Chris Pratt and Ariana Grande kicked off the record 40th season of SNL last night, which featured some significant changes! Check out our recap of the best of last night’s premiere.
Last night’s season premiere of SNL featured some noticeable changes to the cast and format of the show. After the cold open, fans may have noticed a reboot to the creative elements of opening credits of the cast. Not only have the credits changed, the memorable and iconic announcing of the cast made by Don Pardo has been changed following his death in August. Pardo, who was beloved by the cast and crew of Saturday Night Live, has been replaced with the voiceover of SNL veteran Darrell Hammond.
Chris Pratt opened up the historic 40th season of SNL. Pratt is one of the stars of NBC’s Parks and Recreation and gained superstardom this summer after appearing in the Marvel hit Guardians of the Galaxy. He opened with a song and was joined by his wife Anna Faris, who has hosted the show twice before.
In the first sketch of the night, Chris Pratt and Taran Killam became real-life toys following a wish from a kid’s birthday cake! Pratt and Killam are also joined by Ariana Grande as She-Ra.
SNL went on to spoof Guardians of The Galaxy by poking fun at the fact that the somewhat unknown comic went on to be the biggest movie of the year. Check out SNL‘s rendition of “Creatures of the Cosmos,” “Bus People,” “Pam,” “Fancy Ghosts,” “Some Shopping Carts,” “Pam 2: The Winter Pam,” and Marvel’s version of Star Wars.
Ariana Grande performed “Break Free” and “Love Me Harder” featuring The Weeknd. Check out the full performance of “Love Me Harder” below:
Weekend Update not only gained a new intro, it gained a new cast member. SNL writer-turned-anchor Michael Che has joined Colin Jost at the Update desk. The first Weekend Update of the season featured former anchor Cecily Stong reprising her character The Girl You Wish You Didn’t Start a Conversation With At a Party.
Aidy Bryant and Chris Pratt played awkward people trying to flirt with each other but only with disgusting rap lyrics in one of the funniest sketches of the night.
Next week Sarah Silverman will host with musical guest Maroon 5. The following week, on October 11, SNL alum and fan favorite Bill Hader will host with musical guest Hozier.
What were your thoughts about the SNL season 40 premiere?