JOHNNY KNOXVILLE KICKSTARTS THREE ALL-NEW "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" EPISODES ON MAY 7 WITH MUSICAL GUEST SYSTEM OF A DOWN

NEW YORK -- April 28, 2005 -- Rising star Johnny Knoxville hosts the first of three all-new "Saturday Night Live" episodes on May 7 (Live on NBC, 11:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.) with musical guest System of a Down making a rare television appearance.

Knoxville, who makes his first appearance on the show, rapidly gained fame as the creator and star of the controversial MTV series "Jackass" which later became a blockbuster film. Knoxville has since transitioned to a wide variety of big-screen roles. This summer, Knoxville headlines a trio of films due out this year including this summer's skateboarding film "Lords of Dogtown" with Heath Ledger and as "Luke Duke" in the anticipated big screen adaptation of the TV classic "The Dukes of Hazzard" with Seann William Scott and Jessica Simpson. Knoxville will also star in the Farrelly Brothers' comedy "The Ringer" in which he poses as a contestant in the Special Olympics to rig the event. Knoxville's other credits include: the John Waters comedy "A Dirty Shame," "Walking Tall" opposite The Rock and "Men In Black 2."

Critically acclaimed rock band System of a Down makes their U.S. television debut on "Saturday Night Live." They will perform from their eagerly anticipated album "Mezmerize" which is the first of a two-disc set they will release over the course of this year (the second disc, "Hypnotize" is due in the fall). Its first politically charged single "B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Bombs) is currently racing up the rock singles charts. "Mezmerize/Hypnotize" is the follow-up to their nearly six-million-selling "Toxicity" which was released in 2001 and debuted in the Number One position on the Billboard/Soundscan charts. "Toxicity" generated three Top Ten singles including the #1 hit "Aerials" and the ubiquitous "Chop Suey!" (which the band will also perform) and was named as SPIN Magazine's album of the year.