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The SNL season 50 premiere was a cameo-heavy election-season episode that aired September 28, 2024, with Jean Smart hosting and Jelly Roll performing “Liar” and “Winning Streak.” Dana Carvey, Andy Samberg, and Jim Gaffigan made surprise appearances alongside Maya Rudolph in an approximately 13-minute political cold open.
Rather than serving as the show’s full 50th-anniversary retrospective, the premiere used the 2024 presidential race as its central subject. Smart brought a warm, theatrical presence to her hosting debut, while Jelly Roll became the first-time musical guest and the returning performers supplied the episode’s biggest bursts of recognition.
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Key takeaways
- Jean Smart hosted the Saturday Night Live season 50 premiere on September 28, 2024, with Jelly Roll as the first-time musical guest.
- Maya Rudolph returned as Kamala Harris, while Dana Carvey, Andy Samberg, and Jim Gaffigan made surprise appearances in the political cold open.
- The cold open ran approximately 13 minutes and focused on the 2024 presidential campaign.
- Jelly Roll performed “Liar” and “Winning Streak,” presenting a country-and-rap crossover performance rather than a country-only set.
- The episode was more of a cameo-heavy election-season opener than a full 50th-anniversary retrospective; the separate three-hour anniversary special was scheduled for February 2025.
- TheWrap reported 5.3 million NBC viewers in Nielsen live-plus-same-day measurement, a figure that does not represent total delayed or streaming viewing.
Who were the surprise guests on the SNL season 50 premiere?
The biggest surprise guests were Dana Carvey as Joe Biden, Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff, and Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz. Maya Rudolph’s return as Kamala Harris had been reported before the broadcast, but the appearances by Carvey, Samberg, and Gaffigan were not announced in advance. As Associated Press reporter Andrew Dalton wrote, “The guest spots from Carvey, Samberg and Gaffigan were all surprises.”
The cold open began with Andrew Dismukes playing ABC News anchor David Muir before shifting to a mock Harris campaign rally. Rudolph played Harris, James Austin Johnson played Donald Trump, Bowen Yang played JD Vance, Samberg played Emhoff, Gaffigan played Walz, and Carvey played Biden.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Carvey’s casting was particularly eye-catching because viewers may associate his SNL political work most strongly with his George H.W. Bush impression. Carvey was not playing George W. Bush in this episode; he appeared as Joe Biden. The Associated Press episode report identifies the guest lineup and the surprise nature of the bookings.
What happened in the Jean Smart and Jelly Roll SNL episode?
The September 28, 2024 broadcast opened season 50 with Jean Smart making her hosting debut and Jelly Roll appearing as musical guest. The episode used the 2024 election as its main topical engine, then moved through Smart’s monologue, Jelly Roll’s performances, Weekend Update, political sketches, and more conventional ensemble material.
The premiere’s anniversary connection was mostly symbolic. The broadcast opened the show’s 50th season, but it was not the program’s main five-decade retrospective. NBCUniversal described a separate three-hour SNL 50th-anniversary primetime special for February 2025 in its official anniversary overview.
| Part of the episode | What happened | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Cold open | Political rally featuring Rudolph, Carvey, Samberg, Gaffigan, Johnson, Yang, and Dismukes | Created the episode’s strongest surprise-cameo moment |
| Monologue | Smart sang part of “I Happen to Like New York” and reflected on the show’s history | Established a warm, theatrical tone rather than a stand-up-heavy one |
| Musical performances | Jelly Roll performed “Liar” and “Winning Streak” | Marked his first appearance as an SNL musical guest |
| Weekend Update | Colin Jost and Michael Che returned with jokes about the summer’s political and news cycle | Provided another major concentration of topical comedy |
| Remaining sketches | Political and nonpolitical sketches followed the opening segments | Received less attention than the cold open and Update in critical discussion |
Was Jean Smart good as the SNL host?
Jean Smart was an appealing and well-matched host, although the premiere did not build the entire episode around a showcase for her comic range. Her monologue was affectionate and lightly theatrical, drawing on her connection to New York and her memory of watching the first SNL episode.
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Smart had recently won her sixth Emmy for playing Deborah Vance on Hacks, and her hosting debut carried the authority of a performer with a long television and stage career. She joked that she had wanted to host since watching the first episode of SNL. The Associated Press reported her line as: “I remember watching the first episode of ‘SNL’ and thinking, ’someday I’m going to host that show,” Smart said in her opening monologue. “And this is the first Saturday that fit my schedule.”
The monologue’s use of “I Happen to Like New York” made Smart’s entrance feel more like a classic variety-show opening than a rapid-fire club-comedy set. That choice suited her performance style, but it also meant the episode’s most explosive material belonged to the political cast and returning guest stars.
How long was the political cold open?
The political cold open lasted approximately 13 minutes, making it an unusually large opening segment even by SNL standards. The Los Angeles Times emphasized the segment’s dense joke rate and its parade of recognizable guest performers in its season 50 premiere recap.
The length gave the premiere an intentionally front-loaded shape. The cold open had the largest concentration of celebrity cameos, while Weekend Update supplied another substantial block of political material. The regular sketches consequently had less room to define the episode, and the Los Angeles Times noted the limited presence of newer cast members.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat songs did Jelly Roll perform on SNL?
Jelly Roll performed “Liar” and “Winning Streak” on the season 50 premiere. He was a first-time SNL musical guest, and the episode presented him as a crossover artist: the Associated Press describes him as both a country singer and a rapper, so the booking should not be reduced to a conventional country-only appearance.
Smart and her Hacks co-star Hannah Einbinder introduced Jelly Roll for his first performance. Einbinder also has a direct connection to SNL history: she is the daughter of original cast member Laraine Newman. The two-song set gave the episode a clear musical identity after the long political opening.
How did the episode compare with a typical season premiere?
The season 50 premiere worked best as a high-profile election-season episode with an unusually strong cameo hook, not as a complete anniversary celebration. Its success depends on which measure matters most: surprise appearances and topical energy were abundant, while broader historical reflection and balanced sketch distribution were more limited.
| Evaluation area | Season 50 premiere result | Reader’s takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Anniversary relevance | Opened season 50 but focused mainly on current political comedy | More launch episode than retrospective |
| Cameo value | Rudolph returned, and Carvey, Samberg, and Gaffigan arrived as surprises | One of the episode’s clearest strengths |
| Host utilization | Smart received a warm, theatrical monologue and participated in the episode’s sketches | Strong personality fit, but not an all-Smart showcase |
| Musical contribution | Jelly Roll performed two songs as a first-time guest | A substantial crossover booking |
| Sketch balance | The cold open and Weekend Update took much of the early attention | The episode felt front-loaded |
| Audience measurement | 5.3 million NBC viewers in live-plus-same-day Nielsen measurement | Useful broadcast figure, not an all-platform total |
How many people watched the SNL season 50 premiere?
According to TheWrap’s October 1, 2024 report, the premiere drew 5.3 million viewers in Nielsen live-plus-same-day measurement for NBC. TheWrap said that result was 10.4% higher than the season 49 premiere and that the episode was, at that time, the most-watched SNL episode on Peacock during its first weekend.
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The 5.3 million figure should not be described as the total audience for the episode. The measurement covers NBC’s live-plus-same-day viewing and does not include every delayed view or streaming play across platforms.
Where can you watch the SNL season 50 premiere?
NBC and Peacock were identified by NBCUniversal as viewing destinations for season 50 episodes and anniversary programming. Current availability can vary by region, licensing arrangements, and the date of access, so viewers should check the current NBC or Peacock listing before assuming that the September 28, 2024 episode remains available in a particular market.
The episode should also be kept separate from the February 2025 anniversary special. A listing for anniversary programming does not by itself confirm that the Jean Smart and Jelly Roll premiere is included in that special or in every current streaming package.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the fairest verdict on the premiere?
The fairest verdict is that the season 50 premiere was cameo-heavy and front-loaded, with its most memorable work concentrated in the 13-minute political cold open and Weekend Update. Jean Smart supplied a warm hosting presence, Jelly Roll delivered two performances as a first-time musical guest, and the surprise returns made the episode feel eventful without turning it into the full anniversary retrospective that arrived later.
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The episode’s strengths were recognizable faces, timely political material, and a host who could give the opening a polished variety-show feel. The main limitation was balance: the regular sketches and newer cast members had less opportunity to compete with the opening parade of established SNL names. That is a measured assessment of the episode’s structure, not a claim that the premiere was universally unsuccessful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the surprise guests on the SNL season 50 premiere?
The surprise guests were Dana Carvey as Joe Biden, Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff, and Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz. Maya Rudolph’s return as Kamala Harris had been reported before the broadcast.
Did Dana Carvey play Joe Biden on SNL?
Yes. Dana Carvey played Joe Biden in the season 50 premiere’s cold open. Carvey was previously known on SNL for playing George H.W. Bush, not George W. Bush.
What songs did Jelly Roll perform on SNL?
Jelly Roll performed “Liar” and “Winning Streak” during the September 28, 2024 season 50 premiere.
Where can I watch the SNL season 50 premiere?
NBC and Peacock were identified as viewing destinations for season 50 programming, although current availability and regional rights should be checked before viewing.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The September 28, 2024 SNL season 50 premiere was an election-season opener powered by surprise guests: Dana Carvey as Joe Biden, Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff, and Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz joined Maya Rudolph and the regular cast. Jean Smart hosted warmly, Jelly Roll performed “Liar” and “Winning Streak,” and the episode’s 13-minute cold open—not a broad anniversary retrospective—was its defining feature.
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