Saturday Night Live: Pedro Pascal, Coldplay On Tap for February 4th

We interrupt this promo week for host Michael B. Jordan (Creed 3) and musical guest Lil Baby for this important bit of news concerning NBC’s Saturday Night Live. We now know who will be hosting and performing for the February 4th show, with SNL confirming that Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, The Last of Us) and Coldplay will be taking the stages of Studio 8H. Here’s a look at the posted index cards to make it official:

Here’s a look at Jordan during Wednesday night’s read-thru, followed by a look back at the week so far:

In the following midweek sketch, SNL cast member Michael Longfellow (and especially his nose) learns the hard way why it’s not a good idea to sneak up on someone who’s been training deeply to portray a world-class boxer. No spoilers… but “Jesus B. Christ!” might be the funniest thing I hear all day…

And here’s a look back at the “welcome”/intro teaser for this week’s host and musical guest:

NBC’s SNL Season 48 includes Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Punkie Johnson, Colin Jost, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson, Devon Walker, and Bowen Yang. Executive produced by Michaels, SNL is directed by Liz Patrick, with alum Darrell Hammond announcing. Based out of Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center, the long-running late-night sketch comedy/music series is produced by SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video.

Lorne Michaels on Saturday Night Live Season 48, SNL’s Future & More

Speaking with The New York Times, SNL creator Lorne Michaels addressed the casting changes, labeling the upcoming season as “a year of reinvention” that could lead to some “exhilarating” change. He also had some reassuring words for “Weekend Update” fans and teased what’s in store for SNL’s big 50th-anniversary celebration. Here are some of the highlights:

COVID-19 Fallout Resulted in Much Larger SNL Cast Than Usual: “The pandemic had put us in this position where no one could really leave because there were no jobs. And at the same time, if I don’t add new people every year, then the show isn’t the show. There have to be new people, for both our sake and also for the audience.”

Michaels Believes Cast Departures are Good Things for SNL: “We got to a point where we had a lot of people, and people weren’t getting enough playing time. The way the series has survived is by that level of renewal. The price of success is that people go off and do other things; their primary obligation is to their talent and to keep pushing that. And there’s something so much better about the show when all that matters is the show. There’s a time to say goodbye, and there’s a natural time for it, but the natural time just got interfered with by the pandemic.”

… Except with Colin Jost, Michael Che & “Weekend Update”: “Particularly, coming into a midterm election, I just need that part [‘Weekend Update’ with Che & Jost] to be as solid as it is.”

SNL’s 50th Anniversary/Season? Think Big: “The 50th will be a big event. We’ll bring everyone back from all 50 years and hosts and all of that. It will be a very emotional and very strong thing. There won’t be as many plus-ones, I can tell you that much.”