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Every Host of SNL Season 50
Hacks star Jean Smart hosted the September 28 premiere, and many beloved past Hosts are returning for the show's 50th season.
Saturday Night Live returned for Season 50 on September 28, 2024, kicking off a momentous time for the long-running sketch show: It's both the beginning of a fresh season and a celebration of 50 years on NBC, which will culminate in a three-hour primetime special in February. The show welcomed three new Featured Players to its cast: Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline. It also brings an array of familiar faces back to 30 Rock's Studio 8H to host this season.
But the premiere welcomed a comedy veteran in an exciting SNL hosting debut: Emmy-winning Hacks star Jean Smart.
Season 50's Hosts include a well-received Season 49 Host and a Season 49 Musical Guest who's pulled double duty in the past, and a beloved Five-Timers Club member who started out as an SNL writer.
Learn more about everyone who's hosting SNL Season 50 below — and learn more about the season's Musical Guests here.
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Every Host of SNL Season 50 for 2023-2024
September 28: Jean Smart
Musical Guest: Jelly Roll
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Jean Smart is an actress who first rose to fame as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the 1980s sitcom Designing Women, and recently won her sixth Emmy for her role as Deborah Vance on the series Hacks (another SNL connection: Hannah Einbinder, her co-star, is the daughter of original Saturday Night Live cast member Laraine Newman).
A comedic and dramatic actress, Smart's many TV credits include starring roles in Fargo Season 2, the Watchmen series, Legion, and Mare of Easttown.
It was Smart's first time hosting SNL. "SO EXCITED!!! Bucket list!" Smart captioned in her Instagram post about the announcement.
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October 5: Nate Bargatze
Musical Guest: Coldplay
Nate Bargate's Season 49 SNL debut was wildly successful, featuring viral sketches like "Lake Beach" and "Washington's Dream. When the veteran stand-up comic's episode first aired, it was the most-watched night of the season to date with 4.8 million viewers, as well as the most-watched episode since Steve Martin and Martin Short's in December 2022.
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As such, perhaps it's no surprise that his return to SNL came just one year later, bringing a "Washington's Dream 2" sequel.
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October 12: Ariana Grande
Musical Guest: Stevie Nicks
Singer and actress Ariana Grande made her hosting debut on March 12, 2016, when she was both Host and Musical Guest, following a turn as Musical Guest in 2014. She showcased her range of dazzling musical impressions in the episode, from Celine Dion to Shakira to Whitney Houston.
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Grande was the Musical Guest for Josh Brolin's Season 49 SNL episode, where she acted in two sketches ahead of starring in Wicked on November 22 alongside cast member Bowen Yang.
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October 19: Michael Keaton
Musical Guest: Billie Eilish
Michael Keaton most recently starred in Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, the sequel to the iconic 1988 Tim Burton film in which he also played the titular role. Keaton also collaborated with Burton when he played the Caped Crusader in 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns, and earned his Academy Award nom in 2014 for playing a superhero actor in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).
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The Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actor will be hosting SNL for his fourth time. He first hosted a Halloween episode way back on October 30, 1982, and subsequently hosted on November 14, 1992, and April 4, 2015.
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November 2: John Mulaney
Musical Guest: Chappell Roan
Stand-up comedian, writer, and actor John Mulaney was a Saturday Night Live writer from 2008-2013, counting Bill Hader's Stefon "Weekend Update" appearances among his best-known work on the show.
Mulaney has hosted Saturday Night Live five times; first on April 14, 2018, and most recently on February 26, 2022. He's also returned for many cameos over the years.
In addition to popular stand-up specials including John Mulaney: Baby J, Kid Gorgeous, and The Comeback Kid, Mulaney has acted in shows like The Bear, Bupkis, and Difficult People, as well as voicing characters in projects like Big Mouth, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (co-starring SNL alum Andy Samberg), and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
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November 9: Bill Burr
Musical Guest: Mk.gee
Bill Burr is a Grammy-nominated stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster. He's currently on tour with his Bill Burr Live show.
It is Burr's second time hosting SNL, after his debut on October 10, 2020 with Musical Guest Jack White.
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November 16: Charli XCX
Brat phenomenon Charli XCX pulled double duty on November 16, marking her first hosting stint and third turn as Musical Guest.
The "Von Dutch" singer and songwriter has two Grammy nominations and has released six studio albums, followed by October 2024's remix album, Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat. She recently wrapped her Sweat tour with Troye Sivan.
Charli has previously appeared in two pretaped SNL sketches, "The Christmas Socks" with Paul Rudd and "Meatballs" with Oscar Isaac.
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December 7: Paul Mescal
Musical Guest: Shaboozey
Irish actor Paul Mescal hosted the December 7 episode in his SNL debut. Mescal was nominated for an Emmy for his role in the 2020 miniseries Normal People, and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role after starring in the 2022 film Aftersun.
In 2024, Mescal stars as Lucius in Gladiator II, a sequel to the 2000 movie.
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December 14: Chris Rock
Musical Guest: Gracie Abrams
Chris Rock was an SNL cast member from 1990 to 1993. He previously hosted in November 1996, November 2014, and October 2020.
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December 21: Martin Short
Musical Guest: Hozier
Short was an SNL cast member for one season — from 1984 to 1985. He first returned in 1986 to co-host with Chevy Chase and Steve Martin.
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Short hosted again, this time solo, in December 1996 and December 2012. He returned in December 2022 to co-host with his Only Murders in the Building co-star and friend, Steve Martin. That technically makes this his fifth time hosting — but will it make him an official Five Timer? Short put in a hilarious cameo during Justin Timberlake's induction ceremony, as well as Kristen Wiig's in Season 49.
Originally published Sep 18, 2024.
