‘SNL’ Returns with Bad Bunny, Addresses Super Bowl Halftime Show & Welcomes New Cast
NEW YORK – Saturday Night Live kicked off its 51st season Saturday night with host Bad Bunny, who directly addressed the recent buzz surrounding his Super Bowl LVIII halftime performance. The episode marked a new chapter for the long-running sketch comedy show, following a landmark 50th season celebrated with an anniversary special, a docuseries exploring its history, adn a retrospective on its musical guests.
The show’s return comes as it navigates a changing cast dynamic, welcoming five new performers – Tommy Brennan, jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Ben Marshall - while saying goodbye to Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, and Emil Wakim. The season premiere also featured musical guest Doja Cat.
Bad Bunny’s opening monologue playfully acknowledged criticisms leveled at his Super bowl performance, especially regarding audio issues. He joked about the complaints, stating, ”I no some people think I didn’t sing. But if you think I didn’t sing, you didn’t hear my album.” He then launched into a medley of his hits.
later in the show, Bad Bunny appeared in a sketch as himself, interacting with a superfan played by Jon Hamm (whom Bad bunny playfully dubbed “Juan Jamón”). Hamm also later appeared as Profesor Jirafales in a parody of the classic Mexican comedy series “El chavo del Ocho.” benicio del toro also made a cameo in a sketch set in 900 A.D., pondering the complexities of the Spanish language, suggesting, “What if we made it harder to learn?” and advocating for a prolonged “R” sound and afternoon naps.
The premiere signaled a fresh start for “SNL,” building on its legacy while introducing new talent and continuing to attract high-profile guests. The show airs on NBC,a division of NBCUniversal.
