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When Kenan Thompson joined Saturday Night Live in 2003, it was noted that he was the show’s first cast member to be born after the 1975 premiere (Thompson wasn’t born until ’78). These days, he’s known as the longest-tenured cast member in the show’s history, as he has been on there for 22 seasons – leaving the previous record, Darrell Hammond’s 14 season run (before he moved on to being the show’s announcer), in the dust. Now, Variety reports that, in addition to continuing to bring laughs to network television on a weekly basis, Thompson is also executive producing a campy horror comedy film called Halloween Store.

Director Shane Dax Taylor, whose previous credits include the Stephen Lang thriller Isolation, the Bella Thorne horror thriller Masquerade, the Dolph Lundgren action film The Best Man, and the Kelsey Grammer war movie Murder Company, is at the helm of Halloween Store, working...

After 50 seasons on NBC, only 167 people have joined the coveted cast of “Saturday Night Live” with a select few sticking around for 10 or more seasons.

The sketch series has kickstarted several cast members’ careers to a new heights, some so big you may have forgotten they started on the show: Billy Crystal, Robert Downey Jr., Ben Stiller, Laurie Metcalf and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, to name a few.

But several cast members’ careers are defined by the impact of the sketch show. Kenan Thompson has spent 22 seasons on the show, almost half of the series’ tenure.

Keep reading for a full breakdown of the longest running SNL cast members.

NBC Kenan Thompson

22 seasons (2003-Present)

Thompson is the longest running cast member on SNL with many of his fellow cast members joking that when he leaves the show will end. The comedian has played several iconic characters during his tenure on the show,...

It was a massively star-studded affair at the SNL50: The Anniversary Special on Sunday evening (February 16) held at Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Saturday Night Live celebrated it’s 50th anniversary with hundreds of stars who have appeared on the show over the years.

From music stars like Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter and Cher, to actors like Ayo Edebiri, Emma Stone and Anya Taylor-Joy.

Keep reading to find out more…

The late-night sketch show’s special featured many returning sketches, with past and present SNL cast members reprising their characters, and even several celebrities who have hosted reprising their characters!

We have gathered every celebrity, cast member and more’s looks from the red carpet and you can see over 200 below…

Abby Elliott

Adam & Jackie Sandler

Adria Arjona & Jason Momoa

Aidy Bryant

Alex & Hilaria Baldwin

Alex Moffat & Caroline Kingsley Moffat

Al Franken

Al Sharpton

Amelia Dimoldenberg...

As “Saturday Night Live” continues its celebration of 50 years on television, TheWrap is here to list the show’s most viral sketches that took the internet by storm.

From the hilarious viral sensation about gifting your girlfriend your privates to spot-on impersonations of some of the world’s most popular political figures, “Saturday Night Live” has never missed a beat when it comes to entertaining the masses, and that’s why it has remained a TV staple in American pop culture for 50 years.

Check out our list below of the sketch comedy show’s most viral skits.

“Lazy Sunday” (Season 31)

Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg rapped about what it’s like to do absolutely nothing on a Sunday in their “SNL” digital short “Lazy Sunday.” In the skit, the two jokesters express how excited they are to wake up in the late afternoon just to do lax activities like chowing...

NBC celebrated Saturday Night Live on Friday night with over three hours of music history on SNL50: The Homecoming Concert. The special hosted by Emmy winner Jimmy Fallon streamed live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City and is now available to stream on Peacock.

Musical acts included Arcade Fire, Backstreet Boys, Bad Bunny, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Cher, Chris Martin, Dave Grohl, David Byrne, Devo, Eddie Vedder, Jack White, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Lauryn Hill, Miley Cyrus, Mumford & Sons, Post Malone, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Robyn, Snoop Dogg, St. Vincent, the B-52s, the Roots, and Wyclef Jean. Surprise comedy musical performances included Bill Murray, Paul Shaffer, Andy Samberg, Chris Parnell, Will Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, and Tracy Morgan.

But that doesn’t end the festivities. Sunday night’s SNL50: The Anniversary Special will switch over from mostly music to almost...

Sean Connery never actually hosted NBC‘s long-running comedy sketch series Saturday Night Live, but the actor is inextricably linked to the show for one reason alone — Jeopardy! spoofs. Former SNL cast member Darrell Hammond appeared in character as Connery several times over the years in the Celebrity Jeopardy! sketches hosted by Will Ferrell‘s Alex Trebek. The spoof sees Hammond’s Connery mispronounce categories on purpose, make randy comments, and more from behind the contestant podium. Featuring a slew of other famous faces and different celebrity portrayals, the Celebrity Jeopardy! sketches could always rely on serial contestant Sean Connery to stir up some laughs. What better way to get ready for SNL‘s 50th anniversary special than to check out, rounded up below, some of the show’s most hilarious segments featuring the late night sketch comedy’s version of the Scottish acting icon? Celebrity Rock ‘N Roll Jeopardy...

The 50th anniversary of “SNL” is about to kick off.

Acclaimed Academy and Emmy award-winning documentarian Morgan Neville is honoring the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live” with docuseries “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night,” which he executive produces. The four-part series offers a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the beloved sketch series, with each episode taking a different perspective on how the show began.

More than 60 SNL alums are interviewed onscreen, including Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Stephen Colbert, Tracy Morgan, Bob Odenkirk, Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, John Mulaney, Larry David, Will Ferrell, Rachel Dratch, and Fred Armisen.

The first installment, “Five Minutes,” is about the audition process. Emmy Award winner Robert Alexander directs the first episode, which includes never-before-seen audition footage and firsthand accounts from alums as they reflect on their preparation and journey to the “SNL” stage.

The second episode,...

Wild and crazy guys, the van down by the river, and, of course, more cowbell – just some of the classic sketches shown in the new trailer released today for Peacock‘s four-part docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.

“Anybody can do comedy,” former cast member Tracy Morgan says at the start of the trailer before delivering the punchline – “But are you funny?”

The upcoming docuseries promises lots of funny moments from the history of Saturday Night Live. In the trailer, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Dana Carvey and Amy Poehler are among the famous faces speaking about the venerable NBC late-night series. Andy Samberg reveals he threw up after auditioning.

The docuseries, Peacock says, will offer a behind-the-scenes look “at some of the American late-night comedy institution’s most iconic elements and rich history.”

The docuseries, executive produced by Morgan Neville, includes four episodes, each taking “a different creative approach...

Peacock has released a first look at SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, a new documentary series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the American late-night comedy institution’s most iconic elements and rich history.

Executive produced by Academy and Emmy Award winner Morgan Neville, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night streams exclusively on Peacock beginning January 16.

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night is a four-part docuseries honoring the legacy of SNL, with over 60 contributors, including SNL alumni, and covering decades of SNL history. Spotlighting some of the show’s most iconic elements, each episode delves into the rich history of SNL and pulls back the curtain on the audition process, the writers’ room, the fan favorite “More Cowbell” sketch and the pivotal Season 11.

Each episode of the docuseries takes a different creative approach to the tapestry of Saturday Night Live and embraces the unique vision of their award-winning directors: Emmy Award winner Robert Alexander...

It’s officially cold and flu season right now — and while nobody will care if you call in sick to school, or your office job, or a high-ranking government position, what are late-night TV sketch comedians supposed to do? Can Saturday Night Live cast members take sick days, and just stay home with a warm cup of Nasaflu?

This question was recently posed to Ego Nwodim during an appearance on the podcast Films to Be Buried With with Brett Goldstein. Before settling into a conversation about movies, the Ted Lasso star posed some SNL questions to Nwodim, purely in order to satisfy his curiosity, including one about how sicknesses are handled. “One thing I’m genuinely curious about is the physical nature of it,” Goldsein asked. “The fact that you’re working nights (during) these insane hours. It’s relentless. How often is everyone ill?”

After noting that she takes...

Saturday Night Live and Jeopardy! share a unique relationship. The comedy show turned the game show into one of its signature sketches. Now, Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings has revealed who he'd like to play him if SNL reboots the sketch.

SNL's first "Celebrity Jeopardy" sketch came in 1996. Cast member Will Ferrell played host Alex Trebek, enduring a round with celebrity contestants like Sean Connery (Darrell Hammond), Burt Reynolds (Norm Macdonald), and more.

All told, there were 14 "Celebrity Jeopardy" sketches over the years, plus one during SNL's 40th anniversary special in 2015. However, SNL has not done one since Ferrell left the cast or since Trebek's passing.

Now, Ken Jennings runs the show at Jeopardy!. When asked who should play him in a Saturday Night Live sketch, Jennings had an unexpected answer: Kate McKinnon.

Of course, McKinnon hasn't been on SNL In a couple of years. But that didn't...

Ken Jennings has become one of the most famous faces on television thanks to Jeopardy! Carrying the torch of Alex Trebek has taken him to another level in terms of celebrity. So surely the time is right for Jennings to get the Saturday Night Live treatment. During the iconic NBC sketch show’s run Jeopardy! bits have given audiences some of the most memorable moments. Who could ever forget those “Celebrity Jeopardy!” segments that ran from the mid-1990s up to almost a decade ago? Will Ferrell stepped into the legendary shoes of Trebek. The comedic actor provided major Lol moments alongside Darrell Hammond as Sean Connery. Now Ken himself has revealed who he would like to portray him on SNL. And his choice will not only surprise most people, it’s pure genius. Sure, a fun way for the late-night sketch show to poke fun at Ken would be...

Saturday Night Live has served as a launching pad to TV superstardom (Tina Fey and Bill Hader), dominance at the box office and even #1 music albums (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi). But not every SNL star goes on to greater showbiz heights.

Here are five comedians who killed on the show only to find they just weren’t as good at anything else. In fairness, as insults go, “You were better at Saturday Night Live than anything else,” isn’t the worst that one could hear.

[subtitle]1Joe Piscopo [/subtitle]

Joe Piscopo might have been the first comedian to get huge on Saturday Night Live who couldn’t transfer that success beyond the show. After the original cast left, Piscopo became the show’s first new star, cranking out uncanny versions of David Letterman, Jerry Lewis and his idol Frank Sinatra. His original characters, unfortunately, had the bad habit of being more...

Saturday Night Live, née NBC’s Saturday Night, has broken so much new ground in late-night television that in many ways, it’s shaped the industry in its own image. But who were the firsts among the firsts?

14 The First Cast Member

Big names like Chevy Chase, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd have gotten more press over the years, but Gilda Radner was the first person Lorne Michaels added to the roster. She tragically passed away in 1989.

13 The Most ‘Live From New York’s

Chevy Chase got there first, announcing the calling card after the first sketch ever aired. But Darrell Hammond would say the famous phrase the most often throughout his career, clocking in at 70 times.

12 The First Host

The structure of the show was a lot different in the beginning, but Michaels was already set on a rotating menu of hosts. The first to do it was George Carlin...

Since its beginning in 1975, Saturday Night Live has excelled at political impressions. They've been around for every Presidential election for decades, not to mention scores of political figures who have come and gone. Sometimes, you get an actor doing an okay impression, but other times, SNL crafts an impression so huge that it becomes a national sensation.

The best impressions are so famous that they can overwhelm the actual political figure being lampooned. Often, these politicians will pop up on SNL to confront their imposter and give them a stamp of approval. Not all of them are top-notch (their various takes on Donald Trump have been tricky), but these rank as the best SNL political impersonations over the last 50 years, and how you can always count on the show to nail some hilarious takes on famous political figures past and present.

Honorable mentions: Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter, Jon Lovitz as Mike Dukakis,...

Would you believe there’s someone who has appeared on more seasons of Saturday Night Live than Kenan Thompson? Thompson has been part of the cast for 22 seasons now, a record that no one else is even in shouting distance of. (Darrell Hammond is second with 14 seasons — Thompson has 50 percent more years under his belt.)

And yet, there’s a non-cast member who blows Thompson away, appearing on 29 of the show’s 50 seasons — including the current one. Starting with Season 15 (the 1989-1990 year), this performer has appeared in all but seven SNL seasons.

The answer? Lorne Michaels’ good pal, Alec Baldwin.

On the one hand, that fact isn’t so surprising. After all, Baldwin has topped Steve Martin as the comic actor who’s hosted the show the most times. But those 17 headlining gigs only get Baldwin a little more than halfway there. Baldwin has popped in without being on the bill during 12 other seasons,...

Given that Bill Clinton spent two terms as president in the 1990s, it was almost impossible for him not to be an SNL staple throughout the decade. In fact, Clinton provided so much material for the show over those years that he was played by two different cast members: Darrell Hammond and, of course, the late Phil Hartman. That said, of all the SNL sketches lampooning Clinton over that nearly 10-year period, one is continually cited above all the rest — his impromptu stop at a local McDonald’s as president-elect.

Once inside, he glad-hands with patrons while eating off their plates and explaining detailed policy measures. While most of the dialogue relates to issues very much from 1992, it’s still remarkably funny, mostly because of the spectacle of Clinton (portrayed here by Hartman) obnoxiously eating as he says all these wonky things.

The sketch was the brainchild of SNL stalwart Al Franken...

The 50th anniversary season of “Saturday Night Live” premieres on NBC on September 28, 2024. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, your favorite late night sketch series is now 50 years old. It likes to kick, stretch and kick!

The regular cast members for “SNL” Season 50 are Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Michael Longfellow, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, Devon Walker and Bowen Yang. The featured players are Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline. Over the summer, Punkie Johnson, Molly Kearney and Chloe Troast all departed the program.

For this 2024 Presidential Election cycle, former cast member Maya Rudolph returns to portray Vice President Kamala Harris, while former President Donald Trump is once again played by James Austin Johnson. In addition, the Please Don’t Destroy writers/actors returned with pre-taped comedy videos.

Scroll through our gallery below to see...

When it comes to people named “The Iceman,” there’s Val Kilmer’s character in Top Gun, a founding mutant of the X-Men and a rather prolific hitman for the mafia. There’s another famous Iceman, however, and he didn’t have to fly an F-14, battle Magneto or whack anyone to earn the moniker.

SNL alum Chris Parnell had a reputation for never, ever breaking during a sketch. Even when everyone else was giggling themselves into oblivion around him, he wouldn’t crack. But while that commitment has been associated with the nickname, as Parnell explains below, he actually earned it far earlier than you’d think.

How did you get “The Iceman” nickname?

Colin Quinn gave it to me. It was based on my first sketch in my first show, which was a cold open. Cameron Diaz was the host, and The Smashing Pumpkins were the musical guest.

If you asked Norm Macdonald, as CTV Question Period did in 2018, an old castmate did a much better Donald Trump impression than stunt-cast star Alec Baldwin. In fact, Macdonald didn’t find Baldwin’s version funny at all.

“When I was there, Darrell Hammond did Donald Trump. And that shows how far back Trump goes because that was 20 years ago,” Macdonald said. “Darrell did it then — it was a softer Trump, you know. I think it was a lot closer to his real self.”

Here’s the problem, according to Macdonald. “If you do an impression of someone, you have to like that person because you’re playing the person and people like themselves,” he theorized. “So you can’t play someone and have contempt for them at the same time. It doesn’t work as an impression.”

Macdonald clarified that his take was about comedy, not politics. “I have no political affiliation,...

While playing presidents and high-profile candidates on Saturday Night Live was once exclusively the domain of SNL cast members, in recent years, zeitgeist-y political roles have tended to go to a revolving door of A-list celebrities, including Alec Baldwin, Jim Carrey and Robert De Niro. This trend has gone on for so long that it’s become the expected norm that newsworthy politicians will be played by celebrity ringers, as opposed to in-house talent.

But Lorne Michaels’ strategy has led to some hurt feelings. Darrell Hammond technically wasn’t a part of the cast when Donald Trump entered the political arena, but he was still kicking around Studio 8H in his capacity as announcer, and was tapped to reprise the role of Trump, who he’d already impersonated in previous seasons.

But when Hammond was swapped out for Alec Baldwin during Trump’s presidency, the comedian was reportedly crushed and...

Exclusive: No joke, here’s the deal, and let me be clear: Dana Carvey, fresh off his latest hilarious sendup of a doddering President Biden, will appear in the upcoming documentary Playing Potus, from director Josh Greenbaum.

The film currently in production from EverWonder Studio in partnership with Delirio Films and Green Bomb Productions will include new interviews with Carvey, whose impressions have ranged from Joe Biden to George H.W. Bush, Ross Perot, and Bill Clinton; Maya Rudolph, currently rocking it as Kamala Harris on SNL; Alec Baldwin (Pres. Trump); Will Ferrell (Pres. George W. Bush – remember “Strategery”?), Keegan-Michael Key (Pres. Obama and his alter ego “Luther”); Jay Pharoah (also Pres. Obama); Darrell Hammond; Chevy Chase (a supremely klutzy Gerald Ford), and more.

“The film will tackle the uniquely American tradition of presidential parody, a bold art form that has transformed our...

“Saturday Night Live” premiered October 11, 1975 on NBC with a group of fresh-faced cast members known as the “Not Ready For Prime-Time Players.” None of those original stars lasted for more than five seasons, but they all made their mark on the late night sketch series that is still going strong five decades later.

Over the past 50 seasons (and counting), who are “SNL’s” longest-running cast members ever? Kenan Thompson currently holds the record at a whopping 22 seasons. His closest competition is Darrell Hammond, who starred for 14 seasons before leaving and then returning as the show’s announcer. Scroll through our “Saturday Night Live” photo gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see more long-time cast members.

See‘SNL’ 5-Timers Club: Who has hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ at least five times?

Kenan Thompson

22 seasons (2003-Present)

Popular characters: Diondre Cole, Steve Harvey, Darnell Hayes, Bill Cosby, Diner Lobster, Lorenzo McIntosh...

“Saturday Night Live” premiered October 11, 1975 on NBC with a group of fresh-faced cast members known as the “Not Ready For Prime-Time Players.” None of those original stars lasted for more than five seasons, but they all made their mark on the late night sketch series that is still going strong five decades later.

Over the past 50 seasons (and counting), who are “SNL’s” longest-running cast members ever? Kenan Thompson currently holds the record at a whopping 22 seasons. His closest competition is Darrell Hammond, who starred for 14 seasons before leaving and then returning as the show’s announcer. Scroll through our “Saturday Night Live” photo gallery below to see more long-time cast members. Originally published January 2023.

The 50th anniversary season of “Saturday Night Live” premieres on NBC on September 28, 2024. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, your favorite late night sketch series is now 50 years old. It likes to kick, stretch and kick!

The regular cast members for “SNL” Season 50 are Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Michael Longfellow, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, Devon Walker and Bowen Yang. The featured players are Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline (their photos are coming soon). Over the summer, Punkie Johnson, Molly Kearney and Chloe Troast all departed the program.

See ‘SNL’ 5-Timers Club: Who has hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ at least five times?

For this 2024 Presidential Election cycle, former cast member Maya Rudolph will reportedly return to portray Vice President Kamala Harris, while former President Donald Trump is once again played by James Austin Johnson.

Kenan Thompson makes history every time he steps onto the Saturday Night Live stage. The veteran comedian holds the record for longest-tenured cast member in series history, and it's not even close at this point.

Thompson absolutely clears previous SNL record holders like Darrell Hammond and Seth Meyers. Hammond stayed on the series for an impressive 14 seasons, and Meyers turned in an impressive 13 seasons, but Thompson has left them all in the dust with a staggering 21 consecutive seasons.

Kenan Thompson has been on SNL since 2003 Saturday Night Live -- "Regé-Jean Page" Episode 1798 -- Pictured: (l-r) Host Regé-Jean Page as Kingsley Ben-Adir, Chris Redd as Daniel Kaluuya, and Kenan Thompson as Ice Cub during the "Actors Spotlight" sketch on Saturday, February 20, 2021 -- (Photo by: Will Heath/NBC)

The 50th season of Saturday Night Live will mark Thompson's 22nd season, which is a record that will likely never been broken. He has...

As Saturday Night Live readies its 50th season, which launches Sept. 28, 60 Minutes is releasing never-heard-before audio from a 20-year-old interview with its famously private maestro Lorne Michaels and his talent from the period.

Running as part of the news magazine’s newly launched podcast series, 60 Minutes: A Second Look, the episode weaves together interviews that Lesley Stahl conducted in 2004, when the show was granted full access to a week at SNL — one that happened to coincide with the Ashlee Simpson lip-syncing fiasco — but only aired some three minutes of the interviews. Left on the cutting room floor was material from Michaels, who recently spoke to THR at length for a cover story, as well as former SNL writer Conan O’Brien and then cast members likes Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Darrell Hammond.

The episode, which is titled “From Saturday Night Live to Sunday with 60 Minutes,” centers largely...

Saturday Night Live has been satirizing Donald Trump consistently for a decade. There have been lots of comedians who have played the ex-President, most notably Darrell Hammond and Alec Baldwin. It has become a staple of the show, but SNL boss Lorne Michaels promises not to rest on laurels.

Michaels opened up about the show's election coverage ahead of its 50th season, and he teased a complete "reinvention" of the Trump character. His reasoning? Things have changed. The depiction of Trump in different seasons has been dependent on how the former President is perceived. The same will be true for the upcoming season, or so he told The Hollywood Reporter.

Lorne Michaels has tweaked the show's version of Trump VIP Guests At Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 4 | Jean Catuffe/GettyImages

The SNL boss praised cast member James Austin Johnson for his performance as Trump in season 49, but noted that the...

During a recent interview, comedian Will Ferrell revealed he no longer plans to perform in drag. In particular, he revealed he regrets performing a Saturday Night Live sketch where he portrayed attorney general Janet Reno in drag. Joining Ferrell was SNL writer and his Will & Harper co-star Harper Steele, who also shared her views on the subject.

Ferrell Portrayed Reno In A Few Sketches

As noted on Variety, Ferrell talked about dressing like Janet Reno while on The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast.

Will Ferrell – YouTube

In one SNL sketch, known as “Janet Reno’s Fantasies,” Ferrell poses as Reno in her bedroom while wearing a pink jacket and nightgown. Lying in bed, “Janet” talks to her stuffed lion, “Simba,” and shares her fantasies about kissing and marrying President Bill Clinton. John James Conyers Jr., played by Tim Meadows, calls her on the phone to gossip, only for...

Warning: This article contains descriptions of self-harm.

Saturday Night Live has undoubtedly aired a number of sketches that verged on tastelessness, up to and including the time Oscar-winner Tom Hanks laid down a groovy track about how he doesn’t want anyone to mutilate his junk. Or the sketch in which Prince Charles gets transmogrified into a tampon. And the less said about “Canteen Boy” the better.

Far surpassing those sketches in terms of questionable taste, SNL arguably crossed a big line back in 1997 during an episode hosted by Rob Lowe, with musical guests The Spice Girls.

Normally, an episode featuring the villain from Wayne’s World and the girl group who gave us “Wannabe” would be a decidedly lighthearted affair. But right from the jump, the show decided to wade into controversial waters, with a cold open focused on the Heaven’s Gate death cult.

Just two weeks before the episode aired,...

Legendary daytime talk show host Phil Donahue passed away last night at the age of 88 after a long illness. Donahue practically invented many conventions that are now talk-show staples, such as walking into the audience and interacting with its members. As his show took off in the 1970s, he also tackled issues that no other talk show dared touch. “If there had been no Phil Donahue Show, there would be no Oprah Winfrey show,” Winfrey said in 2002. “He was the first to acknowledge that women are interested in more than mascara tips and cake recipes — that we’re intelligent, we’re concerned about the world around us and we want the best possible lives for ourselves.”

Donahue’s signature cadence, dramatic mannerisms and audience interactions not only made for engaging TV but a go-to impression for three generations of Saturday Night Live cast members.

Joe Piscopo’s version in 1982 was...

Every time America faces an election for President of the United States, all eyes turn to "Saturday Night Live." The late night sketch comedy show's timely, political humor that often opens each new episode has been rather stale over the past decade or so, largely thanks to the inherently laughable clown show that was the Donald Trump presidency being more outrageous than any parody could be. By comparison, the lack of easy targets during Joe Biden's presidency, other than the man's age, haven't done "SNL" any favors either. And yet the show persists in tackling timely political satire inspired by the week's headlines.

Indeed, the shortcomings of "SNL" haven't kept the show from preparing for the upcoming political brawl, with Maya Rudolph being brought back to play Vice President Kamala Harris alongside James Austin Johnson's pitch perfect Trump impression. However, we're still wondering who will be playing the...

It's happening: Maya Rudolph, erstwhile queen of late night comedy, is returning to "Saturday Night Live" to play none other than Vice President (and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee) Kamala Harris. The news comes via The Hollywood Reporter, which notes that Rudolph has been temporarily freed up as production on her Apple TV+ comedy series "Loot," scheduled for August, has been delayed.

This isn't actually the first time the comedic actor, who was on the show's main cast from 2000 to 2007, has embodied the highly meme-able politician. Rudolph most recently hosted the show in March 2021, but also played Harris in seven other appearances starting in season 45. Of course, if Harris gets elected as President in November, "Saturday Night Live" will have to either hire Rudolph for more regular appearances or opt to have a current cast member take over the role. If the latter happens, it won't be the first time. Everyone...

Jeopardy! has been in the news lately for several problems, including inconsistent judging on the pronunciation of words. There has also been some problems with poorly worded questions almost meant to trip players up. However, the most recent talk surrounds a strangely worded category that has fans laughing.

Here is what made the category so funny and what fans had to say about it.

Jeopardy! Called Out For “Inappropriate” Category Name

On a recent edition of Jeopardy!, fans pointed out a category title that surely had players giving second thoughts before calling out the name of the category with a money total. This came on Tuesday when Drew Basile defended his run against Nevada native Alan Elverum, and Chicago school teacher Staci Garner.

Ken Jennings gives Adrianna Harmeyer a hard time. – Jeopardy!

The players were playing the game and the final Double Jeopardy category was just one word — “Come.” Of course,...

Say this for Saturday Night Live — if performers don’t have the goods, they don’t stick around for long. A number of talented comics didn’t get asked back for even a second season, including future stars Sarah Silverman, Jenny Slate and Ben Stiller. But just because comics are good enough to earn multiple seasons doesn’t mean they can’t overstay their welcome. Here are four SNL performers who milked the show for all it was worth…

1 Kenan Thompson

Hear me out. Clearly, Thompson is an SNL Hall-of-Famer, logging more episodes and more sketches than anyone else in the show’s history. Bravo! But at this point, what does Thompson have left to prove?

Play

Thompson rarely develops recurring characters like Diondre Cole these days. Instead, he supports other cast members with the greatest comic reactions in the history of Studio 8H. A steady hand is always welcome,...

Everywhere Cora (Megan Stalter) goes, she finds herself in situations that beg others to ask one simple yet pointed question: “What is wrong with you?” Cora may brush off such flippant passive-aggressive digs at her wellbeing and overall sense of composure, but it’s soon clear that Hannah Pearl Utt’s wry comedy “Cora Bora” will forcefully (and hilariously) get this aspiring musician to reckon with the life she’s trying to build for herself in Los Angeles, away from her family, her girlfriend and a past she’ll soon no longer be able to run away from.

Life in L.A. doesn’t seem to be going well for Cora. In between daytime gigs at mostly empty coffee shops and late night gigs at even emptier bars, her solo career looks to be floundering. With titles like “Dreams Are Stupid” and “Don’t Wanna Hear You Anymore,” her embittered...

The chants and shouts of pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted the entry to the Washington Hilton for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, but once inside, attendees were greeted with what has become the usual scene: Celebrities on the red carpet, a crush for the security line and glitterati packed into a cavernous ballroom.

“I want to thank my wife for enduring lots of jokes and for agreeing to individually meet everyone in this room right after the ceremony,” the evening’s featured entertainer, Colin Jost, quipped about Scarlett Johansson, who posed for photos with a non-stop stream of attendees. She continued to do so later in the evening, at the Comcast-nbcu after party at the French ambassador’s residence.

Joe Biden laughs at Colin Jost as he entertains at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

The protests outside — now ubiquitous at any public event, much less one that mixes politics,...

"You are the one that left." "For my career." "I don't buy that." Brainstorm Media has revealed the trailer for an indie comedy titled Cora Bora, the latest from indie filmmaker Hannah Pearl Utt. This premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival and it also played at the Provincetown, Frameline, Outfest LA, and Stockholm Film Festivals last year. Now set for a release in June in limited theaters. Cora Bora stars Hack's standout talent Meg Stalter as Cora. After a floundering music career, she goes back home to win her girlfriend back but will realize that it's much more than her love life that needs salvaging. The ensemble cast includes Jojo T. Gibbs, Manny Jacinto, Ayden Mayeri, Thomas Mann, Chrissie Fit, Andre Hyland, Margaret Cho, with Chelsea Peretti and Darrell Hammond. This looks light and screwy and funny. Might be fun. // Continue Reading ›...

Megan Stalter Screenshot: YouTube Anyone who’s watched a few episodes of HBO’s excellent, very funny Hacks has already been exposed to the comedic wrecking ball style of Megan Stalter, who manages to steal pretty much every scene she shows up in as devotedly incompetent agents’ assistant/boss’ daughter Kayla.

Megan StalterScreenshot: YouTube

Anyone who’s watched a few episodes of HBO’s excellent, very funny Hacks has already been exposed to the comedic wrecking ball style of Megan Stalter, who manages to steal pretty much every scene she shows up in as devotedly incompetent agents’ assistant/boss’ daughter Kayla.

Meg Stalter is taking the lead in her latest feature “Cora Bora.”

The comedy, which premiered at the 2023 SXSW Festival, stars the “Hacks” breakout actress as the titular musician who goes home to win back her girlfriend only to realize it’s much more than her love life that needs salvaging.

Hannah Pearl Utt directs the comedy from a script by Rhianon Jones. The cast includes Jojo T. Gibbs, Manny Jacinto, Ayden Mayeri, Thomas Mann, Chrissie Fit, Andre Hyland, Margaret Cho, Chelsea Peretti, and Darrell Hammond. The film features original music and a score composed by indie artist Miya Folick.

“I’m thrilled for audiences to get to see Meg in a leading role and to fall for her character the way I have,” director Utt said in a press statement.

The IndieWire review called Stalter a “whirlwind and a universe unto herself” who boasts “her unique brand of uncomfortably confident loser” onscreen.

Lorne Michaels is an expert at celebrating the legacy of “Saturday Night Live.” The show’s creator has produced variety specials for the NBC program’s 15th anniversary, 25th anniversary and 40th anniversary, so the upcoming 50th season should have a highly entertaining spectacle. Nothing less than a three-hour event would be expected, but how else should “SNL” celebrate the golden anniversary season, which would begin in the autumn of 2024 and continue through May, 2025?

Here is our exciting, fun suggestion for a way to go above and beyond for the live special. Over the course of a 20-22 episode season, NBC would certainly have almost every episode featuring the current cast along with hot guest hosts and musical guests. However, for the other five episodes spread out over several months, devote an entire 90 minutes to each previous decade. Invite back the biggest cast members from a decade along with well-known guest hosts and music stars.

For decades, the Menendez brothers’ case has captivated Americans. In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. The brothers are now serving life sentences. Over the years, new details, evidence, and theories have circulated, keeping the case in the headlines. Now, Fox’s streaming service, Fox Nation, tells another side to this wild story. A new four-part docuseries, “Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains,” begins streaming exclusively on Fox Nation on Monday, March 25. You can watch with a 60-Day Free Trial of Fox Nation.

How to Watch 'Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains' When: Monday, March 25, 2024 Where: Fox Nation Stream: Watch with a 60-Day Free Trial of Fox Nation. 60-Day Free Trial$5.99+ / month fox nation via directv stream About 'Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains'

“Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains” raises questions about whether Lyle and Erik killed their parents as an act of self-defense. The men’s lawyers...

DC Comics and KFC's collaboration brought Colonel Sanders into the DC Universe with humor and style. The promotional comics blended DC and KFC lore seamlessly, raising the bar for other brand tie-ins. The unique partnership produced well-crafted stories that respected both brands and delighted readers.

Who would have thought that a joint venture between DC Comics and Kentucky Fried Chicken would result in one of the most creative promotional comics ever created? It wasn't too long ago that KFC struck a deal with the publisher that resulted in three stories that brought the one and only Colonel Sanders to the DC Universe.

But these comics weren't just by-the-numbers one-offs that soullessly sang KFC's praises. Rather, they were three well-crafted (and frankly hilarious) stories that seamlessly blended the legacy of Harland Sanders with some fantastic deep cuts into DC lore that seriously raised the bar when it came to promotional tie-ins with other businesses.

If you didn't know Quentin Tarantino hosted "Saturday Night Live" in the 1990s, and had to guess when he took the Studio 8H stage, your best options would be early 1995 (when the zeitgeisty "Pulp Fiction" was speeding toward an Academy Awards showdown with "Forrest Gump"), early 1996 (to promote "From Dusk till Dawn") or late 1997/early 1998 (in support of "Jackie Brown"). None of these would be correct.

No, the brash indie filmmaking sensation guested on November 11, 1995, with nothing to promote but himself. This might seem peculiar now, but it made perfect sense at the time because, after the Oscars, Tarantino was hitting the talk show circuit harder than Don Rickles. Could you blame him? He'd skyrocketed from know-it-all video store clerk to generational filmmaking genius. The problem here was that Tarantino knew he was a genius before critics and fans started telling him so. As a result, he felt free to...

This oughta make his son C.J. Rossitano proud: Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost has been tapped to serve as the featured entertainer at the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

The Whca’s annual shindig, which is broadcast by C-span, is set for Saturday, April 27 — so, assume SNL will be in rerun mode that evening.

More from TVLineS.W.A.T. Moves Two Vets to Recurring in Final Season, EP Promises a 'Proper Curtain Call' for Each (Exclusive)TVLine Items: The Chi Return Date, We're Here Season 4 Premiere and MoreThe Regime: HBO Releases Official Trailer For Kate Winslet Limited...

What is ‘Poor Things’? Emma Stone has been applying to be a contestant on Jeopardy! for years and has yet to make the cut. Sure, Ken Jennings would likely welcome her on Celebrity Jeopardy! with open arms, and she could likely pillory the guy from Wings or the other guy who was on The Mindy Project with her intellect, but she told Variety on Wednesday that she wants to compete on the real deal.

“That’s my favorite show,” she said. “That’s my dream. You know, I apply every June.

The 49th season of “Saturday Night Live” premiered on October 14, 2023, just a couple of weeks later than usual due to the writers’ strike and actors’ strike. In a move of solidarity, none of the cast members from last year’s truncated 48th cycle departed. The one addition to this year’s cast is Chloe Troast, a comedian, writer and actress who has worked with “SNL” writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins and Ben Marshall of the comedy group “Please Don’t Destroy.”

Scroll through our photo gallery below to see the full “Saturday Night Live” Season 49 cast for “SNL” 2023-24. Brand new episodes of NBC’s late night sketch comedy series will air live coast-to-coast this season on Saturday evenings at 11:30 Et/ 10:30 Ct/ 9:30 Mt/ 8:30 Pt. Darrell Hammond returns again as the show’s announcer, while Lorne Michaels still serves as the showrunner and executive producer.

After "Saturday Night Live" ended season 48 a little prematurely back in the spring due to the Hollywood strikes beginning, the late night sketch comedy show returned for season 49 this weekend. Despite the fact that the Screen Actors Guild is still on strike while negotiating for a new deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), SAG-AFTRA gave its full support for the cast of "SNL" to return to work, which meant former cast member Pete Davidson finally got to make his hosting debut. 

While it might seem like a quick turnaround for Davidson to return as host so soon after leaving at the end of season 47, plenty of other more recent cast members have come back to the show as host just as quickly, such as Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg, and Bill Hader. However, since Davidson wasn't exactly known for many recurring characters or impressions, it didn't...

The 49th season of “Saturday Night Live” will premiere on October 14, 2023, just a couple of weeks later than usual due to the writers’ strike and actors’ strike. In a move of solidarity, none of the cast members from last year’s truncated 48th cycle have departed. The one addition to this year’s cast is Chloe Troast, a comedian, writer and actress who has worked with “SNL” writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins and Ben Marshall of the comedy group “Please Don’t Destroy.” (NBC is expected release Troast’s photo and bio in the coming days.)

Scroll through our photo gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see the full “Saturday Night Live” Season 49 cast for “SNL” 2023-24. Brand new episodes of NBC’s late night sketch comedy series will air live coast-to-coast this season on Saturday evenings at 11:30 Et/ 10:30 Ct/ 9:30 Mt/ 8:30 Pt. Darrell Hammond...