Does SNL have a new episode tonight, March 18th?
By Hector Cruz
“Saturday Night Live” is taking several weeks off before returning for the final five episodes of the season in mid-April.
SNL is fast-approaching the end of Season 42, its most successful season in two decades ratings-wise thanks to a combination of political sketches led by Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump and Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton and various Trump administration officials, as well as successful first time hosts such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Aziz Ansari, Dave Chappelle and Kristen Stewart. But the long-running NBC sketch series is taking some time off before embarking on the last five episodes of the season hosted by four returning vets and one newcomer.
The show will be back on April 8th with Louis CK emceeing the program for a fourth time, joined by The Chainsmokers making their SNL debut. The comedian last hosted in 2015 when his monologue which referenced child molestation sparked controversy. But Chappelle recently revealed in an interview with the New York Times that CK was instrumental in calming his nerves ahead of hosting the show’s post-election episode, advising him to focus on the monologue because it’s “all that matters.” The reclusive comedian heeded his advice, turning in one of the most memorable SNL monologues in recent memory where he touched on the election results in a way that no one else could.
CK will be followed by former cast member-turned-Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon on April 15th, actor Chris Pine hosting for the first time on May 6th, Sean Spicer impersonator Melissa McCarthy on May 13th and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson closing out the 42nd season on May 20th. NBC is capitalizing on SNL’s success by airing the final four episodes live on both coasts for the first time in the show’s history. It’s also ensuring that it remains in the zeitgeist heading into next season by ordering four “Weekend Update” specials to air this summer beginning in August.
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Tonight’s episode will be an encore of the Casey Affleck-hosted episode from Dec. 17 featuring performances by Chance the Rapper, airing at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.