Saturday Night Live - Season 34

Season 34

The thirty-fourth season of the variety series Saturday Night Live began airing in 2008 and concluded in 2009 on NBC. This season of Saturday Night Live consisted of 22 episodes, in an attempt to compensate for episodes lost during the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. This made it the longest season since the show's second season. The season began on September 13, 2008 on NBC, with Olympic swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps as host and Tina Fey appearing as Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, alongside Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton, and rapper Lil Wayne as the musical guest. The show scored its highest-rated premiere since September 2001 and is the second most-watched SNL ever. The season premiere date of September 13 was earlier than the premiere date for previous seasons, which typically have started during the final weekend of September or in early October. However, a month later, the show drew its highest ratings in over 14 years when the real Sarah Palin appeared. SNL had 17 million viewers during its first half-hour. Before the start of the season the cast remained mostly unchanged except for the addition of Bobby Moynihan. Moynihan came to SNL as a performer with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater; in season 33, Moynihan and Wilson were among the group of Upright Citizens Brigade performers SNL auditioned mid-season while the show was looking for a new cast member to join after the writers' strike in early 2008. Moynihan did not make the cut in his season 33 audition, but instead ended up being invited back for another audition shortly before this season started. Wilson remained a featured player.

Network

Episodes22

DatesSep 13, 2008 - May 16, 2009

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Episodes

Season 34Episode 190 min

Anne Hathaway / The Killers

Anne Hathaway hosts and The Killers perform.

Oct 4, 2008

Season 34Episode 590 min

Josh Brolin / Adele

Live from New York, it's... Gov. Sarah Palin! Sketches include "Palin on Palin," "MacGruber" (three parts), "Sue and the Engagement," "The Suze Orman Show," "Mark and Andy Backstage," "I'm No Angel," "Fart Face," "Narc School," "ReadiTrade.com," "New York Underground" (film), and "Fall Foliage." Adele performed "Chasing Pavements" and "Cold Shoulder."

Oct 18, 2008

Season 34Episode 690 min

Jon Hamm / Coldplay

Jon Hamm hosts with musical guest Coldplay.

Oct 25, 2008

Season 34Episode 790 min

Ben Affleck / David Cook

Ben Affleck Hosts, special guest John McCain, and your musical guest is Dave Cook.

Nov 1, 2008

Season 34Episode 890 min

Paul Rudd / Beyonce

Paul Rudd hosts with musical guest Beyonce.

Nov 15, 2008

Season 34Episode 990 min

Tim McGraw / Ludacris, T-Pain

Live from New York, it's... Fred Armisen! Sketches include "The Big Three Automakers," "Clear Rite," "Dateline NBC," "Turkey Chase," "Live Another Death," "Blizzard Man," "Jeff Montgomery," "Dale Britches' Down-Home Phony Phone Calls," and "Mark Payne."

Nov 22, 2008

Season 34Episode 1090 min

John Malkovich / T.I.

Live from New York, it's... Darrell Hammond and Amy Poehler! Sketches include "Secretary Clinton," "Gas Right," "Sexy Shannon," "Obama Keeps It Cool" (film), "La Rivista Della Televisione," "Virgania Horsen's Pony Express" (Digital Short), "Calculators," "The Lost Works of Judy Blume," "Jizz In My Pants" (Digital Short), and "J'Accuzzi." T.I. performed "Whatever You Like" and "Swing Ya Rag" (featuring Swizz Beatz).

Dec 6, 2008

Season 34Episode 1190 min

Hugh Laurie / Kanye West

Live from New York, it's... Jason Sudeikis! Sketches include "Blagojevich Testimony," "Bronx Beat," "Sarcastic Christmas Dinner," "Culhane Wedding Toasts," "Magical Lamps," "Cat Christmas Letter," and "Cookie Crimes" (Digital Short). Kayne West performed "Love Lockdown" and "Heartless."

Dec 13, 2008

Season 34Episode 1290 min

Neil Patrick Harris / Taylor Swift

Actor Neil Patrick Harris hosts; Taylor Swift performs "Love Story" and "Forever & Always." Sketches include "The Rachel Maddow Show," "The Today Show," "Save Broadway," "Penelope in Group Therapy," "Digital Short: Doogie Howser Theme Song," "Weekend Update" with guests Charles Barkley and Will Forte, "Two First Names," "Air Traffic Controllers Fran and Freba," "Frost/Other People," and "Whopper Virgins."

Jan 10, 2009

Season 34Episode 1390 min

Rosario Dawson / Fleet Foxes

Actress Rosario Dawson hosts; Fleet Foxes perform "Mykonos" and "Blue Ridge Mountains." Sketches include "Vice President Dick Cheney: The Final Interview," "North American Savings Commercial," "Da Learnin' Train," "Guantánamo Bay Liquidation Sale," "Aladdin and Jasmine's Anniversary," "Digital Short: Singing Narrator," "Gilly," "Weekend Update" with guests Bernard Madoff, Judy Grimes, and Larry the Goose, "La Policia Mexicana," "The View," and "Good Excuse!"

Jan 17, 2009

Season 34Episode 1490 min

Steve Martin / Jason Mraz

Jan 31, 2009

Season 34Episode 1590 min

Bradley Cooper / TV on the Radio

Feb 7, 2009

Season 34Episode 1690 min

Alec Baldwin / Jonas Brothers

Alec Baldwin hosts with musical guest Jonas Brothers.

Feb 14, 2009

Season 34Episode 1790 min

Dwayne Johnson / Ray LaMontagne

Dwayne Johnson hosts; Ray LaMontagne performs. Sketches include "1-800-IDEAS?," "MacGruber" (three parts), "The Rock Obama," "Activia Testimonials," "Hawaiians," "Game Time with Dave and Gary," "NBC Promos," and "Lighthouse Date."

Mar 7, 2009