Saturday Night Live’s 50th Anniversary: Will Bill Murray Be the Special Host?

The landmark 50th season of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” premieres on September 28, 2024 at 11:30 pm ET. The live sketch comedy show has been a staple of late-night television since its inception on October 11, 1975.

Will Bill Murray make a special appearance?

Of course, any big SNL anniversary would not be complete without an appearance from legendary alum Bill Murray. One of the original cast members, Murray was a stand-out on the show from 1977-1980, creating such iconic characters as Nick the Lounge Singer. He has returned to host five times over the years. Fans are hopeful the comedic icon will make a cameo, or maybe even host the anniversary special in 2025.

Will Bill Murray be the Special Host? 22bet.com reports a percentage chance of 33.30% and odds of 3/1 that he will.

Who are the host and musical guest for the premiere?

Kicking off the milestone season, Emmy winner Jean Smart will host the premiere episode. Smart currently stars in the HBO comedy series “Hacks” and has hosted SNL twice before. The musical guest will be country/hip-hop artist Jelly Roll.

What’s the lineup for the first few episodes?

NBC announced several hosts and musical guests for the initial episodes. On October 5, stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze will host and rock band Coldplay will be the musical guest. The following week, pop star Ariana Grande will pull double duty as host and performer. Then on October 19, Oscar nominee Michael Keaton hosts with singer-songwriter Billie Eilish as musical guest.

Which cast members are leaving?

Ahead of the new season, it was announced that three featured players would not be returning – Punkie Johnson, Molly Kearney, and Chloe Troast. Johnson had been on the show for four seasons before announcing her exit over the summer. Kearney, the show’s first nonbinary cast member, shared the news of their departure on social media. Troast also announced on Instagram that she “was not asked back” for the 50th season.

Who are the new featured players?

Filling those open cast spots are newcomers Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline. Padilla comes from the famed Groundlings improv troupe, Wakim is a stand-up comic who appeared on The Tonight Show, and Wickline joins from the TikTok live show “Stapleview.”

When is the official 50th anniversary celebration?

Though Season 50 kicks off this September, the actual anniversary special will be a live primetime event airing on Sunday, February 16, 2025. SNL creator Lorne Michaels has already begun planning the big celebration, which is sure to feature a star-studded lineup of favorite cast members from throughout the years.

What other stars might show up?

A 50th anniversary blowout would give SNL the opportunity to bring back fan-favorites like Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, and Kristen Wiig. Viewers would also love to see icons like Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and Mike Myers make returns. The celebration could also feature revered former cast members like Molly Shannon, Amy Poehler, and Maya Rudolph.

How will SNL celebrate this monumental milestone?

After 50 historic years of comedy, there is no doubt Lorne Michaels and company will pull out all the stops for an incredible anniversary spectacular. The SNL creator promises the 2025 live event will be “insane,” jam-packed with surprise cameos, iconic sketches, and plenty of laughs. As the longest-running sketch series in TV history, this legendary late-night show has certainly earned some major fanfare for making it to the golden 50-year mark.