SNL

SNL sailed from the 40th anniversary into Season 41 rather smoothly, though the waters roughened in recent weeks with the departures of Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah and Jon Rudnitsky. Thankfully, it’s clear skies ahead for Season 42, as the rest of the beloved cast will be staying aboard. Sailing metaphors!

SNL is built for a bit of turnover here and there, but that doesn’t remove the sting from losing some of its best not-ready-for-primetime-players. To wit, Season 42 has some surprising departures, including series veterans Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah.

Not that the Republican National Convention lacked for its own special breed of entertainment night after night, but the political arena at least managed to bring SNL out of summer break early. Watch Colin Jost and Michael Che bring Weekend Update to Cleveland with the requisite Pokémon GO sketch you never wanted, plus bonus Kate McKinnon!

No late-night comedians could easily resist the call of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, and it looks like SNL will be getting in on the fun as well. Long before Season 42 hits NBC, Colin Jost and Michael Che will bring special editions of Weekend Update to MSNBC for both events.

At long last, all our efforts to brave another SNL season will pay off when distinguished alum Fred Armisen takes the stage to host the Season 41 finale. Armisen hasn’t exactly been a stranger to Studio 8H, but seems a bit forgetful in his first SNL finale promos with fellow veteran Kate McKinnon.

Drake’s feuds may not be as legendary as some of his predecessors, but they have made for some juicy gossip fodder despite his typically pleasant demeanor. While hosting this week’s SNL, the rapper managed to start some beef with, well, just about everyone — from Pete Davidson to the impossibly sweet Aidy Bryant, and even the cleaning lady. Yes, the cleaning lady.

Based on these promo clips, Drake will hopefully have several scenes with the SNL cast member.

We’ve wondered for a few weeks now if SNL would appoint one or two hosts to finish out Season 41 beyond Room star Brie Larson’s turn this weekend, and the Views are officially in. Not only will Drake host the penultimate hour, SNL great Fred Armisen will lead the season finale.

SNL has had only a moderate April, between hosts Peter Dinklage, Russell Crowe and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, but fans can easily agree on at least one gem: “Space Pants.” Were there further need to settle the debate, SNL has obliged with full-length rendition of the interstellar track, Gwen Stefani and all.

You can’t have Julia Louis-Dreyfus host SNL without at least some reference to her Seinfeld past — especially when you bring Larry David back to reprise his role as presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. In this week’s debate-themed cold open, Sanders and Kate McKinnon’s Hillary Clinton indulge in their usual caricature shenanigans and cartoonish sparring, this time with cameos from a couple of beloved sitcoms of NBC’s past.

It’s been six years since Julia Louis-Dreyfus hosted SNL, but with her hilariously irreverent HBO series Veep entering its fifth season, it’s about time for the former cast member / Seinfeld star to make her return. After poking fun at her forgettable SNL tenure in the monologue, it’s unfortunate to see Louis-Dreyfus given so many forgettable characters in sketches that are mostly vanilla and that feel written for a target demographic made up entirely of suburban women with Activia dependencies. That said, the usual wacky antics of the last 15 minutes combined with the undeniable greatness of Louis-Dreyfus and the occasional moment of hilarity save this episode, taking it from a four up to a solid six.

Eternally associated with the role of Seinfeld’s Elaine (and since 2013, Veep’s title boss), Julia Louis-Dreyfus garners significantly less recognition for her time as an SNL player in the mid ‘80s. Now, with her third SNL hosting turn this coming weekend, Dreyfus reveals that her initial SNL years weren’t fond memories, given some of the sexism and lacking recognition.