The love affair between New York and the Knicks is still strong. The star guard and NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Jalen Brunson will host the season premier of SNL on September 26.
The first four headliners for Season 52 were revealed today, and include two first-time hosts and two returning hosts. Brunson will get the season started, making him one of the few athletes to take a turn as host of the NBC program.
Brunson will be the fifth NBA star to host Saturday Night Live, following Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and LeBron James. The last time an NBA figure hosted was in Season 43 when Barkley came back to Studio 8H for his fourth hosting gig. The last time an active NBA player hosted was James on September 29, 2007. Jordan, in Season 17, and James are the only two previous active NBA players to host.
This will be the fourth time a basketball superstar has hosted the season premier of SNL. Jordan in 1991, Barkley in 1993, and James in 2007 are the others.
Brunson will be joined on the Season 52 season opener by musical guest Katseye, a six-member, Los Angeles based girl group.
The Knicks won the NBA Finals in June, ending a 53-year drought for the franchise, which plays its home games at Madison Square Garden, only a few blocks from Rockefeller Center, where SNL has been broadcast since its debut in 1975.
Actress Dakota Johnson will host the second show of the season on October 3, with musical guest Turnstile. This will be the second time Johnson has hosted SNL. The October 10 episode will be hosted by comedian Shane Gillis, making his third hosting appearance. Spanish singer Rosalía will be the musical guest.
For the Halloween episode on October 31, actress Inde Navarrette will host with her musical guest, Gracie Adams.
Saturday Night Live is expected to make cast announcements for Season 52 in the coming days. Chloe Fineman announced her exit this past summer, and writer Martin Herlihy has also revealed that he will not be back for the upcoming season. It’s expected that a handful of new cast members, as featured performers, will be added for Season 52. Producers have been auditioning potential cast members this summer.
