“Saturday Night Live” is rounding out its season with a May lineup that feels both familiar and refreshingly overdue. We’ve got a returning champ, a character actor finally getting his shot, and a seasoned pro anchoring the finale.
The core news is NBC has set its final three hosts for the season. Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”) returns for her second hosting stint on Saturday, May 3rd. Following her, Walton Goggins (“The White Lotus,” “Fallout”) makes his hosting debut – a gig many have felt was long deserved – on Friday, May 10 (note the unusual Friday slot). Scarlett Johansson then closes out the season on Saturday, May 17, clocking in her seventh appearance as host.
So, what does this trio tell us? Brunson’s return makes perfect sense; she’s a proven quantity and remains very much in the cultural conversation thanks to her hit sitcom. Goggins is the interesting one – a respected actor known for distinct roles, finally getting the call-up. It’s the kind of booking that pleases folks who appreciate strong performers getting a chance on the Studio 8H stage. Johansson is the reliable closer, a multi-timer comfortable with the format, likely promoting her film “Jurassic World Rebirth.” It’s a safe pair of hands for the finale.
The musical guests follow a similar pattern of established and rising names. Benson Boone, with an album arriving in June, joins Brunson on May 3. Arcade Fire, certainly no strangers to the show, bring their new record “Pink Elephant” (out May 9) for their sixth appearance alongside Goggins on May 10. And Bad Bunny, a global music force, makes his third appearance to accompany Johansson for the May 17 finale.
All these shows air live coast-to-coast on NBC (11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT) and stream simultaneously on Peacock, where you can also find past seasons if you need a Lorne Michaels fix. It’s a solid, varied lineup to end the season – hitting notes of current TV buzz, cult-favorite appreciation, and blockbuster familiarity. We’ll see how Goggins handles the live pressure, but otherwise, it feels like SNL knows exactly what it’s doing heading into repeats.
