Every comedian dreams of the day they get to yell, “LIVE FROM NEW YORK…” on the stage in Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Center. For six lucky individuals, this fantasy will come true. “Saturday Night Live” has been responsible for catapulting the careers of comedy legends (Chevy Chase, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Adam Sandler, to name a small few) for almost four decades.
Last season, veterans Bill Hader and Fred Armisen bid farewell to Studio 8H to pursue other avenues. In July, Jason Sudeikis announced on “The Late Show with David Letterman” that he would be jumping ship as well. All three of these departures take place only a year after actors Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg left the cast. This February, “SNL” alum Jimmy Fallon is passing the reigns to Seth Meyers, future host of “Late Night.” Fallon is graduating to become to host of “The Tonight Show” held currently by Jay Leno.
So what does this mean for “SNL?”
Lorne Michaels, creator and producer of “SNL,” has spent his summer vacation traveling far and wide to every improv comedy theatre imaginable to find the perfect recruits for the upcoming season. The king of sketch comedy found six bright and promising comedians to join the cast this fall. Among the group, one particular face may stand out. You may know Beck Bennett as the stone-faced funnyman who stars in AT&T’s popular “It’s Not Complicated” ads. Bennett’s preforming partner Kyle Mooney will be joining the cast as well. Michaels also picked up two former members of the Upright Citizens Brigade. John Milhiser and Noel Wells both spent many years preforming at the UCB theatre in Los Angeles. Michael O’Brian, who has written for “SNL“since 2009, is joining the cast as well. Brooks Wheelan, one of Comedy Central’s 10 Comics to Watch in 2013 is also joining the cast. If the new group of draftees does not convince you that “SNL” isn’t dead, then take a look at all the returning members as well.
The retirement of those who we identify as the “star players” of “SNL” is not the end-all-be-all of the program. Longtime veterans Bobby Moynihan (best known for “Drunk Uncle”), Kenan Thompson (soulful host of “What Up With That?”), Jay Pharaoh (an uncanny impression of Jay-Z as well as President Obama) and Terran Killam (screaming at Justin Bieber in “The Glice Sketch”) have been waiting for their big break to become the new faces of “SNL.” Newcomers Kate McKinnon (a killer Ellen DeGeneres impression) and Cecily Strong (“Girl You Wish You Didn’t Start a Conversation with at a Party”) continue to nail the big punch lines each week. In fact, Strong has is now co-anchor of “Weekend Update” with Seth Meyers. There’s no official word yet if Meyers will leave “Update” in February once his new show airs. However, Michaels has hinted about “Late Night” airing only four nights a week, leaving Meyers open to work Friday and Saturdays.
Although sponsorship for “SNL” has been through the roof, ratings have not been ideal for the show in recent seasons. In order to deal with the decline, Michaels has relied heavily on the “shadow cast” of past “SNL” alumni who return to lend a hand. Maya Rudolph, Dan Akroyd and even Jimmy Fallon seem to moonlight every other week to help keep audiences laughing and, more importantly, viewers tuning in each Saturday night. In fact, seven-time Emmy award winner and “SNL” “Hall of Famer” Tina Fey is guest hosting the season opener on Sept. 28, with musical guest Arcade Fire. Rolling train wreck Miley Cyrus will attempt the daunting task of guest and musical host the following week. Then, Bruce Willis will try his hand with musical guest Katy Perry on Oct. 12.
Every five years (or so) since the show first aired in 1975, viewers and critics alike have ranted that “SNL” is “dead.” However, this season will definitely be a transition period for the show. There’s a lot of young talent waiting to surprise you. Don’t call the hearse yet; “SNL” is far from being dead.
