Bad Bunny to Host ‘SNL’ Season 51 Premiere With Doja Cat/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Saturday Night Live kicks off its 51st season this weekend with Bad Bunny returning as host and Doja Cat making her debut as musical guest. The long-running NBC sketch comedy show also introduces five new featured players following several high-profile cast departures. The fresh season follows the Emmy-winning 50th anniversary celebrations that honored “SNL’s” rich legacy.
“SNL Season 51 Quick Looks”
- Premiere Date: Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025
- Host: Bad Bunny
- Musical Guest: Doja Cat
- Upcoming Hosts: Amy Poehler (Oct. 11), Sabrina Carpenter (Oct. 18)
- New Cast Members: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, Ben Marshall
- Departures: Ego Nwodim, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow
Bad Bunny to Host ‘SNL’ Season 51 Premiere With Doja Cat
Deep Look
NEW YORK (AP) — It’s lights, camera, live from New York again! Saturday Night Live returns for its 51st season this weekend, debuting a reenergized lineup of performers and fresh faces — and kicking things off with a megastar host.
Global music sensation Bad Bunny will headline the premiere on Saturday, Oct. 4, marking his second time hosting the iconic show. The Puerto Rican artist, fresh off a record-breaking residency in San Juan, also made headlines this week after being announced as the headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show — cementing his place as one of the most in-demand entertainers in the world.
Joining him is Doja Cat, who will perform as the musical guest for the first time. Her appearance follows a series of chart-topping singles and viral performances that have solidified her as one of pop music’s most dynamic figures.
“Bad Bunny is having one of the biggest weeks of his career — from the Super Bowl stage to Studio 8H,” said an NBC insider. “It’s the perfect way to launch a new era of SNL.”
New Era, New Energy
After a nostalgia-heavy 50th anniversary season that celebrated “SNL’s” legacy with special cameos, reunion sketches, and a massive ‘SNL50: The Homecoming Concert’, the show now shifts its focus forward.
The 51st season introduces five new featured players — Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska — who will join returning cast members like Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang, and Chloe Fineman.
Marshall, previously an SNL writer and part of the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy, transitions to an on-screen role this year.
Meanwhile, long-running cast members Ego Nwodim, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, and Emil Wakim confirmed their departures on social media last month. Rumors have also swirled that Heidi Gardner may be leaving, though neither NBC nor Gardner herself has officially confirmed the reports.
“SNL has always been about evolution,” said Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator and executive producer. “Each season brings a new rhythm — and new voices that keep it alive.”
Star-Studded Lineup Ahead
Following Bad Bunny’s hosting gig, Amy Poehler — an “SNL” alum and beloved comedy icon — will return to Studio 8H to host the Oct. 11 episode, exactly 50 years to the day since SNL’s first broadcast in 1975. She’ll be joined by first-time musical guest Role Model.
Then on Oct. 18, Sabrina Carpenter, who wowed fans during last season’s anniversary special, will pull double duty as both host and musical guest.
Poehler, Carpenter, and Bad Bunny all took part in last season’s milestone festivities — with Bad Bunny closing out Season 50 as its final musical guest.
Awards and Legacy
“SNL” continues to dominate in awards season even as it refreshes its talent. The show won 12 Emmy Awards last month for its 50th season and anniversary programming, including Outstanding Variety Special.
During his Emmy acceptance speech, Michaels reflected on the show’s extraordinary run:
“I won this award for the first time 50 years ago in 1975,” he said. “I never imagined I’d still be doing the same show half a century later.”
As the cast prepares for Season 51, Michaels’ words resonate — a reminder that SNL’s enduring success lies in its ability to reinvent itself while honoring its roots.
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