Season 34

22 EPISODES • 2008

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.

Season 33

Episodes

1: Michael Phelps/Lil Wayne

Sep 13, 2008

Live from New York, it's... Tina Fey and Amy Poehler! Sketches include "A Non-Partisan Message from Governor Palin and Senator Clinton," "Quiz Bowl," "Jar Glove," "Swim Team Pep Talk," "Stacia and Cousin Craig," "The Charles Barkley Show," "T-Mobile," "Space Olympics 3022" (Digital Short), "Mark Payne," and "The Michael Phelps Diet." Lil' Wayne performed "Got Money" (featuring Mack Maine) and "Lollipop."

2: James Franco/Kings of Leon

Sep 20, 2008

Live from New York, it's... Darrell Hammond! Sketches include "McCain Voiceovers," "The Cougar Den," "Agent 420," "Simpson Jury Selection," "Murray Hill" (Digital Short), "The Looker," "New York Times Reporters," "Of Mice and Men," "Yankee Stadium Stories" (film), and "James and Willam Dafoe." Kings of Leon performed "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody."

3: Anna Faris/Duffy

Sep 27, 2008

Live from New York, it's... Tina Fey! Sketches include "Sarah Palin Interview," "New Friends," "The First Presidential Debate," "Rowboat Date," "Scores," "Deep House Dish," "Googie Rene's Slightly Stained Wedding Dress Basement," and "Superior Ex-Boyfriend." Duffy performed "Mercy" and "Stepping Stone."

4: Anne Hathaway/The Killers

Oct 4, 2008

Sketches include "The Vice Presidential Debate," "The Lawrence Welk Show," "The Wall Street Bailout," "Nightclub Flirting," "Extreme Activities Competition" (Digital Short), "Mary Poppins," "Sioux City News 3," "Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals," "Pretending To Be Gay," and "The Less Provocactive Songs of Katy Perry." The Killers performed "Human" and "Spaceman."

5: Josh Brolin/Adele

Oct 18, 2008

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."

6: Jon Hamm/Coldplay

Oct 25, 2008

Jon Hamm/Coldplay is the sixth episode of the thirty-fourth season of Saturday Night Live. It originally aired on October 25, 2008.

7: Ben Affleck/David Cook

Nov 1, 2008

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

8: Paul Rudd/Beyonce

Nov 15, 2008

Live from New York, it's... Jason Sudeikis! Sketches include "Vice President-elect Joe Biden," "Sproingo," "Kissing Family," "Scared Straight," "Everyone's a Critic" (Digital Short), "Tom and Tonya Peoples," "Garden Party Road Trip," "Beyonce Video Shoot," "Suicide Negotiation," "Proposition 8," and "Clearing the Air" (film). Beyonce performed "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies."

9: Tim McGraw/Ludacris/T-Pain

Nov 22, 2008

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."

10: John Malkovich/T.I.

Dec 6, 2008

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).

11: Hugh Laurie/Kanye West

Dec 13, 2008

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."

12: Neil Patrick Harris/Taylor Swift

Jan 10, 2009

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."

13: Rosario Dawson/Fleet Foxes

Jan 17, 2009

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!"

14: Steve Martin/Jason Mraz

Jan 31, 2009

15: Bradley Cooper/TV on the Radio

Feb 7, 2009

16: Alec Baldwin/Jonas Brothers

Feb 14, 2009

Actor Alec Baldwin hosts; Jonas Brothers perform "Tonight" and "Video Girl." Sketches include "Republican Congressional Leadership Meeting," "The Fourth Jonas Brother," "The Cougar Den," "Digital Short: The Jonas Brothers' Secret," "Sir Mix-a-Lot's Photo Shop," "Weekend Update" with guests Oscar Rogers, Angelina Jolie, Angie Tempura, and Joaquin Phoenix, "Vincent Price's Valentine's Day Special," "Planning a Meeting," "Wii," "Chewable Pampers Commercial," "Virgania Horsen's Hot Air Balloon Rides," and "First Coughs."

17: Dwayne Johnson/Ray LaMontagne

Mar 7, 2009

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."