"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" HEATS UP DECEMBER

December Episodes To Feature Red-Hot Standup Dane Cook, SNL favorite Alec Baldwin and the Inimitable Jack Black

Music from UK sensation James Blunt, Global Superstar Shakira and Rock Legend Neil Young

NEW YORK -- November 30, 2005 -- NBC's "Saturday Night Live" brings out new faces and perennial favorites in December.

DECEMBER 3 finds red-hot standup comedian Dane Cook hosting the show. Cook comes to the show on the heels of the historic success of his comedy album "Retaliation" which debuted at Number 4 on the Billboard 200, making him the highest-charting comedian in 25 years. Cook has built a large and loyal following through relentless touring and through an innovative online presence through his own website and myspace.com. He was recently seen in the film "Waiting" with Ryan Reynolds and will star opposite Jessica Simpson in "Employee of the Month."

Joining Cook in making his SNL debut is acclaimed singer-songwriter James Blunt. Called "One of the Ten Artists to Watch" by Rolling Stone, Blunt comes to the show with a massive following in the UK. His record "Back to Bedlam" debuted in October 2004 and spent nine weeks at the top of the charts (bumping Coldplay's "X&Y" from the top slot). With the record 6x Platinum, he makes his U.S. crossover on the strength of his first breakout single "You're Beautiful."

Returning to Studio 8H on DECEMBER 10 is Alec Baldwin, a perennial and adept host, who makes his twelfth hosting appearance on the show, putting him in the upper echelon of frequent guest hosts. Other frequent hosts include Christopher Walken, Tom Hanks, Chevy Chase, Buck Henry, John Goodman and record-holder Steve Martin with 13 appearances. One of Hollywood's most charismatic and prolific actors ? both on stage and in film -- Baldwin earned raves for his performance in Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" and an Academy Award? nomination for his role in "The Cooler" oppostite William H. Macy. This year, he was seen in Cameron Crowe's "Elizabethtown" and next he'll star opposite Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni in "Fun with Dick and Jane."

Joining Baldwin is global superstar Shakira. Shakira will perform from both her multi-platinum Spanish and English records "Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1" and "Oral Fixation, Vol. 2," including the first live network performance of her hit "La Tortura" with Alejandro Sanz. The records are the follow up to her 13 million selling English language debut "Laundry Service."

Finally, on DECEMBER 17, SNL welcomes back Jack Black as host. Black, known for his comedic turns in "High Fidelity," "School of Rock," "Shallow Hal," "Orange County" and his voice work in the animated hit "Shark Tale" makes the move to action blockbuster in the eagerly anticipated, star-studded epic "King Kong" from Oscar?-winning director Peter Jackson ("Lord of the Rings"). Also down the pike for Black, is his band Tenacious D's first feature film "Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny" and "Nacho Libre" from the creator of "Napoleon Dynamite."

Joining Black as musical guest is rock legend Neil Young. Young has created one of the most exciting and groundbreaking legacies in rock and roll history. A multiple Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, Young has become known as a musical innovator and inspiration. Over the last forty years, the acclaimed singer-songwriter has often been cited as the artist that leads the way for others through an uncompromising pursuit of staying true to his music. Young's latest release "Prairie Wind" is no exception. It is receiving universal acclaim, placing it in the pantheon of such Young classics as "Harvest" and "Harvest Moon."