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Former cast member Maya Rudolph is reportedly returning to the
show this season to play Vice President Kamala Harris, and if
recent patterns of opening episodes with politics-of-the-moment
are any indication, she could be in the premiere’s cold open at
the top of the show.
Rudolph has popped up to play Harris before — and won an Emmy
for it — but has yet to play the role of presidential candidate.
Lorne Michaels is still at the helm, just as he was for the
first episode on Oct. 11, 1975, when George Carlin hosted and
the nation got its first dose of the Not Ready for Prime Time
Players: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Akroyd,
Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris.
There were two musical guests — Billy Preston and Janis Ian —
playing two songs apiece, the norm in the early days.
The country singer and rapper Jelly Roll has the music role to
himself Saturday, and like Smart he's a first-timer.
That debut show is documented and reenacted in the newly
released Jason Reitman film “Saturday Night,” part of a wave of
reflection and celebration the show is getting on the cusp of
its 50th anniversary.
Upcoming episodes will feature host Nate Bargatze with musical
guest Coldplay, Ariana Grande with Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton
with Billie Eilish, and John Mulaney with Chappell Roan.
Those shows will lead up to a three-hour primetime special on
Feb. 16 that will serve as the official 50th season celebration.
It's sure to feature a wide range of the many stars the show has
spawned, including Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal,
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Downey Jr., Mike Myers, Adam
Sandler, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell.
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