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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.

By Samantha Vincenty Updated Oct 31, 2024, 11:00 AM ET

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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.

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Watch Saturday Night Live Saturdays at 11:30/10:30c on NBC and Peacock, streaming next day on Peacock.

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.

Every Host of SNL Season 50 for 2023-2024

September 28: Jean Smart

Jean Smart wears a blue sequin jacket on the red carpet at SXSW

Jean Smart attends the 'Hacks' season 3 premiere as part of the 2024 SXSW Conference and Festival at The Paramount Theatre on March 9, 2024. Photo: Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images

Musical Guest: Jelly Roll

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.

Textbook Writer

October 5: Nate Bargatze

Nate Bargatz visits SiriusXM at SiriusXM Studios on January 24, 2023 in New York City. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

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.

As such, perhaps it's no surprise that his return to SNL came just one year later, bringing a "Washington's Dream 2" sequel.

Washington's Dream 2

October 12: Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande during a promo shoot for the voice season 21

Ariana Grande for The Voice Season 21. Photo: Art Streiber/NBC

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.

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.

October 19: Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton smiles while wearing a leather blazer and grey shirt

Michael Keaton attends the 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' New York Photo Call on August 17, 2024. Photo: Santiago Felipe/WireImage

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).

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.

November 2: John Mulaney

John Mulaney smiles in a tan suite in Paris

John Mulaney poses on the red carpet as he arrives for 'The Prelude to the Olympics' at The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris on July 25, 2024. Photo: JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP/Getty Images)

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.

November 9: Bill Burr

Bill Burr smiles in a grey shirt and black cardigan.

Bill Burr appears at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on April 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage

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.

November 16: Charli XCX

Charli XCX attends the H&M&LONDON event at Copper Box Arena on September 12, 2024 in London, England. Photo: Neil Mockford/FilmMagic

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.

December 7: Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal wears a black suit with a white shirt at the premiere of Gladiator II

Paul Mescal attends the "Gladiator II" Royal Film Performance and Global Premiere at Leicester Square on November 13, 2024. Photo: Neil Mockford/WireImage

Musical Guest: Shaboozey

Irish actor Paul Mescal will host 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.

Originally published Sep 18, 2024.