In a thrilling turn of events, “Saturday Night Live” is poised to captivate audiences with a lineup of high-profile stars gracing the iconic stage. Following the electrifying celebrations of its 50th anniversary, the renowned sketch comedy show is gearing up for a series of new episodes featuring a mix of fresh faces and beloved favorites.
Set to air on March 1st, the upcoming episode will be headlined by the dynamic duo of Lady Gaga, who will be pulling double duty as both the musical guest and host. Joining her on stage will be the talented Shane Gillis, returning for his second hosting gig, and the rising star Tate McRae, who is set to unveil her eagerly awaited third album, “So Close to What,” in late February.
The excitement continues on March 8th, as Lady Gaga makes a triumphant return to “SNL,” this time as the host for the second time and musical guest for the fifth occasion. Fans can look forward to hearing tracks from her latest album, “Mayhem,” which is scheduled for release the day before the episode airs.
It’s worth noting that Shane Gillis has had a tumultuous history with the show, having been let go as a cast member in 2019 before officially making his debut. His past controversies, including the use of an anti-Asian slur and mocking accents in a 2018 podcast clip, sparked backlash and led to his departure. Despite the setbacks, Gillis has since found success as the star and co-creator of the hit series “Tires,” which is gearing up for its highly anticipated second season on Netflix.
“Saturday Night Live” is currently basking in the limelight following the resounding success of its 50th-anniversary celebration, which became NBC’s most-watched prime-time entertainment telecast in five years, captivating nearly 15 million viewers. The star-studded extravaganza, brimming with comedy sketches, superstar musical performances, and unexpected cameos, achieved the highest viewership for a nighttime entertainment show on the network since the 2020 Golden Globes.
According to NBC, the only other program to surpass “SNL” in recent years in terms of viewership is the beloved Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The celebratory weekend kicked off in grand style with “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert,” featuring Lady Gaga’s show-stopping performances, including a memorable stint filling in for Justin Timberlake in a medley with The Lonely Island and a soulful rendition of “Shallow” that brought the night to an unforgettable close.
