SNL season 50 premiere host: 5 predictions
By Matt Moore
We're a month away from the Saturday Night Live season 50 premiere. But with no host announced for the first episode, there's still time for speculation and predictions.
SNL's 50th anniversary season has plenty of hype around it already. A special episode is scheduled for February which should surpass the star-studded event for the show's 40th anniversary. Plus, the return of Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris has fans eagerly awaiting new episodes.
It all starts on September 28. NBC and Saturday Night Live have yet to announce who will host the first show. These five names should be in the running to kick off season 50 with a bang.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has the star power necessary to meet the moment. Saturday Night Live's first episode back will draw millions of viewers. And few entertainers can put on a show quite like Lady Gaga.
The timing couldn't be better for the singer and actress. She recently released the duet "Die with a Smile" with Bruno Mars. Next, she plays Harley Quinn in the highly-anticipated sequel Joker: Folie a Deux coming in October.
Lady Gaga hasn't hosted SNL since 2013, so she's due for another turn in the spotlight. It doesn't get much brighter than the season 50 premiere.
Simone Biles
Hosting the Saturday Night Live season 50 premiere would be the icing on the cake for Simone Biles' victory lap. The Olympic gymnast left Paris with four more medals and cemented herself as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
NBC owes Biles a debt of gratitude, considering her awe-inspiring performances helped the network get big ratings for its Olympics coverage. It's hard to imagine a figure who would receive a warmer embrace from the audience than Biles.
Biles would join a list of Olympic heroes who have hosted SNL, including Michael Phelps and LeBron James.
Cecily Strong
Who doesn't love a homecoming? Saturday Night Live could celebrate its 50th anniversary by welcoming back one of its greatest performers in Cecily Strong.
Strong left SNL after the December 17, 2022, episode. She became the longest-running female cast member in the process. Strong previously indicated that she was in no rush to return to SNL for a hosting gig or cameo. But it may be time for her to get back to Studio 8H.
In fact, Strong was set to cameo during season 49. However, she wisely pulled out of a cameo as Representative Elise Stefanik in what became a controversial (and trainwreck) cold open. Hosting the season 50 premiere would give Strong a clean slate and the recognition she deserves.
Glen Powell
Glen Powell has quickly become one of the most popular and in-demand actors. That kind of buzz usually translates to an invitation from Saturday Night Live.
Powell led the summer blockbuster Twisters, adding to a string of hits that includes Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You, and Hit Man. Any one of those films would be enough to get Powell the SNL gig, nevermind all four.
The actor has the kind of broad appeal that Saturday Night Live loves, especially for a season premiere.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman
It's an out-of-the-box prediction, but the duo of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman would bring a lot of energy to the SNL 50th premiere. The two actors are still riding high on the success of Deadpool & Wolverine.
Jackman hasn't hosted SNL since 2001. Maybe his willingness to reprise his role as Wolverine is a good sign he'd be up for an SNL return. For Reynolds, his only turn as host came in 2009. But a 2019 cameo suggests he has a good relationship with the show, even if reports claim he wants to avoid SNL. Would the Scarlett Johansson/Colin Jost angle really be enough to keep this from becoming a reality?
It wouldn't be the first time a duo hosted Saturday Night Live. Most recently, Martin Short and Steve Martin hosted in 2022. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (2015), Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (2004), and Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger (1994) are also on that list.
Saturday Night Live season 50 premieres on September 28, 2024.