Fans of "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) will have to wait a little longer for their next dose of sketch comedy. After a series of new episodes, the iconic late-night show is currently on a brief hiatus. The last episode aired on April 12, 2025, featuring Jon Hamm as the host and Lizzo as the musical guest.
The show will return on May 3, 2025, with Quinta Brunson taking the reins as host and Benson Boone making his SNL debut as the musical guest. This will mark Brunson's second time hosting, having previously appeared in April 2023. Boone, known for his song "Beautiful Things" that gained traction on TikTok, recently performed at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where he announced his upcoming album, "American Heart," set to release on June 20, 2025.
After kicking off its historic 50th season on September 28, 2024, with actress Jean Smart and musical guest Jelly Roll, SNL has been on a roll with a string of high-profile hosts. Following Smart, stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze hosted on October 5, 2024, with Coldplay as the musical guest. It was a remarkable start to the season, featuring several notable personalities.
During October, singer-songwriter Ariana Grande returned to host on October 12, accompanied by musical guest Stevie Nicks. The month continued to impress with award-winning actor Michael Keaton hosting on October 19, while Grammy-winning artist Billie Eilish took the stage as a musical guest.
November brought more excitement with John Mulaney hosting on November 2, 2024, alongside pop singer Chappell Roan. Comedian Bill Burr made a second appearance as host on November 9, with musical guest Mk.gee. The month concluded with Charli XCX pulling double duty as both host and musical guest on November 16, marking her first time at the helm of SNL.
As the year wrapped up, Irish actor Paul Mescal hosted on December 7, 2024, with musical guest Shaboozey. The following week, actor-comedian Chris Rock returned for his fourth time as host, featuring first-time musical guest Gracie Abrams. Martin Short also made his return on December 21, 2024, hosting for the fifth time with second-time musical guest Hozier.
In 2025, SNL kicked off the new year with stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle as host on January 18, and GloRilla as the musical guest. Actor Timothée Chalamet pulled double duty as both host and a first-time musical guest on January 25, 2025. February was marked by a three-hour anniversary special celebrating 50 years of SNL on February 16, featuring iconic stars and live musical performances from New York.
As March rolled in, Shane Gillis hosted SNL for the second time on March 1, with Tate McRae as a returning musical guest. The following week, Lady Gaga dazzled audiences by hosting and performing as the musical guest on March 8, 2025. The month culminated with actress Mikey Madison making her SNL debut as host on March 29, 2025, with singer Morgan Wallen featured as the musical guest.
The recent episodes leading up to the hiatus have included several memorable moments. The episode hosted by Mikey Madison featured sketches like "So Like… What Are We?" and the animated short "Planning New York." The episode with Jack Black showcased a stellar Weekend Update segment that included the return of "The Couple You Can’t Believe Are Together" and Ego Nwodim’s hit bit, "Ms. Eggy." Meanwhile, Jon Hamm's episode included the controversial "White POTUS" sketch, which sparked backlash for its portrayal of political figures.
The "White POTUS" sketch, which aired during the week of April 13, 2025, featured James Austin Johnson as President Donald Trump and Sarah Sherman as Aimee Lou Wood’s character from the series "The White Lotus." Wood criticized the sketch as “mean and unfunny” via her Instagram Story, expressing that while she understood the nature of caricature, the sketch felt like it was punching down. Sherman later sent Wood flowers as a gesture of goodwill, showing that even in the world of comedy, sensitivity can sometimes prevail over satire.
As the show prepares to return, fans can look forward to the upcoming episodes and the fresh comedic perspectives that new hosts will bring. SNL continues to be a significant platform for both established and emerging talents in the entertainment industry.
For those eager to catch up or watch live, SNL episodes are available to stream on Peacock, where new episodes stream live and are available for next-day viewing. Additionally, viewers can catch the show on NBC or through various streaming services like Sling TV, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, and YouTube TV, many of which offer free trials for new subscribers.
As the 50th season of SNL unfolds, fans can expect a blend of nostalgia and innovation, with each episode promising to deliver the humor and wit that has made the show a staple of American late-night television.
