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Every Surprise Celebrity Cameo in SNL Season 49
From Taylor Swift to Pedro Pascal to Greta Gerwig, Saturday Night Live continued to leverage the show's "live" aspect with tons of surprise celeb appearances in 2023.
For 49 seasons, part of Saturday Night Live's appeal—aside from the simple joy of watching a well-executed sketch unfold in real time—is how it leverages the Live aspect of the show. You never know quite what will happen next. And, for that matter, who will happen next.
So many cold opens, "Weekend Update" segments, musical guest intros, and sketches have featured a surprise guest walking on to wild applause, shaking up the energy in Studio 8H in the best way. In 2023, Season 49 of SNL was no exception. Whether it's a former Host, a beloved departed cast member like Tina Fey, or the star of an early-2000s romantic drama, SNL continues to pull off major surprise celebrity appearances.
From Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift popping up (separately) in the season premiere to the famous women at SNL's latest Five-Timers Club induction, the show still knows how to keep the audience guessing after nearly five decades.
RELATED: Adam Driver's Chocolate Santa Sketch Is an Instant SNL Christmas Classic
Below, a running list of every celebrity cameo on SNL Season 49.
Travis Kelce: October 14
Season 48 Host Travis Kelce returned to Studio 8H in the October 14 premiere hosted by Pete Davidson, briefly appearing in the "Fox NFL Sunday" sketch as the lone commentator who wanted to talk about football (while everybody else is obsessed with Taylor Swift watching her boyfriend play football).
"FOX NFL Sunday" with Travis Kelce
Taylor Swift: October 14
The audience was stunned when Taylor Swift revealed she was also backstage with Kelce during the premiere. The one-time Host, five-time musical guest introduced Ice Spice's performance of "Pretty Girl."
Pedro Pascal: October 21
Pedro Pascal, who earned a Guest Actor in a Comedy Series 2023 Emmy nomination for his own Season 48 SNL episode, interrupted October 21 Host Bad Bunny's monologue to "help" translate, and to give the Puerto Rican music megastar some hosting advice.
Pascal stuck around to reprise his role as Marcello Hernández's "Protective Mom."
"Protective Mom 2" with Pedro Pascal and Bad Bunny
Lady Gaga: October 21
Sporting a fringe leather jacket (a tribute to the rodeo motif of Bad Bunny's Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana album), Lady Gaga surprised the SNL audience by introducing Bad Bunny's first performance of "UN PREVIEW."
Mick Jagger: October 21
Bad Bunny's October 21 SNL episode happened to fall on the same weekend the Rolling Stones played a secret show in New York City to celebrate their Hackney Diamonds album, which Lady Gaga performed at as well. While he was about town, lead singer Mick Jagger (who's pulled double duty as Host and musical guest twice himself, in 1978 and 2012) showed up in two of the night's sketches.
"Telenovela"
"Convent Meeting"
Christopher Walken: October 28
Christopher Walken is a member of SNL's Five-Timers Club, but he hadn't appeared on the show since 2008—until he surfaced in the October 28 cold open for Nate Bargatze's episode. Walken also introduced musical guest Foo Fighters, deploying his famously special pronunciation of the band's name.
RELATED: Every Member of SNL's Five-Timers Club, In Order
"Biden Halloween Cold Open" featuring Christopher Walken
Alec Baldwin: November 11
The final sketch of Timothee Chalamet's November 11 show, "Calm Sleep Story," featured a smooth-voiced celebrity walking on to record some soothing vocals. The celebrity in question: Alec Baldwin, aka Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock and the most frequent Host in SNL history (17 times).
"Calm Sleep Story" with Alec Baldwin
Tina Fey and Candice Bergen: December 2
As per tradition, Emma Stone's fifth SNL episode doubled as a Five Timers Club induction. Members Tina Fey and Candace Bergen joined Stone during her monologue to gift her the official Five Timers Club robe-jacket.
"You're going to love it in there," Fey told Stone. "A few years ago, they even added a whole women's section. It was actually Candice Bergen's idea."
"It’s got everything: Showers, a locker room, a big portrait with the eyes cut out so Martin Short can peek in," Bergen joked.
RELATED :Watch All of Emma Stone's Sketches from the December 2 SNL
Emma Stone's Five Timers Club Monologue with Tina Fey and Candace Bergen
Julia Stiles: December 9
Chloe Fineman visited "Weekend Update" to demonstrate why the audition scene in the 2001 movie Save the Last Dance is an incredible holiday gift for a loved one. Naturally, Fineman had to recruit the film's original star, Julia Stiles, to truly nail it.
"Weekend Update: Chloe Fineman's Save the Last Dance Holiday Gift" with Julia Stiles
Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig: December 16
When Kate McKinnon returned to host SNL for the first time since her departure as a cast member, she brought a couple of friends along: Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph.
RELATED: SNL's Unhinged ABBA Christmas Sketch Reunites Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph
Kate McKinnon's Monologue featuring Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph
"Tampon Farm"
Greta Gerwig: December 16
Fun fact: You're probably aware of Kate McKinnon's role as Weird Barbie in the 2023 Barbie movie—but did you know that Barbie director Greta Gerwig and Kate McKinnon first became friends way back in college, when they met as suite-mates?
Fittingly, Gerwig joined McKinnon to help introduce December 16 musical guest Billie Eilish's performance of "What Was I Made For" from the film's soundtrack.
