It was the turning point of Saturday Night Live Season 46 that has left an indelible mark on the minds of its fans and is still being discussed today. SNL Season 46 returned the cast back to Studio 8H in New York after a brief and from afar Season 45. This transfer came at a time when the country was going through a global pandemic and the season was different from all others in the show’s history. SNL Season 46 premiered on October 3, 2020, and it ran through May 22, 2021. In the process, SNL Season 46 aired a frenzied presidential contest, featured some brand new hosts, and a new cast in front of a worldwide audience.
This article dissects all the key points of SNL Season 46. We’ll examine the cast, hosts, musical guests, and sketches that were memorable on SNL Season 46. Additionally, we will provide answers to some frequently asked questions regarding SNL Season 46.Moreover, some frequently asked questions will be answered regarding SNL Season 46. If you’re looking for the full history of this Saturday Night Live era, then read on.
What was different about SNL Season 46?
Several factors make SNL Season 46 stand out. Most relate to the unusual events of 2020. It was a very different season. The show had to follow strict health protocols. Yet, it still had to deliver the “live” energy fans expected. The production team did test the castings and the audience in the studio was reduced considerably. Nonetheless, SNL Season 46 was able to maintain the structure of its shows, with the cold open, Weekend Update, and musical acts.
Return to Studio 8H
The biggest storylines of SNL Season 46 were undoubtedly the move back into a live studio, right? The final episode of season 45 was shot at the homes of the cast. Though some old faces were back, it was a new beginning for SNL Season 46. This time the show was live, but with a smaller crowd than usual due to continued restrictions. The switch provided some normalcy for SNL Season 46 after months of remote TV viewing by many.
The cast for SNL Season 46 has been revealed
The whole cast of season 45 joined the show for Season 46. Longtime cast members Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong and Aidy Bryant all came back for another performance. There were still three new featured players for the season, though: Lauren Holt, Punkie Johnson, and Andrew Dismukes. Before going in front of the camera, Dismukes had three seasons writing for the show. Ego Nwodim, on the other hand, was promoted to repertory status during Season 46 as she rose in the ranks of the cast.
Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman were featured players during the season, as they had been during the previous season. Consequently, the Season 46 cast was a mix of old and new comedians to carry the political and pop-culture sketches.
This is the premiere episode of SNL Season 46
SNL Season 46 kicked off on October 3, 2020, with the return of former cast member Chris Rock for the third time as host. Music Guest Megan Thee Stallion made his appearance. A great opening that set the tone for the season, sharp political commentary with high energy music. The timing was spectacular – no later than weeks before a presidential election – and the show focused heavily on satire in its first week.
The producers in particular had six consecutive episodes scheduled to kick off the season, a first for the show. This weirdly timed approach helped keep the series in the thick of the fast-moving election news in October.
Complete list of the guests who host the program and musical guests
As SNL Season 46 aired throughout the entire 2020–21 television season, the line-up of guests was quite long and varied. The following table shows the most important events of SNL Season 46, such as guests and musicians.
| Date | Host / Person | Musical Guest / Event |
| November 8, 2020 | Dave | DeVonne |
| October 3, 2020 | Chris Rock | Megan Thee Stallion |
| October 10, 2020 | Bill Burr | Jack White |
| October 17, 2020 | Issa Rae | Justin Bieber |
| October 24, 2020 | Adele | H.E.R. |
| October 31, 2020 | The Strokes | The Fillmore East, New York |
| March 6, 1979 | The Police | The Police & The Boom Boom |
| December 5, 2020 | Jason Bateman | Morgan Wallen |
| — | Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band | Concert |
| December 19, 2020 | — | “What is the Kingdom of God like?” |
| — | — | “What’s the last time you’ve heard the word ‘why?’” |
| February 6, 2021 | Dan Levy | Phoebe Bridgers |
| February 13, 2021 | Regina King | Nathaniel Rateliff |
| — | — | Avoid using too many exclamation marks |
| February 27, 2021 | Nick Jonas | Birthday |
| March 27, 2021 | Maya Rudolph | Jack Harlow |
| April 3, 2021 | Daniel Kaluuya | St. Vincent |
| April 10, 2021 | Carey Mulligan | Kid Cudi |
| May 8, 2021 | Miley Cyrus & Elon Musk | Together |
| — | — | “That’s just a fact of life.” |
| — | Anya Taylor-Joy | Lil Nas X |
This lineup below is a look at how SNL Season 46 managed to mix comedy greats, first time hosts and chart-topping musicians. For example, Adele’s hosting debut was one of the shows that was discussed a lot on SNL Season 46. In the same way, the hosting events of Elon Musk started a lot of debates and are one of the most controversial episodes in the history of SNL Season 46.
Political Sketches That Defined SNL Season 46
Political jokes were plentiful during SNL Season 46, as it coincided with a presidential campaign. Hence, the writers resorted to a great deal of satire, directed at the two major candidates and at their political campaigns.
The 2020 Election Coverage
SNL Season 46 did not do anything different with the election than they do with most other specials; they had their cold open and their Weekend Update segments. Alec Baldwin and Maya Rudolph reprised his and her roles of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. The episodic nature of these impressions created a sense of continuity with the recent past, having both performers already constructed well known incarnations of their respective characters. As SNL Season 46 went on, the election coverage was more about the messiness of the campaign trail and frequently echoed the news of just days before.
The new cast members playing Biden
Oddly, the season tried out a couple of different actors in the Joe Biden role. The role was originally offered to Jim Carrey, who played it exaggeratedly and corporeally. But it was not a unanimous favorite, and Carrey left before the half time break of the season. The news that he was leaving the candidacy was not particularly shocking as he had always been interested in playing Biden for around six weeks. Cast member Alex Moffat then took over the role, starting with the December 19 episode hosted by Kristen Wiig. The move was an example of how the show evolved and went with the flow when an idea didn’t work out as the producers had hoped.
The best moments of SNL Season 46
In addition to the political, here are some other milestones reached on the season. Overall, it was the 900th episode of the show aired during Season 46, hosted by Dan Levy with Phoebe Bridgers’ performance on February 6, 2021. As always, this was a reminder of the length of time that Saturday Night Live’s been on the air and the season was a part of that.
Also, the season had real world scheduling issues related to Covid. Cast members Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong were also cast, but missed out on a few early episodes due to the schedules of their other shows, Shrill and Schmigadoon. They both stayed on as a credited cast member until the end of Season 46, and they came back later in the season. Strong returned for the episode on December 5, and Bryant returned on the episode on January 30 with John Krasinski.
Memorable Sketches and Musical Guests by John Hawkins
There were lots of sketches that went out-of-control on the season, shortly after the show aired. The buzz for Adele’s hosting stint was not so typical as the SNL fan base because she is not seen in a comedic environment that often. In the meantime, John Mulaney’s fourth stint as a host during Season 46 was a continuation of his standing as one of the most consistent guest hosts in the history of the show.
Musically speaking, the season snagged a stellar lineup of talent, from rock legends like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to emerging talent such as Olivia Rodrigo. The variety was instrumental in making the season a winning formula for several generations of viewers. Also, Nick Jonas was a musical guest and host on the show his episode, which is quite rare for an SNL episode.
SNL Season 46 Ratings and Reception
Overall, critics were favourably impressed by Season 46’s timely political commentary and its adaptability in the challenging production environment. The political cartoons came in for a lot of praise among many reviewers, as being some of the best in the show’s history. Meanwhile, some did complain that some of the shows on the season relied too much on celebrities to the detriment of the sketch writing. Despite that, the season continued to build strong ratings during its time and it was still a forum for discussion on social media each morning on Sundays.
There was also more of an impact on streaming in Season 46 than in previous years. More and more viewers discovered that they liked to be caught up on sketches via Peacock or YouTube videos instead of on live broadcast. That was a trend for late night comedy viewers in general and the show caught on, pushing individual sketches online in an attempt to keep up.
Why SNL Season 46 Matters
In retrospect, SNL Season 46 is a special episode in the history of SNL. It was a snapshot of an American moment, both during a pandemic and one of the most important elections in recent memory. SNL Season 46 also introduced some new faces that would become fan favorites, such as Bowen Yang and Andrew Dismukes. All of these factors make SNL Season 46 a season to be discussed when it comes to the best modern seasons of SNL.
Furthermore, SNL Season 46 proved that it was possible to create a live TV show that works creatively within the constraints of extraordinary circumstances. Despite the difficulties in running the show as normal, the producers found creative methods to keep it fresh, funny and relevant. This tenacity is what makes people still look for information on SNL Season 46 after all these years.
So, here are my last words for this SNL Season 46
SNL Season 46 is one of the most versatile and noteworthy seasons in the show’s history. Whether it was the slow return to a live studio audience or incisive political satire, SNL Season 46 hit the sweet middle ground between tradition and the changes it needed. The season was filled with new performers, new faces, a major election of course, and a never before experienced challenge that kept audiences captivated. If you’re a longtime fan, you can still watch the season live, or if you’re new to SNL, here’s a great way to learn more about how the comedy institution has adapted over the years to suit what the world now wants
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Q1: When did SNL Season 46 premiere?
SNL Season 46 premiered on October 3, 2020, with Chris Rock hosting and Megan Thee Stallion as the musical guest.
Q2: How many episodes did SNL Season 46 have?
SNL Season 46 consisted of 20 episodes, airing from October 2020 through May 2021.
Q3: Who were the new cast members in SNL Season 46?
SNL Season 46 introduced three new featured players: Lauren Holt, Punkie Johnson, and Andrew Dismukes.
Q4: Who played Joe Biden during SNL Season 46?
Jim Carrey initially played Biden during SNL Season 46, and Alex Moffat later took over the role after Carrey’s planned six-week run ended.
Q5: Which episode of SNL Season 46 was the most controversial?
Many fans point to the Elon Musk episode as the most debated installment of SNL Season 46, largely due to his public profile and unconventional hosting style.
Q6: Where can you watch SNL Season 46 today?
You can stream SNL Season 46 on Peacock, and select sketches remain available through NBC’s official YouTube channel.