1 Current Events: What's Going On?
1.1 Checklist
1.1.1 Returning
1.1.2 Leaving
1.1.3 Promoted to Repertory Cast
1.1.4 Pregnant
1.1.5 Movie Deals
1.1.6 Situation Unknown
1.1.7 Joining
1.1.8 New Potential Castmembers
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Current Events: What's Going On?

Updated 8/24
We don't know a lot about what's going to be happening, but here's what we do know:
Some more rumors are saying that the first 3 episodes of the new season will look something like this:
October/01/2005 (Season Premiere): TBA/Billy Joel
The Season Premiere host is still being kept under wraps, rumors or not. Some producers revealed that it's a returning host, possibly meaning one of the "Five-Timers" (Steve Martin, John Goodman, Alec Baldwin, etc.).
October/08/2005 (New Episode): Jessica Alba/TBA
October/22/2005 (New Episode): Steve Carrell/TBA
These are most likely just rumors.
Some rumors are bounding around that a comedian from many San Francisco improv groups, Cassie Bates, was asked to join the SNL cast. This has been proven false.
An article by Newcity Chicago has confirmed that Rachel Dratch, "who begins her seventh season on Saturday Night Live this fall", will return. New 8/24
A comedian from Second City LA, Bill Hader, has reportedly been hired. New 8/21
Channel 101, an independant comedy website, has reported that Andy Samberg has joined the cast, and Channel 101 writers Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone have been hired as writers. New 8/20
Rumors are circulating that Horatio Sanz is leaving, but this is false. Rob Riggle mentioned to some fans at an improv show that Horatio would be returning. New 8/20
Reports say Seth Meyers pitched a movie to Paramount Pctures about the Colin Farrell/Scissor Sisters episode's "Key Party" sketch, and Lorne Michaels will be producing. This disspells any rumors that Seth will be leaving SNL, since it is unlikely that Lorne would put Seth in an SNL movie and then fire him. New 8/15
Rob Chambers, a Second City training camp manager, has said that two Second City alumni, Maribeth Monroe and Antoine McKay, have a good chance of joining the cast soon. Topher Owen, another Second City comedian, was reportedly hired, but this has been confirmed as a hoax. Updated 8/21
Finesse Mitchell has confirmed, in a FoxNews interview, and in a comedy routine, that not only will he be returning next season, he is being promoted to repertory castmember, as predicted. Kenan Thompson will also return, and be promoted, as well.
Darrell Hammond stated, in an interview, that he plans to stay with SNL for as long as he can.
Rob Riggle has confirmed his exit from SNL.
Rob has also confirmed that Amy Poehler, Horatio Sanz and Fred Armisen will be returning, along with Chris Parnell, despite his new sitcom (see below).
Tina Fey is pregnant and has a new show in development, so her exit is possible. A new Weekend Update anchor has not been announced, should Tina leave. Tina has confirmed that she is returning, but not appearing in the first few months of the next season to accomodate her maternity leave.
In a related story, Maya Rudolph is also pregnant, and may leave or go on maternity leave, a la Tina Fey (see above).
Chris Parnell has a new show coming out on NBC, Thick and Thin as a midseason replacement, and rumours of his exit have been swirling for a while. Despite this, Rob Riggle has confirmed that Chris will return, possibly doing both SNL and Thick and Thin (see above).
Featured player Jason Sudeikis will stay on featured status, since he has only been in 3 episodes of SNL so far, but will most likely be promoted by 2006-2007.
Writer Paula Pell, who will be working on Parnell's sitcom, has left the show. Also reported to have left are Eric Slovin and Leo Allen. Rumors are currently swirling around that there has been a major writer turnover.
Starting next season, SNL will be broadcast in HD (High Definition), so the opening montage, credits, stage, sets and Weekend Update studio will be changed somewhat to make the best of their HD broadcasts.
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Checklist
For those who are confused, here is a simple checklist of what's going on. Please Note: this information will change at least weekly, as SNL's castmembers are beginning to reveal their fate on SNL, and as insiders toss around names for new castmembers.
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Returning
Fred Armisen
Rachel Dratch
Tina Fey (Maternity Leave)
Darrell Hammond
Seth Meyers (Movie deal)
Finesse Mitchell (Promoted)
Chris Parnell
Amy Poehler
Horatio Sanz
Jason Sudeikis (Featured)
Kenan Thompson (Promoted)
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Leaving
Rob Riggle
Paula Pell (Writer)
Leo Allen (Writer) (Unconfirmed)
Eric Slovin (Writer) (Unconfirmed)

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Promoted to Repertory Cast
Finesse Mitchell
Kenan Thompson
[edit]
Pregnant
Tina Fey (Returning)
Maya Rudolph (Situation Unknown)

[edit]
Movie Deals
Seth Meyers
[edit]
Situation Unknown
Will Forte
Maya Rudolph (Pregnant)

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Joining
Andy Samberg
Akiva Schaffer (Writer)
Jorma Taccone (Writer)
Source: Channel 101
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New Potential Castmembers
We don't know who all of the new castmembers are right now, but here are a few names being tossed around:
Maribeth Monroe
Antoine McKay
Source: Rob Chambers, Second City Training Camp Manager
Bill Hader
Source: Second City LA
Cassie Bates

thanks for the snl news ron burgundy im glad that amy is coming back i didnt like her at all when she first came to snl but she really grew on me the last 2 seasons

Ugh, this made me so happy. No one from last season but Rob is leaving so far (though I wonder why, he was only on a year...) but I'm so Glad Amy and Tina are gonna be there as of now, even though Tina won't be for a few months. But if not really many people are leaving, they can't really add many castmembers. Roar, whatever. I hope this stays true.

Thanks for the news, Jack :)

Thanks for all that good info! I'm praying that this season will be somewhat good! Last season was just horrible! Especially after Jimmy left. For while it was bad and the 03-04 season was one of the best recent seasons. Then it went downhill after that.

Youre welcome!:D

Cant wait for Carrell's ep, I LOVE Steve Carrell