“Saturday Night Live” is set to wrap its 51st season with a final trio of episodes that pair major film, TV, and music names with the long-running sketch series. The show will return to Studio 8H with Olivia Rodrigo, Matt Damon, and Will Ferrell leading the last stretch of the season, alongside musical guests Noah Kahan and Paul McCartney.
The NBC staple will air back-to-back-to-back shows beginning Saturday, May 2, and each episode brings a different mix of first-timers and familiar faces. NBC said the final run will also feature Colman Domingo and Anitta in the season’s penultimate episode, giving the closing stretch a wide range of performers.
Final stretch of season 51
The first of the three episodes puts Olivia Rodrigo in double duty, as she will host and perform on May 2. The singer will make her first turn as host while returning as musical guest for the third time, following earlier performances that helped cement her place as one of the show’s recurring recent music talents.
On May 9, Academy Award winner Matt Damon will host for the third time, while Noah Kahan returns as musical guest for the second time. The pairing continues the show’s pattern of combining high-profile acting names with artists who have built recent momentum on the music charts and live performance circuit.
The season finale arrives on May 16 with Will Ferrell hosting for the sixth time and Paul McCartney appearing as musical guest for the fifth time. Ferrell’s return adds another major “SNL” alum to the roster, while McCartney brings one of the most recognizable names in popular music back to the show.
The full closing lineup
- May 2: Olivia Rodrigo — host and musical guest
- May 9: Matt Damon — host; Noah Kahan — musical guest
- May 16: Will Ferrell — host; Paul McCartney — musical guest
Before those final episodes, “SNL” will also feature Colman Domingo on April 11 in his hosting debut, with Anitta making her first appearance as musical guest. Domingo, a two-time Academy Award nominee, is coming off a busy screen run that includes the new seasons of “The Four Seasons” and “Euphoria,” as well as the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael,” which is set to open in theaters later this month.
A season built on big names
Season 51 has already leaned on a broad mix of comedy veterans, breakout stars, and music heavyweights. The show’s host list has included Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, Sabrina Carpenter, Miles Teller, Nikki Glaser, Glen Powell, Melissa McCarthy, Josh O’Connor, Ariana Grande, Finn Wolfhard, Teyana Taylor, Alexander Skarsgård, Connor Storrie, Ryan Gosling, Harry Styles, and Jack Black before the final three bookings were added.
The musical guest roster has been just as varied, with appearances from Doja Cat, Role Model, Sabrina Carpenter, Brandi Carlile, Olivia Dean, Dijon, Lily Allen, Cher, A$AP Rocky, Geese, Cardi B, Mumford & Sons, Gorillaz, Harry Styles, Jack White, Anitta, Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, and Paul McCartney. That lineup reflects the show’s continued strategy of mixing repeat performers with new voices that can draw both live and streaming audiences.
“Saturday Night Live” has remained one of NBC’s most visible late-night brands by pairing current pop culture figures with legacy stars, and the final episodes of the season follow that formula closely. With Rodrigo’s debut as host, Damon’s return, Ferrell’s milestone sixth hosting stint, and McCartney’s fifth musical appearance, the closing run gives the season a high-profile finish.
Read more at: www.9news.com
