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Saturday Night Live season 39

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Saturday Night Live (season 39)
Season 39
The title card for the thirty-ninth season of Saturday Night Live.
No. of episodes21
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 28, 2013 (2013-09-28) –
May 17, 2014 (2014-05-17)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 38
Next →
Season 40
List of episodes

The thirty-ninth season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 28, 2013, and May 17, 2014.

Cast

Prior to the start of the season, a large number of cast changes occurred. Veteran cast members Fred Armisen, Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis all departed the show. In addition, first-year featured player Tim Robinson left the cast to focus on his new duties in the writing staff, becoming the first performer to join the writing staff after being a cast member without initially being hired as a writer.

In their places, six new featured players were hired, including SNL writer Mike O'Brien who was upgraded into the cast, as well as new hires Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney of the sketch comedy group Good Neighbor, John Milhiser of the sketch group Serious Lunch, comedian Noël Wells (known for her viral videos and impressions featured on sites such as Cracked.com), and stand-up comedian Brooks Wheelan.

O'Brien has written for the show since 2009 and is the first writer to be upgraded into the cast since Jason Sudeikis in 2005. Mooney and Bennett's fellow Good Neighbor troupe member Dave McCary was also hired to direct Bennett and Mooney's digital shorts.

On May 12, 2013, NBC announced that Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers would be the new host of Late Night in 2014 succeeding Jimmy Fallon as Fallon will take over as the new host of The Tonight Show. Meyers remained Weekend Update anchor up until his departure from the show on February 1, 2014.[1][2] Cecily Strong was brought up to co-anchor with Meyers. Colin Jost, a writer for the show (and head writer for season 38 and 39), joined the cast on March 1, 2014, as a featured player and as Meyers' successor on Weekend Update.[3] This is the third time a featured player was also a Weekend Update anchor. The first two were Tina Fey and Brian Doyle-Murray. Strong was replaced the next year by former writer and "Daily Show" correspondent Michael Che.

During the season, the show came under criticism from critics (as well as cast members Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah) for not including at least one black female cast member, a topic which was addressed on the November 2, 2013 show hosted by Kerry Washington.[4] As a result, Lorne Michaels announced that the show would be holding auditions for a black female cast member, expected to join the show in January as a new featured player.[5] On January 6, 2014, it was announced that UCB-NY performer Sasheer Zamata would be joining the cast as a new featured player. She made her first appearance on January 18, 2014.[6]

The addition of eight new cast members is the greatest since the 1995–96 season, during which nine cast members were added, making it the largest cast overhaul in eighteen years. The total of 17 cast members was an SNL record, and some critics argued that the bloated cast contributed to how uneven the season was overall.[7]

Along with the other changes that occurred to the cast, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong were all promoted to repertory status.

This would be the final season for Nasim Pedrad, who announced her departure from the show in June 2014 in order to work on the Lorne Michaels-produced show Mulaney.[8] Additionally, John Milhiser, Noël Wells, and Brooks Wheelan were fired from the show after a single season.[9][10] Also, Mike O'Brien left to return to the writer's room.

This would also be the final season for longtime announcer Don Pardo, who died on August 18, 2014, at the age of 96.[11]

bold denotes Weekend Update anchors

Writers

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live writers § Season 39 (2013–14)

For the first half of the season, Seth Meyers, Colin Jost and Rob Klein were co-head writers. After Meyers' departure, Bryan Tucker replaced him as a co-head writer.[12]

Prior to the start of the season, three new writers were hired:

Additionally, Tim Robinson was moved to the writing staff after one year as a featured player on the show.[12]

In December, Chicago Second City alum Katie Rich joined the writing staff.[16]

In January, comedians LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones were added to the writing staff.[17] Both were part of the December casting call for a black female cast member.

This was Seth Meyers' final season as writer. Michael Che initially departed following this season to join The Daily Show as a correspondent,[18][19] but returned for the start of the next season to co-anchor Weekend Update alongside Jost.[20]

This was also the final season for longtime writers Alex Baze (Weekend Update writer since 2004, and head of the segment since 2011), Marika Sawyer and John Solomon (both of whom had been with the show since 2006), as well as the only season for LaKendra Tookes.

Episodes

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		HostMusical guestOriginal air dateRatings/
Share
7461Tina FeyArcade FireSeptember 28, 20134.7/12[21]
7472Miley CyrusMiley CyrusOctober 5, 20134.5/13[22]
7483Bruce WillisKaty PerryOctober 12, 20134.3/11[23]
7494Edward NortonJanelle MonáeOctober 26, 20133.9/10[24]
7505Kerry WashingtonEminemNovember 2, 20134.9/12[25]
7516Lady GagaLady GagaNovember 16, 20134.9/12[26]
7527Josh HutchersonHaimNovember 23, 20134.1/10[27]
7538Paul RuddOne DirectionDecember 7, 20134.9/12[28]
7549John GoodmanKings of LeonDecember 14, 20134.5/11[29]
75510Jimmy FallonJustin TimberlakeDecember 21, 20136.3/16[30]
75611DrakeDrakeJanuary 18, 20144.7/12[31]
75712Jonah HillBastilleJanuary 25, 20144.8/12[32]
75813Melissa McCarthyImagine DragonsFebruary 1, 20145.4/13[33]
75914Jim ParsonsBeckMarch 1, 20144.6/12[34]
76015Lena DunhamThe NationalMarch 8, 20144.1/11[35]
76116Louis C.K.Sam SmithMarch 29, 20144.0/10[36]
76217Anna KendrickPharrell WilliamsApril 5, 20144.0/10[37]
76318Seth RogenEd SheeranApril 12, 20143.9/10[38]
76419Andrew GarfieldColdplayMay 3, 20143.9/10[39]
76520Charlize TheronThe Black KeysMay 10, 20143.8/10[40]
76621Andy SambergSt. VincentMay 17, 20144.0/10[41]

Specials

TitleOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
"Saturday Night Live Halloween"October 31, 20135.32[42]
"Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving"November 27, 20134.87[43]
"Saturday Night Live Christmas"December 4, 20137.42[44]
"SNL Best of This Season"January 4, 20145.6/14[45]
"SNL Presents: SNL Sports Spectacular"January 30, 20144.79[46]
"SNL Shorts"April 24, 2014N/A

References

  1. ^ Busis, Hillary (May 16, 2013). "Seth Meyers will return to 'SNL' this fall, leave for 'Late Night' in 2014". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference insidetv.ew.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference jost was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Evans, Bradford (October 2, 2013). "Jay Pharoah on 'SNL's Diversity Issue: "They Need to Pay Attention"". SplitSider. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  5. ^ Evans, Bradford (December 12, 2013). "'SNL' Held an Audition of Exclusively Black Female Performers Last Week". SplitSider. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  6. ^ "'Saturday Night Live' Cast — Sasheer Zamata First Black Female in Six Years - TVLine". TVLine. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  7. ^ Ryan, Mike (March 7, 2014). "The 'SNL' Cast Has A Size Problem". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  8. ^ "Nasim Pedrad implies that she's leaving 'Saturday Night Live'". Erin Strecker. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  9. ^ "Noël Wells & John Milhiser Also Leaving 'SNL', Michael Patrick O'Brien Future Unclear". Nellie Andreeva. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  10. ^ "Brooks Wheelan states he was fired from Saturday Night Live". NY Daily News. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference donpardo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference newcourse was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Chicago comic Claire Mulaney picked for 'Saturday Night Live'". July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  14. ^ "'Wild N Out's Mikey Day Hired to Write for 'SNL'". Splitsider. 23 August 2013.
  15. ^ Evans, Bradford (2013-09-03). "Michael Che Is Writing for 'SNL' Full-Time This Season". Splitsider.
  16. ^ "Katie Rich headed to 'SNL'". Chicago Tribune. 26 November 2013.
  17. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (January 8, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' Adds Two African-American Female Writers". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  18. ^ "'The Daily Show' hires 'SNL' writer Michael Che as correspondent". EW.com. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  19. ^ "Colin Jost on Twitter: "Congrats again to @CheThinks on a well-deserved opportunity. We're losing a great writer and 80 percent of our sweatshirts. He's the best."". Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  20. ^ Carter, Bill (September 11, 2014). "New Comic to Anchor 'Update' on 'S.N.L.'". New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  21. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (September 29, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' Premiere With Tina Fey & Musical Guest Arcade Fire Equals Finale Rating". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  22. ^ Bibel, Sara (October 6, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Miley Cyrus Matches Its Highest Local People Meter Result Since April 27". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  23. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 13, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Bruce Willis and Musical Guest Katy Perry Falls From Last Week". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  24. ^ Bibel, Sara (October 28, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Edward Norton and Musical Guest Janelle Monae Delivers Average Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  25. ^ Bibel, Sara (November 3, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Kerry Washington and Musical Guest Eminem Delivers Its Highest Rating Since October 5". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  26. ^ "Lady Gaga-Hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE on Par with Miley Cyrus Episode in Adults 18-49". BroadwayWorld. November 17, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  27. ^ Bibel, Sara (November 25, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Josh Hutcherson and Musical Guest Haim Delivers Season Low Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  28. ^ "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE with Paul Rudd Matches March High in Metered-Market Households". BroadwayWorld. December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  29. ^ Bibel, Sara (December 15, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host John Goodman and Musical Guest Kings of Leon Delivers Below Average Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  30. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 22, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Jimmy Fallon and Musical Guest Justin Timberlake Delivers Highest Overnight Ratings in Two Years". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  31. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 19, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host and Musical Guest Drake is the #1 Telecast of the Night on "Big 4" Networks". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  32. ^ Bibel, Sara (January 26, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Jonah Hill and Musical Guest Bastille Delivers Average Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  33. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 2, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Melissa McCarthy and Musical Guest Imagine Dragons Delivers This Season's Third-Best Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  34. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 2, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Jim Parsons and Musical Guest Beck is #1 Telecast of the Night on the "Big 4" Networks". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  35. ^ Bibel, Sara (March 9, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Lena Dunham and Musical Guest The National is The Number 1 Telecast of the Night on the Big 4 Networks". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  36. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 30, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Louis CK and Musical Guest Sam Smith Even With Last Original". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  37. ^ Bibel, Sara (April 6, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Anna Kendrick and Musical Guest Pharrell Williams Up From Last Original". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  38. ^ Cantor, Brian (April 13, 2014). "Seth Rogen, Ed Sheeran "SNL" Ratings Tie Season Low in Households". Headline Planet. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  39. ^ Cantor, Brian (May 4, 2014). ""SNL" Delivers Season Low Ratings for Andrew Garfield, Coldplay Episode". Headline Planet. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  40. ^ Cantor, Brian (May 11, 2014). ""SNL" Hits Season Low Ratings for Charlie Theron, Black Keys". Headline Planet. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  41. ^ Bibel, Sara (May 18, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Andy Samberg and Musical Guest St. Vincent Matches Highest Rating Since April 5". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  42. ^ Bibel, Sara (November 1, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'The Vampire Diaries', 'The Millers' & 'Elementary' Adjusted Up; 'Sean Saves the World' & 'Parenthood' Adjusted Down". Zap2it. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  43. ^ Bibel, Sara (November 28, 2013). "TV Ratings Wednesday: 'Criminal Minds', 'Survivor', 'The X Factor' & 'CSI' Down on Soft Thanksgiving Eve". Zap2it. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  44. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 5, 2013). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Arrow' & 'Modern Family' Adjusted Up; 'The Tomorrow People' & 'Super Fun Night' Adjusted Down". Zap2it. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  45. ^ "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Melissa McCarthy and Musical Guest Imagine Dragons Delivers This Season's Third-Best Ratings - Ratings - TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com". TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  46. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 31, 2014). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory', 'American Idol', 'The Taste', 'Vampire Diaries', 'Parks & Recreation', 'Two and a Half Men' Adjusted Up; 'The Millers', 'Elementary', & 'Reign' Adjusted Down". Zap2it. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
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