Is Saturday Night Live new tonight, September 2?
By Matt Moore
We’ve hit the unofficial end of summer, meaning the fall TV season is around the corner. What should Saturday Night Live fans expect to see tonight on NBC?
Everything is aligned for Saturday Night Live to have a monster season 49. The Republican primary season, former president Donald Trump’s legal woes, and an experienced cast provide opportunities for more viral cold opens and monologues, breakout characters, and memorable sketches.
Unfortunately, we won’t get to see if any of that comes to fruition on Saturday. There will not be a new episode of Saturday Night Live tonight.
Instead, NBC will reair the April 1, 2023 episodes. Audiences can revisit Abbott Elementary creator and star Quinta Brunson’s SNL debut. Rapper Lil Yachty was the musical guest.
Why isn’t Saturday Night Live new tonight?
There are a few reasons why Saturday Night Live won’t be new tonight. First, the calendar offers an explanation.
Saturday Night Live won’t return to NBC in September. The show hasn’t aired a season premiere in September since season 45 back in 2019. Typically, the show aims for the first Saturday in October to kick things off.
Second, the Writers Guild of America remains on strike. That means SNL’s writing staff isn’t coming back to work until a new deal is struck with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
The latest reports suggest that the WGA and AMPTP aren’t exacly close on finding common ground. SNL cast members like Colin Jost and Michael Che have booked stand-up shows during the normal SNL fall season.
All taken together, don’t expect Saturday Night Live to return anytime soon. Until it does, enjoy classic sketches on the show’s official YouTube channel or stream episodes on Peacock.