Kate McKinnon Returns to ‘Saturday Night Live’ for Christmas Show

After a shortened 2022-23 season, Saturday Night Live returned a bit later than usual to kick off its 2023-24 run.

The writers strike affected both the end of last season and the start of season 49; the end of the labor action on Sept. 25 meant a mid-October start for SNL — with former castmember Pete Davidson hosting — rather than the late September or early October premiere the show usually has. (The cast is covered under a different SAG-AFTRA contract than the one actors are currently striking against, so they can perform without crossing picket lines.)

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The show’s cast returned intact from last season, with James Austin Johnson and Sarah Sherman moving up from featured players to repertory players. Chloe Troast joined the cast as a featured player.

Below is The Hollywood Reporter’s updating guide to season 49’s SNL hosts and musical guests.

On Nov. 29, it was announced that alum Kate McKinnon would return to the show as a first-time host for the Dec. 16 show, the final show before the holiday break, with musical guest Billie Eilish. Prior to that, Emma Stone hosts the Dec. 2 show for her fifth time, with musical guest Noah Kahan, and on Dec. 9, Adam Driver will host for his fourth time with musical guest Olivia Rodrigo.

This story will be updated as new shows are announced. Hosts are listed first, followed by musical guests.

Oct. 14: Pete Davidson, Ice Spice
Oct. 21: Bad Bunny (host and musical guest)
Oct. 28: Nate Bargatze, Foo Fighters
Nov. 11: Timothée Chalamet, boygenius
Nov. 18: Jason Momoa, Tate McRae
Dec. 2: Emma Stone, Noah Kahan
Dec. 9: Adam Driver, Olivia Rodrigo  
Dec. 16: Kate McKinnon, Billie Eilish

This post was originally published on Oct. 17, 2023.

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