Jean Smart To Host ‘SNL’ Season 50 Opener With Nate Bargatze, Ariana Grande, Michael Keaton & John Mulaney Also Set As Fall Hosts

Did you know that Saturday Night Live was turning 50? Well, it is and Jean Smart is kicking off the celebrations as host of the long-running NBC show’s opener.

Smart, fresh from her Emmy win over the weekend, will host the show on September 28 with another Emmy performer, musician Jelly Roll, who sang as part of the In Memoriam tribute.

Elsewhere, Nate Bargatze, Ariana Grande, Michael Keaton and John Mulaney are set as hosts as SNL kicks off with five consecutive shows.

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Bargatze, who returns for his second turn a year on from his first, will host on October 5 with Coldplay as musical guest. Grande will be joined by Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks, hosts on October 12. Keaton will be joined by Billie Eilish on October 19 and former SNL star Mulaney returns to host on November 2 with Chappell Roan as musical guest.

Coldplay have appeared eight times; Grande returns for her second spot as host; Nicks is also back for a second time as musical guest, more than thirty years on from her first; Keaton returns for his fourth time as host; Eilish will mark her fourth time as musical guest and Mulaney is hosting for the sixth time.

Saturday Night Live is produced in association with Broadway Video. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels. SNL will mark its 50th anniversary with a live primetime special on Sunday February 16.