Saturday Night Live season 48 explained

Season Number:48
Bgcolour:
  1. 143B40
Num Episodes:18
Network:NBC
Prev Season:Season 47
Next Season:Season 49
Episode List:List of Saturday Night Live episodes

The forty-eighth season of the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live premiered on October 1, 2022, during the 2022–23 television season with host Miles Teller and musical guest Kendrick Lamar,[1] [2] and concluded on April 15, 2023, with host Ana de Armas and musical guest Karol G. The season was originally scheduled to air 21 episodes and conclude on May 20, 2023.[3] However, due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, the last three planned episodes were cancelled.[4]

Cast

Eight cast members from season 47 left the show prior to the beginning of this season, making it the biggest cast exodus since 1995. The departures of longtime cast members Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, and Kyle Mooney were announced at the time of the season 47 finale, and in September 2022, several weeks prior to the start of this season, the departures of Alex Moffat, Chris Redd, Melissa Villaseñor, and featured player Aristotle Athari were announced.[5] [6] [7] In response to all these changes, executive producer Lorne Michaels called this season a "transition year".

Returning cast member Cecily Strong took a temporary leave of absence early in the season due to her commitments to perform in the Los Angeles revival of the one-woman stage play The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, returning to SNL for the October 29, 2022, episode.[8] Strong then departed several weeks later on December 17 after being on the show for eleven seasons since 2012, making her the longest-tenured female cast member in the show's history.[9]

On September 12, 2022, Michaels announced that four new cast members would be joining the show:[10] stand-up comedians Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney (the show's first non-binary cast member[11]), Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker.

Andrew Dismukes and Punkie Johnson, who were both hired as featured players for season 46, were promoted to repertory status this season, while James Austin Johnson and Sarah Sherman, both of whom were hired for season 47, remained as featured players.

This season saw the death of longtime production designer Eugene Lee, who died on February 6, 2023, and had worked on the show since the show's premiere on October 11, 1975,[12] with the exception of seasons 610 (1980–1985).[13]

Cast roster

Repertory players

Featured players

bold denotes "Weekend Update" anchor

Writers

Before this season started, Colin Jost and Michael Che (who had been head writers since 2017), resigned from their positions, but still continued to write for this season. Also, Jimmy Fowlie, Ceara O'Sullivan, Auguste White, and KC Shornima were all hired as new writers (with Shornima specifically writing for Weekend Update).[14] Asha Ward joined the writing staff starting with the December 3, 2022 episode.[15]

As of the February 4, 2023 episode, regular writers Gary Richardson (who returned to the show this season after a one-year hiatus from season 47), Will Stephen, and Celeste Yim were promoted to writing supervisors.[16]

Episodes

See main article: List of Saturday Night Live episodes.

Episodes canceled due to writers strike

The following episodes were publicly announced, but cancelled due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. Pete Davidson hosted the Season 49 premiere, while Culkin and Coolidge have not hosted any episodes since these planned originals were canceled.

Scheduled airdateBooked hostBooked musical guestRef.
May 6, 2023Pete DavidsonLil Uzi Vert[17]
May 13, 2023Kieran CulkinLabrinth[18]
May 20, 2023Jennifer CoolidgeFoo Fighters

Notes and References

  1. Web site: White . Peter . 2022-09-12 . 'Saturday Night Live' Sets Season 48 Premiere . 2023-02-06 . . en-US.
  2. Web site: Schwartz . Ryan . 2022-09-20 . SNL: Miles Teller to Host Premiere; Brendan Gleeson, Megan Thee Stallion Also Tapped for Season 48 . 2023-02-06 . . en-US.
  3. Web site: Listings – May 20, 2023. The Futon Critic. saturday night live: original tba (#4821) [48th season finale]. February 9, 2023.
  4. Web site: 'SNL' Set Kieran Culkin and Jennifer Coolidge to Host Before WGA Strike Shut Down the Show Indefinitely. Clayton Davis. Variety. May 4, 2023. May 4, 2023.
  5. Web site: White . Peter . Andreeva . Nellie . 2022-05-20 . 'SNL': Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant & Kyle Mooney To Exit Alongside Pete Davidson As Major Cast Shake-Up Set For Season Finale . 2022-05-20 . . en-US.
  6. Web site: Schwartz . Ryan . 2022-09-01 . SNL: Melissa Villaseñor and Alex Moffat Among 3 More Cast Members Out Ahead of Season 48 . 2022-09-01 . TVLine.
  7. News: Steinberg . Brian . 2022-09-19 . Chris Redd Is Latest to Exit 'Saturday Night Live' . . 2022-09-19.
  8. News: Jevens . Darel . 2022-10-01 . Fear not, Cecily Strong fans: She hasn't left 'SNL' . . 2022-10-01.
  9. Web site: Schneider . Michael . Cecily Strong and Ego Nwodim on Knowing When to Leave 'SNL' and Learning Not to Take Anything Personal . Variety . June 20, 2023 . 21 June 2023.
  10. Web site: White . Peter . 2022-09-12 . 'SNL': Lorne Michaels Addresses Season 48 Cast Changes, Reveals There Will Be At Least Four New Castmembers . 2022-09-13 . Deadline Hollywood.
  11. Web site: Yurcaba . Jo . 2022-09-16 . 'Saturday Night Live' announces its first nonbinary cast member . 2022-10-02 . . en.
  12. News: Eugene Lee Dies: Longtime 'SNL' Production Designer, Tony-Winning Broadway Scenic Designer Was 83. Evans. Greg. February 8, 2023. February 8, 2023. Deadline Hollywood.
  13. News: Genzlingr . Neil . 2023-02-10 . Eugene Lee, Set Designer for Broadway and 'S.N.L.,' Dies at 83 . . 2023-02-12.
  14. Miles Teller/Kendrick Lamar. Saturday Night Live. 48. 1. NBC. October 1, 2022. Closing credits.
  15. Keke Palmer/SZA. Saturday Night Live. 48. 7. NBC. December 3, 2022. Closing credits.
  16. Pedro Pascal/Coldplay. Saturday Night Live. 48. 12. NBC. February 4, 2023. Closing credits.
  17. News: Pete Davidson's 'SNL' hosting episode canceled as the show goes dark due to writers' strike. May 2, 2023. Alex. Portée. The Today Show.
  18. News: Kieran Culkin & Jennifer Coolidge Were Set To Host Final Two 'SNL' Shows As NBC Shuts Down Season. May 4, 2023. Peter . White.