Posted in: NBC, Preview, streaming, Trailer, TV, YouTube | Tagged: Aidy Bryant, Alex Moffat, Andrew Dismukes, Beck Bennett, Bowen Yang, Cecily Strong, Chloe Fineman, Chris Redd, chris rock, colin jost, comedy, Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Kyle Mooney, Lauren Holt, lorne michaels, Megan Thee Stallion, Melissa Villaseñor, michael che, Mikey Day, morne michaels, nbc, Pete Davidson, Punkie Johnson, saturday night live, season 46, snl, space force, The Filth

Saturday Night Live Goes Dramatic Signaling Season 46 Studio 8H Return

NBC's Saturday Night Live is leaving the "home editions" behind and returning to Studio 8H to kick off its 46th season on October 3rd (the first of the month's five planned episodes), and it's doing so in style. We have a new Joe Biden, three new featured players, SNL alumnus Chris Rock (Fargo) taking over hosting responsibilities, and musical artist Megan Thee Stallion making her SNL musical guest debut. But just in case there's any doubt about that being the plan (or about the cast wanting to get out of their homes and back to Rockefeller Center as soon as possible), NBC released a bold, slightly "dramatic" teaser for the season opener.

Here's our first look at the SNL team as they make their way back to home base, with the series set to launch its jaw-dropping 46th season on October 3rd (and we can't wait for the Rock/Megan Thee Stallion promos to start dropping):

SNL creator Lorne Michaels offered some additional updates on what viewers can expect this season during an interview with The New York Times. The obvious question first: with the show returning with a live studio audience, what pool will the audience be selected from the general public or from family/staff from NBC and SNL? The answer's still being worked on: "That's all still being sorted out."

Even with the cast, writers, and staff/crews receiving regular COVID testing, Michaels and the others still have health concerns- and Michaels makes it clear that he's still not sure they can make the magic happen. "We don't know that we're going to be able to pull it off. We're going to be as surprised as everyone else when it actually goes on," he explained. "We just have to stay clean and focused until October 3rd. And then we do five shows in a row." Finally, there's the matter of how the death of popular Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will impact Kate McKinnon's portrayal. Asked if Justice Ginsburg's passing will mean the character being retired on-screen, Michaels gave a blunt, direct answer that doesn't appear to leave much doubt: "I doubt it."

Saturday Night Live's 46th season includes Beck Bennett, Aidy Bryant, Michael Che, Pete Davidson, Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Colin Jost, Kate McKinnon, Alex Moffat, Kyle Mooney, Ego Nwodim, Chris Redd, Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson, Melissa Villaseñor, and Bowen Yang. Che and Jost serve as head writers, with Bryan Tucker serving as senior writer. Lauren Holt (The Filth), Punkie Johnson (Space Force), and Andrew Dismukes (Comedy Central's Colossal ClusterFest, New York Comedy Festival) are joining the cast as feature players. Alec Baldwin returns as Donald Trump, with Maya Rudolph joining them as Kamala Harris, and Jim Carrey as Joe Biden (Bennett will continue as Michael Pence).

Not including specials and digital series, SNL has won 72 Emmy Awards, the most for any show in television history. SNL also holds the title for the most nominated television show in Emmy history with 270 nominations (once again, not including specials and digital series). The long-running sketch comedy and musical series is executive produced by Lorne Michaels, produced by Steve Higgins and Erik Kenward, and directed by Don Roy King. Ken Aymong serves as a supervising producer, with Lindsay Shookus, Erin Doyle, and Tom Broecker producing. The series is produced by SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video.

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