New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson will make his hosting debut on the Sept. 26 premiere of Saturday Night Live’s 52nd season on NBC, headlining an initial lineup that also features Dakota Johnson, Shane Gillis, and Inde Navarrette.
The long-running late-night sketch comedy series returns to Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza with a trio of consecutive episodes to start the autumn schedule. NBC unveiled the initial roster for the upcoming season, establishing a lineup that mixes sports figures, franchise veterans, and breakout actors.
Jalen Brunson Transitions From NBA Finals MVP to Studio 8H Host
Fresh off leading the New York Knicks to an NBA championship in five games over the San Antonio Spurs, Jalen Brunson steps into the premiere slot on September 26. The series of games marked the franchise’s first title since 1973. Brunson earned NBA Finals MVP honors during the run.
His appearance places him among a select group of basketball stars who have hosted the program over the decades, following figures such as Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and LeBron James. The athletic milestone gave the city its first championship in over 50 years, making the point guard a natural choice for the New York-produced broadcast.
During a post-championship availability, Brunson expressed interest in expanding his television resume, telling reporters that an appearance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
ranked high on his personal bucket list. Pop girl group Katseye will join the season opener as the musical guest.
Dakota Johnson and Shane Gillis Return While Inde Navarrette Debuts
Following the premiere, Dakota Johnson takes over hosting duties on October 3. The appearance coincides with the theatrical release of her upcoming film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s thriller Verity. Hardcore rock band Turnstile is slated as the musical guest for that episode.
Johnson previously hosted in February 2015 alongside musical guest Alabama Shakes and returned in January 2024 with musical guest Justin Timberlake. Her upcoming appearance marks her third turn hosting the sketch series.
Comedian Shane Gillis returns on October 10 for his third hosting stint. Gillis, who was briefly part of the cast in 2019 before being fired, has since returned twice to host. His return comes as his Netflix comedy series Tires secured a fourth-season renewal and he sold out two performances at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. Rosalía will perform as the musical guest, marking her second appearance on the show.
After a two-week break, the program returns on October 31 for a Halloween episode hosted by Inde Navarrette in her hosting debut. Navarrette gained recognition as a breakout star of the horror-thriller Obsession and has roles lined up in an upcoming X-Men film and The Waffle House Index. Gracie Abrams will appear as the musical guest for the Halloween broadcast.
Cast Stability and Behind-the-Scenes Departures
Season 52 arrives four months after the conclusion of season 51, which featured hosts including Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Teyana Taylor, Harry Styles, and Jack Black. The program enters the new cycle with lower cast turnover than the previous year, though a few notable exits have reshaped the roster.
Comedian Chloe Fineman announced her departure from the program in July after seven seasons. Joining the show as a featured player in 2019, she addressed her exit on social media.
Writer and sketch performer Martin Herlihy is also departing after five seasons. Herlihy spent four years appearing on screen with the Please Don’t Destroy comedy trio before moving primarily to the writing staff, making only occasional on-screen appearances during season 51. No additional casting changes have been announced ahead of the premiere.
Broadcast Details and Schedule At-a-Glance
Saturday Night Live produces its episodes in association with Broadway Video, with Lorne Michaels serving as executive producer. The weekly broadcast originates from Studio 8H in New York City, airing at 11:30 p.m. Eastern time on NBC with simultaneous live streaming on Peacock.
| Date | Host | Musical Guest |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 26 | Jalen Brunson | Katseye |
| Oct. 3 | Dakota Johnson | Turnstile |
| Oct. 10 | Shane Gillis | Rosalía |
| Oct. 31 | Inde Navarrette | Gracie Abrams |
While additional hosts and musical guests beyond October remain unannounced, the initial four-week run sets a clear trajectory for the autumn broadcast schedule as the late-night institution enters its 52nd year.
