“Saturday Night Live” returns for its 45th season with its star, Kate McKinnon, in place and returning. There were reports last spring that she might live, but “SNL” needs her at least through the 2020 election. She signed a one year deal. Next spring there will be talk again of her exit, but my guess is she’ll renew one last time. Let’s hope, at least.
“SNL” has lost Leslie Jones, who’s gone off to blaze new trails. She was an important addition five years ago because the show has always been light on African American comedians and actors. Eddie Murphy is the sole black star who really made it.
Jones is not being replaced by another African American hire. Instead we’ll get Chloe Fineman and Shane Gillis from the Groundlings. They’re also getting their first Asian player– first in 45 years! — in Bowen Yang, a staff writer who appeared in a sketch last March with Sandra Oh. Forty five years. Mind blowing.
No word on Alec Baldwin, if he’ll be back as Donald Trump. But my guess is he will be putting the orange make up on until Trump is out of office.
