What Lorne Michaels has said about the 'SNL' 51 premiere Joyann Jeffrey, TODAYAugust 25, 2025 at 12:52 AM Lorne Michaels in New York City on Feb. 14. (Jamie McCarthy / Peacock) Lorne Michaels has some big plans for "Saturday Night Live" Season 51.
- - What Lorne Michaels has said about the 'SNL' 51 premiere
Joyann Jeffrey, TODAYAugust 25, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Lorne Michaels in New York City on Feb. 14. (Jamie McCarthy / Peacock)
Lorne Michaels has some big plans for "Saturday Night Live" Season 51.
In an August interview with Puck News, the "SNL" creator talked about the future of the hit show, which has been running since 1975, and said he plans on shaking up the cast for the new season.
"I wanted people coming back and being part of (the 50th season)," Michaels told the outlet. "And that meant there couldn't be those kind of disruptions (to the cast), or anything that was going to take the focus off (the 50th season)."
Now, he confirmed he feels "pressure to reinvent" after the milestone Season 50.
"Yeah, for sure," Michaels answered. "It'll be announced in a week or so."
Until then, read on for everything we know about the upcoming season of "SNL" — including one actor who Michaels said will return.
When is 'Saturday Night Live' returning?
Season 51 of "Saturday Night Live" will premiere on NBC on Oct. 4, per NBC Insider.
Who Is In the Cast of 'Saturday Night Live' Season 51?
Though Michaels has yet to confirm the new cast of "SNL," he told Puck that cast shakeups would be "announced in a week or so."
When asked specifically if comedian James Austin Johnson will reprise his role as U.S. President Donald Trump, Michaels said, "yes."
The cast of Season 50 consisted of:
Michael Che
Mikey Day
Andrew Dismukes
Chloe Fineman
Heidi Gardner
Marcello Hernández
James Austin Johnson
Colin Jost
Michael Longfellow
Ego Nwodim
Sarah Sherman
Kenan Thompson
Devon Walker
Bowen Yang
Plus, featured players Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline
Where Can I Watch 'Saturday Night Live' Season 51?
After its Oct. 4 debut, new episodes of "SNL" will air Saturdays on NBC and will be available to stream on Peacock the next day. (Peacock and TODAY.com share a parent company, NBCUniversal.)
Is Lorne Michaels Retiring?
Lorne Michaels created "Saturday Night Live," and 50 years later, he's said he's not done with the program. Ahead of the anniversary special, many wondered about Michaels' future with the show.
In February, Michaels, 80, told the New York Times, "I may be wrong. But I don't feel I'm done."
In the August interview, Puck asked if he plans on giving some added responsibilities to some of his team members.
"That's already been happening (in) the past year or so," he said. "More people are involved in the choices and in the decisions. But I'm not worried about A.I. because A.I. can't guess what I'm gonna do between 10 and 11 (on show nights)… because I have no idea!"
"There's a lot of people in that room with a lot of opinions. I make the final decision, obviously. But it's not as if people don't let me know how strongly they feel," he added.
Source: "AOL Sports"
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