The thirty-sixth season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 25, 2010, and May 21, 2011.
Longtime announcer Don Pardo announced that he would pre-record his parts from his home in Arizona rather than perform live in New York City.[1]
Cast
Prior to the start of the season, longtime cast member Will Forte left the show after a total of eight seasons from 2002 to 2010. Featured player Jenny Slate was let go from the show after one season.[2]Abby Elliott and Bobby Moynihan were both upgraded to repertory status, while Nasim Pedrad remained a featured player.
This was also the final episode for longtime writer/Lonely Island member Akiva Schaffer (a role he had been in since 2005), as he left the show, after six years, but would contribute to SNL Digital Shorts over the following season.[8]
Additionally, this was the final episode for longtime Weekend Update writer Doug Abeles (who had written for the segment since 2001), as he left the show after 10 years[9]; as well as Simon Rich (who previously joined the writing staff in 2007), as he left after four years.[10]
Debut of "Greetings from American America", an animated short created by former SNL head writer Fred Wolf. David Spade provided the voice of a chihuahua in the short.[11]
Writer and future cast member Colin Jost appears in the "Back to the Future" sketch as the scene marker.
Arcade Fire performs "We Used to Wait" and "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" and appears in the SNL Digital Short. Owen Pallett plays violin during both of Arcade Fire's performances.[12]
David Rudman plays Cookie Monster in the opening monologue. Cookie Monster started his own campaign on Facebook, similar to that of Betty White, to audition for SNL the month before, though he did not get the part.
At the end of the episode, Bridges exclaimed "Rest in peace, Captain Beefheart!"; Beefheart, who had performed on SNL in 1980, died the day before the episode aired.
Bill Hader suffered a panic attack while impersonating Julian Assange. Hader has opened up about the experience in the years since the incident. Lorne Michaels calmed him down backstage after the sketch telling Hader, “you can work here as long as you want”.
Mike Myers appears in the cold open to reprise his role as the title character in a Wayne's World sketch and introduces Linkin Park's second performance.
Jon Lovitz appears in the opening monologue and introduces Linkin Park's second performance.
Seth Meyers made an appearance in "The Original Kings of Catchphrase Comedy Tour" sketch as comedian Boston Powers. According to Meyers, it was his first appearance in a sketch in two years.[16]
Elton John and Leon Russell perform "Hey Ahab" and "Monkey Suit", as well as a post-show encore performance of "The Bitch Is Back",[17] though only John is credited as the official musical guest.
Will Forte appears in the "ESPN Classic" sketch, reprising his role as Greg Stink.
Tom Hanks appears in the "ESPN Classic" sketch, as Michael Caine in the "Knights of the Realm" sketch, and in the SNL Digital Short. Hanks also introduces John and Russell's first performance.
Carmelo Anthony appears in the "ESPN Classic" sketch, the SNL Digital Short and introduces John and Russell's second performance.
Lady Gaga performs a medley of "The Edge of Glory" and "Judas" and "Born This Way" and appears in the "Liquorville" sketch, the SNL Digital Short "3-Way (The Golden Rule)", and the "What's That Name?" sketch.