “SNL” for the third time on Oct. 10 with Rosalía as musical guest. Gillis broke the Guinness World Record for largest stand-up audience this summer and recently released Season 3 of his Netflix show “Tires,” while Rosalía will wrap up her Lux world tour the month before her second time at “SNL.” On Oct. 10, comedian Shane Gillis hosts for the third time and Rosalía will take the stage for the second time as musical guest.
“SNL” takes a two-week break after that, returning on Halloween night with Inde Navarette making her hosting debut. Lastly — and perhaps most excitingly — this year’s Halloween episode will be hosted by Inde Navarette, the breakout star of the hit horror film “Obsession.” She will be joined on Oct. 31 by musical guest Gracie Abrams, who returns to “SNL” for the second time after releasing the album Daughter From Hell
earlier this year. Gracie Abrams will be the musical guest, marking her second time. The NBC sketch comedy show airs at 11:30 p.m. Eastern and streams live on Peacock.
Jalen Brunson to Host Season Premiere, Katseye Is Musical
Offseason news from “SNL” has been quiet, with the biggest update being that Chloe Fineman, who has been a player on the show since 2019, has departed after seven seasons. Martin Herlihy, who previously appeared on-screen for four seasons as a member of Please Don’t Destroy and worked in the writers room on Season 51, has also exited the show.
Across the pond, Saturday Night Live UK
beat the American version in announcing its premiere date plan for its second season, setting Jeff Goldblum and CMAT as host and musical guest for its Sept. 12 premiere. The series is set to bring back its full cast from the first season, and will run for 12 episodes.
“SNL” Season 51 hosts included Will Ferrell, Bad Bunny, Matt Damon, Connor Storrie and many more, with musical guests that included Doja Cat, Sombr, Role Model and Cher. Some celebs did double duty as well, with Harry Styles, Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo all serving as both host and musical guest.
SNL’ Sets Inde Navarette, Jalen Brunson, Dakota Johnson and
Variety spoke with some of the Season 51 newcomers at the end of season and asked them what their goals were for their upcoming sophomore year.
The senior people are so good at capturing their own voice in sketch, like Andrew [Dismukes] and James [Austin Johnson],
Jeremy Culhane said. That’s something I’d be happy to get better at.
And working together,
Veronika Slowikowski added. This year, we were all trying to get our own thing on, and rightfully so. Next year, I’d like to find characters together.
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