"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" PREPS A SUPERSTAR MAY

"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" PREPS A SUPERSTAR MAY

SNL Finishes Its Season with Tom Hanks on May 6, Julia Louis-Dreyfus May 13 and Kevin Spacey on May 20

Musical Guests include Red Hot Chili Peppers and Paul Simon's Record-Extending Seventh Appearance.

NEW YORK � May 2, 2006 � SNL closes out its 31st season with a pair of two-time Oscar winners and an Emmy winner for its last three shows.

Headlining the May 6 episode is two-time back-to-back Oscar winner Tom Hanks, who is returning for his eighth hosting stint. Hanks, who will star in the eagerly awaited summer blockbuster "The Da Vinci Code," is one of the world's most admired and respected actors. His credits run the gamut from comedies ("Splash," "A League of Their Own" and "Big") to his award winning dramatic work in "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump," as well as acclaimed roles in "Saving Private Ryan," "Apollo 13," "Cast Away," "The Green Mile," "Catch Me If You Can" and "The Polar Express," to name a few. He executive produced award-winning epic miniseries "From The Earth To The Moon" and "Band Of Brothers," and wrote and directed the feature film "That Thing You Do!"

Joining Hanks are Red Hot Chili Peppers who will perform from their forthcoming double record "Stadium Arcadium" which the Los Angeles Times has already hailed as "a double dose from a band at the top of their game" and the UK's Q magazine has predicted it will be "the biggest album of 2006 � and the most ambitious." "Stadium Arcadium" is the ninth studio album from the L.A.-based Chili Peppers and their first since 2002's "By The Way," which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Throughout their long career, the band has sold over 50 million albums and scored eight No. 1 Modern Rock hits. The first single "Dani California" is no exception; it debuted at No. 1 on the Modern Rock chart and has stayed there for the last three weeks.

The following week, on May 13, "SNL" alumnus and actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns to Studio 8H and to the show where she got her start. Louis-Dreyfus, an "SNL" cast member from 1982-1985, will make her "SNL" appearance since she was a cast member. She earned worldwide acclaim and recognition for her portrayal of Elaine Benes on NBC's "Seinfeld," for which she received an Emmy, Golden Globe, five Screen Actors Guild Awards and four American Comedy Awards during the landmark comedy's nine years on the air. She is currently starring in the comedy series "The New Adventures of Old Christine" after a critically praised recurring role on "Arrested Development." Louis-Dreyfus' film credits include, "A Bug's Life," "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "Deconstructing Harry."

Rock legend Paul Simon � and four-time "SNL" host � returns to "SNL" for the record seventh time as musical guest. Simon's last appearance was his poignant performance of "The Boxer," opening "SNL's" first show after September 11, 2001. Simon returns to perform songs from his new record "Surprise" which teams Simon with producer Brian Eno, which many are saying, contains some of Simon's best songwriting and performances since his seminal "Graceland" album.

Finally, the season finale on May 20 will feature another double Oscar winner: Kevin Spacey with a musical guest to be announced later. Spacey returns to the screen this summer in another eagerly anticipated epic: "Superman Returns" in which he'll play the villainous Lex Luthor. Spacey won an Oscar for Best Actor for his work in "American Beauty" and a Supporting Actor trophy for "The Usual Suspects." Known for playing enigmatic and complicated characters, Spacey's other film credits include: "L.A. Confidential," "Se7en," "Glengarry Glen Ross," "Swimming With Sharks," "The Negotiator" and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." Most recently he wrote, directed and starred in "Beyond the Sea," a biopic on entertainer Bobby Darin. He has earned kudos for his stage work; most notably his Tony Award-winning performance in "Lost in Yonkers" and a nominated turn in "The Iceman Cometh." Continuing his devotion to the theater, Spacey is currently serving as artistic director of London's legendary Old Vic Theater Company.