Saturday Night Live (season 37)

Saturday Night Live (season 37)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	22
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 24, 2011 – May 19, 2012

The thirty-seventh season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 24, 2011, and May 19, 2012.

Cast

The season began with minimal changes to the cast, as everyone from the prior year returned. The only major change that occurred was Nasim Pedrad being upgraded from being a featured player to repertory status.^[1]

Kate McKinnon (previously a cast member on The Big Gay Sketch Show) joined the cast mid-season, as a featured player for the last five episodes of the season, making her debut on April 7, 2012. McKinnon's addition was announced March 28, 2012.^[2] McKinnon is SNL's first openly-gay cast member hired since Terry Sweeney in 1985,^[3] and the show's first openly gay female cast member (Danitra Vance from the 1985–86 season was SNL's first lesbian cast member but Vance's sexuality was not public knowledge until her death in 1994).^[4]

This would be the final season for Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg, both cast members since 2005.^[5][6] As well, Abby Elliott, who had been a cast member since 2008, would be let go from the show after four seasons.^[7] Second year featured player Paul Brittain also exited abruptly halfway through the season, making his final appearance on January 14, 2012.^[8]

Repertory players Fred Armisen Abby Elliott Bill Hader Seth Meyers Bobby Moynihan Nasim Pedrad Andy Samberg Jason Sudeikis Kenan Thompson Kristen Wiig

Featured players Vanessa Bayer Paul Brittain (final episode: January 14, 2012)[8] Taran Killam Kate McKinnon (first episode: April 7, 2012)[9] Jay Pharoah

bold denotes Weekend Update anchor

Writers

This season saw several new writers. CollegeHumor writer Sarah Schneider was added to the writing staff, after serving as a guest writer for the last five episodes of season 36.^[10] Also added were Chris Kelly, who previously wrote for Funny or Die and The Onion News Network; Zach Kanin, who worked on the Harvard Lampoon; and Peter Schultz, a performer from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.^[11][12]

The season saw the deaths of three former SNL writers. Nelson Lyon died at the age of 73 due to liver cancer; Lyon wrote for the show during its seventh season.^[13] Mark O'Donnell, who also wrote during the show's seventh season, died of a heart attack at the age of 58 outside his apartment in New York.^[14] Most notably, Tom Davis died after a three-year battle with throat and neck cancer; Davis was one of the original SNL writers and appeared in multiple sketches over the years.

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Host	Musical guest(s)	Original air date	Ratings/ Share
703	1	Alec Baldwin	Radiohead	September 24, 2011	5.0/13
Radiohead performs "Lotus Flower" and "Staircase".[15] Steve Martin and Seth Rogen appears in the opening monologue.[16] Clive Deamer plays drums and percussion for both of Radiohead's performances.
704	2	Melissa McCarthy	Lady Antebellum	October 1, 2011	5.2/13
Lady Antebellum performs "We Owned the Night" and "Just a Kiss".[17]
705	3	Ben Stiller	Foster the People	October 8, 2011	4.8/12
Foster the People performs "Pumped Up Kicks" and "Houdini".[18] Hugh Jackman appears as Daniel Radcliffe in The Best of Both Worlds with Hugh Jackman, alongside Andy Samberg's impersonation of Jackman.[19] Stiller reprises his role as Derek Zoolander from the movie Zoolander during Weekend Update.[20] Kenny G plays soprano sax during Foster the People's performance of "Houdini".[18] Mike O'Brien appears as Max Weinberg during the "Bruce Springsteen: Just the Stories" sketch.
706	4	Anna Faris	Drake	October 15, 2011	4.8/12
Drake performs "Headlines" and "Make Me Proud" and appears in the SNL Digital Short and Weekend Update.[21] Nicki Minaj joins Drake for his second performance.[21]
707	5	Charlie Day	Maroon 5	November 5, 2011	4.9/11
Maroon 5 performs "Moves Like Jagger" and "Stereo Hearts". Adam Levine also appears in the "Kings of Catchphrase Comedy" commercial and the Greek Economy sketch. Gym Class Heroes' Travie McCoy joins Maroon 5 for their second performance. Day's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-star Danny DeVito appears in the opening monologue.
708	6	Emma Stone	Coldplay	November 12, 2011	4.5/11
Coldplay performs "Paradise" and "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" and appears in the "Someone Like You" sketch. Chris Martin also appears in the "Garth and Kat" segment on Weekend Update.[22] Andrew Garfield appears in the opening monologue. The song Ta Douleur by Camille is played during the Les jeunes de Paris sketch.
709	7	Jason Segel	Florence + The Machine	November 19, 2011	4.6/11
Florence + the Machine performs "Shake It Out" and "No Light, No Light".[23] Florence Welch also appears in the "New Jack Thanksgiving" sketch and the "Massachusetts Afternoon" sketch. The Muppets - Kermit the Frog (Steve Whitmire), Miss Piggy (Eric Jacobson), Rowlf the Dog (Bill Barretta), Fozzie Bear (Jacobson), Gonzo the Great (Dave Goelz), Scooter (David Rudman), Camilla the Chicken (Matt Vogel) and Statler and Waldorf (Whitmire and Goelz respectively) appear in the opening monologue. Additionally, Kermit the Frog appears in a Weekend Update segment, and Rowlf and Gonzo appear in the "Massachusetts Afternoon" sketch. Paul Rudd appears in the "Vogelchecks' Thanksgiving" sketch and the "Massachusetts Afternoon" sketch. James Franco is shown in a family photo at the end of the "Vogelchecks' Thanksgiving" sketch, reprising his role as a member of the Vogelcheck family. Former Utah Governor (and candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential primary) Jon Huntsman appears on Weekend Update. Olivia Wilde appears in the SNL Digital Short.
710	8	Steve Buscemi	The Black Keys	December 3, 2011	4.8/11
The Black Keys perform "Lonely Boy" and "Gold on the Ceiling".[24] Maya Rudolph appears as Whitney Houston in "The Miley Cyrus Show" sketch.
711	9	Katy Perry	Robyn	December 10, 2011	4.8/11
Robyn performs "Call Your Girlfriend" and "Dancing on My Own".[25] Darrell Hammond appears in the cold open as Donald Trump. Matt Damon and Val Kilmer appear in the SNL Digital Short. Alec Baldwin appears on Weekend Update.
712	10	Jimmy Fallon	Michael Bublé	December 17, 2011	5.3/13
Michael Bublé performs "Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Additionally, Bublé appears in the opening monologue and in the "Michael Bublé's Christmas Duets" sketch.[26] Rachel Dratch and Amy Poehler appear in the "Boston Teens" cold open. Horatio Sanz, Chris Kattan and Tracy Morgan make cameo appearances to reprise "Christmas is Number One" with host Jimmy Fallon.[26] Additionally, Sanz and Kattan appear in the "Beethoven's 9th Symphony" sketch. Jude Law, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey appear on Weekend Update. Will Arnett cameos during the goodnights.
713	11	Charles Barkley	Kelly Clarkson	January 7, 2012	7.4/18
Kelly Clarkson performs "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" and "Mr. Know It All".[27] This episode was delayed due to the Lions at Saints football game.[28]
714	12	Daniel Radcliffe	Lana Del Rey	January 14, 2012	5.2/12
Lana Del Rey performs "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans".[29] Paul Brittain's final episode as a cast member.
715	13	Channing Tatum	Bon Iver	February 4, 2012	4.7/11
Bon Iver performs "Holocene" and "Beth/Rest".[30]
716	14	Zooey Deschanel	Karmin	February 11, 2012	5.0/12
Karmin performs "Brokenhearted" and "I Told You So."[31] Jean Dujardin appears in the Les jeunes de Paris sketch. Nicolas Cage appears on Weekend Update alongside Andy Samberg's portrayal of Nicolas Cage. After the crab sketch, a picture of Whitney Houston alongside Molly Shannon from a Mary Katherine Gallagher sketch was shown; Houston's death had been reported just hours before the episode premiered.
717	15	Maya Rudolph	Sleigh Bells	February 18, 2012	4.9/12
Sleigh Bells perform "Comeback Kid" and "End of the Line". Paul Simon appears in the opening monologue. Amy Poehler appears during the Bronx Beat sketch (reprising her role as Betty Caruso), Weekend Update, and "The Obama Show" sketch (reprising her impersonation of Hillary Clinton). Justin Timberlake appears during the Bronx Beat sketch and the "Blue Ivy" sketch (impersonating Justin Vernon). Bill O'Reilly and Kate Upton appear during "What Up with That".
718	16	Lindsay Lohan	Jack White	March 3, 2012	5.5/14
Jack White performs "Love Interruption" and "Sixteen Saltines". Ruby Amanfu performs backing vocals during White's first performance. Jimmy Fallon and Jon Hamm appear in the opening monologue. Hamm also appears during Weekend Update. Future cast member Mike O'Brien appears during the cold-open as one of Mitt Romney's sons.
719	17	Jonah Hill	The Shins	March 10, 2012	4.3/11
The Shins perform "Simple Song" and "It's Only Life". Tom Hanks appears in the opening monologue. John McEnroe appears in the SNL Digital Short.
720	18	Sofía Vergara	One Direction	April 7, 2012	5.0/16[32]
One Direction performs "What Makes You Beautiful" and "One Thing" and appear in "The Manuel Ortiz Show" sketch. Kate McKinnon's first episode as a cast member.[9]
721	19	Josh Brolin	Gotye	April 14, 2012	4.6/11[33]
Gotye performs "Somebody That I Used to Know" and "Eyes Wide Open" and appears in the second SNL Digital Short. Steven Spielberg appears in the first SNL Digital Short. Kimbra joins Gotye on his first performance.
722	20	Eli Manning	Rihanna	May 5, 2012	5.2/13[34]
Rihanna performs a medley of "Birthday Cake" and "Talk That Talk" and "Where Have You Been". Manning's wife Abby McGrew appears in the opening monologue, along with Manning's New York Giants teammates Chris Snee, David Baas, David Diehl, and Shaun O'Hara. Sacha Baron Cohen (as Admiral General Aladeen from The Dictator) and Martin Scorsese appear on Weekend Update. A short clip of the Beastie Boys performing "Sure Shot" from season 20 is shown after Weekend Update; and featured group Adam Yauch, who died the previous day.
723	21	Will Ferrell	Usher	May 12, 2012	5.1/13
Usher performs "Scream" and "Climax" and appears in the SNL Digital Short and the "2012 Funkytown Debate" sketch. Ferrell's mother, Betty Kay Ferrell, appears in the opening monologue. Ana Gasteyer appears in the "LGBT Prom" sketch, reprising her role as Bobbi Mohan-Culp. Will Forte appears in the "ESPN Classic" sketch and the "25th Anniversary Celebration" sketch, reprising his roles as Greg Stink and Hamilton respectively. Justin Bieber, Jorma Taccone, Julian Casablancas, Jon Hamm, Justin Timberlake, Natalie Portman, Michael Bolton, and Akiva Schaffer appear in the 100th SNL Digital Short. Liam Neeson appears on Weekend Update with Andy Samberg as Nicolas Cage.
724	22	Mick Jagger	Mick Jagger (with Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters, Jeff Beck)	May 19, 2012	5.2/13
Mick Jagger performs "The Last Time" with Arcade Fire (The Strokes' bassist Nikolai Fraiture also appears with the group), a medley of "19th Nervous Breakdown" and "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" with Foo Fighters, and "Tea Party",[35] an original blues tune with Jeff Beck and the SNL Band. Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg, and Abby Elliott's final episode as cast members. Jon Hamm appears in the "Lawrence Welk Show" cold-open. Chris Parnell appears in the SNL Digital Short, "Lazy Sunday 2". Steve Martin appears in "The Californians" sketch. Rachel Dratch, Amy Poehler, Chris Kattan, Will Forte, and Lorne Michaels appear during the goodnights.

References

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3. Gay, Verne (March 29, 2012). "Kate McKinnon joining 'SNL' cast". Newsday. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
4. Woodtke, Jordyn (March 30, 2012). "'SNL' Casts First Openly Gay Female". Hollywood Life. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
5. Buchanan, Kyle (June 1, 2012). "Andy Samberg Is Now Officially Leaving Saturday Night Live". Vulture. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
6. Moore, Frazier (May 20, 2012). "Kristen Wiig Last 'SNL' Episode Ends With Emotional Sendoff". Huffington Post.
7. Byrne, Fiona (October 12, 2012). "Exclusive: Abby Elliott on Her New Movie, a Role on 'How I Met Your Mother,' and Leaving 'SNL'". Elle. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
8. Stack, Tim (January 31, 2012). "'Saturday Night Live' scoop: Cast member Paul Brittain to leave immediately". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
9. Andreeva, Nellie (March 28, 2012). "‘Saturday Night Live’ To Add Female Player". Deadline. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
10. Frucci, Adam (August 10, 2011). "CollegeHumor's Sarah Schneider Hired as a Writer at SNL". Splitsider. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
11. Frucci, Adam (September 20, 2011). "SNL Rounds Out Its New Season Hires with Writers Zach Kanin and Peter Schultz". Splitsider. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
12. Frucci, Adam (September 15, 2011). "Funny or Die/Onion News Network's Chris Kelly Hired as a Writer at SNL". Splitsider. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
13. Nelson, Valerie (July 20, 2012). "Nelson Lyon dies at 73; director of sex comedy 'The Telephone Book'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
14. Rao, Mallika (August 6, 2012). "Mark O'Donnell Dead: Tony Winning 'Hairspray' Writer, 58, Found Outside Apartment". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
15. "Radiohead on 'Saturday Night Live': Dancing Thom & 2 Drummers". Billboard. September 25, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
16. Perricone, Kathleen (September 25, 2011). "'SNL': Steve Martin crashes Alec Baldwin's opening monologue, tests him for steroids". NY Daily News. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
17. Mapes, Jillian (October 3, 2011). "Lady Antebellum 'Own' Saturday Night Live: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
18. Doherty, Maggie (October 10, 2011). "Foster the People Give 'Pumped Up' Performance on 'SNL': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
19. Gioia, Michael C. (October 11, 2011). "Watch Hugh Jackman Portray How to Succeed…'s Daniel Radcliffe on "Saturday Night Live" (Video)". Playbill. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
20. Johnson, Zach (October 9, 2011). "Ben Stiller Reprises Zoolander Role on Saturday Night Live". Us Weekly. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
21. Lipshutz, Jason (October 16, 2011). "Drake Delivers Halloween Rap, Performs on 'SNL'". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
22. Mapes, Jillian (November 14, 2011). "Coldplay on 'SNL': Crying to Adele, Chris Martin Rocks a Holiday Vest". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
23. Mapes, Jillian (November 21, 2011). "Florence + the Machine Rocks 'SNL' With New Jack Swing Thanksgiving Song". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
24. Depland, Michael (December 5, 2011). "The Black Keys Aren't 'Lonely' With Second 'SNL' Spot: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
25. Rutherford, Kevin (December 11, 2011). "Katy Perry Hosts 'SNL': The Hits & Misses, Including a Florence Welch Spoof". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
26. "Michael Buble 'Duets' With Kanye, Taylor Swift & Gaga on 'SNL': Watch". Billboard. December 19, 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
27. Mapes, Jillian (January 9, 2012). "Kelly Clarkson Rocks 'SNL' With Girl Power, Keytar". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
28. Semigran, Aly (January 7, 2012). "Charles Barkley hosts tonight's 'Saturday Night Live'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
29. Schneider, Marc (January 15, 2012). "Live From New York, It's Lana Del Rey". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
30. Schneider, Marc (February 5, 2012). "On 'SNL,' Bon Iver Shines as 'Lana Del Rey' Whines". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
31. Gottlieb, Jed (February 12, 2012). "Karmin on Saturday Night Live". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
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