or


[07/20/08 - 10:32 AM]
NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' Front-Loads the Fall
The show's expanded 22-episode season will launch on September 13.
[via press release from NBC]

NBC'S 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' FRONT-LOADS THE FALL

Emmy-nominated Comedy Powerhouse Starts an Extended 34th Season September 13 with Four Live Shows in a Row (Saturdays, 11:30 p.m.-1 a.m. ET)

Three Live Primetime Outings -- "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" -- Begin Thursday, October 9 at 9:30 p.m. (ET)

"Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" to Air Day Before Election Day, Monday, November 3 at 9:30 p.m. (ET)

BURBANK - July 20, 2008 - Fresh from its six primetime Emmy nominations, NBC's comedy institution "Saturday Night Live" will make an early return this fall to capitalize on the hotly contested Presidential race, extending its traditional 20-episode season to 22.

After making a splash this spring during the Democratic primaries, "Saturday Night Live" will return to the air with 10 new live broadcasts this fall with a Presidential Bash special prior to Election Day, Monday, November 3 (9:30-11 p.m. ET).

Dubbed "TV's Funniest and Most Influential Political Player" by Entertainment Weekly, "SNL" recently featured appearances by Senators Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama and the show's political sketches became talking points at the Democratic debates and in the media.

"'Saturday Night Live' always reflects what people are talking about. This is especially true during an election year," noted Rick Ludwin, Executive Vice President, Late Night and Primetime Series, NBC Entertainment. "This fall, we're giving the audience what they clearly want."

"SNL" will make its 34th season premiere on Saturday, September 13, kicking off four live shows in a row, a rare practice that generated momentum for the show this past spring when the show returned after the WGA strike-imposed hiatus. All told, seven all-new "SNL's" will air on Saturdays prior to the election.

In addition to the revved-up Saturday schedule, "SNL" is ready for primetime with "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday." Three live primetime half-hours will air October 9, 16 and 23 at 9:30 p.m. ET. These primetime special editions will be anchored by the show's signature "Weekend Update." This marks a return to the NBC Thursday night lineup for "SNL," which produced similar live "Update"-centered broadcasts in 2001.

Finally, on the eve of Election Day, "SNL" will present its quadrennial political special "Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" (Monday, November 3, 9:30-11 p.m. ET). The special will feature all-new material and a look back at some of "SNL's" recent political satire including Fred Armisen's Barack Obama and Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton as well as a selection of Presidential satire from Chevy Chase's Gerald Ford to Will Ferrell's George W. Bush. In addition, in some cases, appearances from the actual candidates are featured in the special as in 2000 when the Presidential Bash boasted a sketch featuring candidates Gore and Bush.

Hosts and musical guests for the Saturday shows will be announced at a later date.

"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" PRE-ELECTION SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 - SEASON PREMIERE, 11:30 PM
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20 - LIVE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 - LIVE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 - LIVE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 - "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY" DEBUTS AT 9:30 PM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 - "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY"
SATURDAY OCTOBER 18 - LIVE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23 - "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY"
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 - LIVE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 - LIVE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3 - "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE PRESIDENTIAL BASH 2008" AIRS AT 9:30 PM

"Saturday Night Live" is from SNL Studios in association with Broadway Video. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels. Steve Higgins produces. Marci Klein and Mike Shoemaker are producers. Head writers are Seth Meyers and Paula Pell. Don Roy King directs.

Members of the media can get more information about NBC and its programming on the NBC Media Village Web site at www.nbcumv.com.





  [july 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)




[07/28/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of July 20 - Kevin Hart's "72 Hours" Parties to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
"I Will Find You" found its way back to the top spot of the English TV list, with 7.3 million views.
[07/28/26 - 10:55 AM]
New Series "Bobby Flay's The Line" Serves Culinary Battles That Reflect the High Pressure of Real-Life Restaurant Service
Each week, Bobby leads his hand-picked home team of extraordinary chefs Antonia Lofaso, Michael Jenkins and Claudette Zepeda against some of the country's most acclaimed restaurant staffs to execute a flawless dinner service - all for real diners in real time.

[07/28/26 - 10:06 AM]
Netflix Debuts First Look Images and Release Date for "Tyler Perry's Beauty in Black" Season 3
The series returns August 27, 2026 on the streaming service.
[07/28/26 - 10:01 AM]
National Geographic Documentary Films Greenlights New Film from Oscar and Multi BAFTA Award-Winning Director James Marsh
Brought to the screen by Magna Studios for release in 2027, the film brings to life the gripping true story of Aron Ralston, who inspired the Academy Award-nominated Searchlight Pictures film "127 Hours," directed by Danny Boyle.
[07/28/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Below" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Josh Hartnett stars in the suspenseful new thriller, coming to Netflix on October 8.
[07/28/26 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Max Launches New Mobile Features for Enhanced Content Discovery
"HBO Max Shorts" is designed to help users discover something to watch by highlighting iconic and memorable scenes from the HBO Max library in a vertical, scrollable feed.

[07/28/26 - 08:01 AM]
A Killer Comeback Awaits as Paramount+ Reveals First-Look Images of "Dexter: Resurrection" Season Two
The new season is coming later this year on Paramount+.
[07/28/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Rory Kennedy and her Emmy-nominated producing partner Mark Bailey continue their urgent investigation into the once-iconic aviation giant, uncovering startling new revelations and capturing voices from the inside.
[07/28/26 - 07:31 AM]
AMC Global Media's Acorn TV Renews Critically Acclaimed Crime Drama "Art Detectives," Starring Stephen Moyer, for a Second Season
Production begins in Belfast and across Northern Ireland this July and will premiere with a two-part special this December, followed by a full six-episode season in 2027.

[07/28/26 - 07:27 AM]
Betty La Fea Is Back and Arrives Uglier Than Ever: Prime Video Reveals the Premiere Date for the New Season of "Betty la Fea: The Story Continues"
The third season, rebranded as "Betty La Fea: Uglier Than Ever," premieres on August 28, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories.
[07/28/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Last Sunrise" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Based on the beloved novel, The Last Sunrise follows Ry (Maia Reficco), a college student with a chronic illness, on a summer escape to Mallorca with her mother (Eva Longoria).

[07/28/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Here the Whole Time" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Felipe just wanted a quiet summer with his artsy mom and every musical he could binge... when his childhood crush knocked on his door to join the party.
[07/28/26 - 06:01 AM]
MGM+ Picks Up Action Thriller Series "Embassy," Starring Anna Kendrick, Sam Heughan and J.K. Simmons from AGC Television, Ascendant Fox, and Turbine Studios
When armed mercenaries storm the U.S. Embassy in London, Layla (Kendrick), a sharp and resourceful American diplomat, faces an impossible choice: protect the U.S. Ambassador (Simmons) or follow his orders to exfiltrate a high value asset being held at the embassy.

[07/28/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV's Emmy Award-Winning Series "Ted Lasso" Returns to the Pitch in Season Four Trailer
"Ted Lasso" returns with its 10-episode new season on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 with one episode, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through October 7 on Apple TV.
[07/28/26 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and ESPN Set August 4 Launch for CW Sports Live Streaming on the ESPN App
More than 800 annual hours of CW Sports will be broadcast live on The CW Network as well as stream live on the ESPN App for viewers with an ESPN Unlimited subscription plan.