Saturday Night Live Hosts and Musical Guests for March Announced

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The upcoming episodes of Saturday Night Live (SNL) have been announced, with Shane Gillis and Lady Gaga set to host the show in March. Gillis will host the show for the second time on March 1, alongside musical guest Tate McRae, who will be performing on the show for the second time. Lady Gaga will do double duty as host and musical guest on March 8, marking her second appearance as host and fifth appearance as musical guest. Her new album, "Mayhem", is due out on March 7. This announcement comes after SNL's 50th anniversary celebration, which became NBC's most-watched primetime entertainment telecast in five years, reaching nearly 15 million viewers.

Shane Gillis has had a fraught history with the show, having been fired as a cast member in 2019 before he officially made his debut. He was dropped from a spot in the "SNL" cast after facing backlash over a 2018 podcast clip where he used an anti-Asian slur and mocked accents. Gillis apologized after the video resurfaced, and said at the time he is a "comedian who pushes boundaries." Despite this, he has been given another chance to host the show, and will be joined by Tate McRae, who releases her third album "So Close to What" in late February. Lady Gaga's upcoming appearance on the show will be her second time hosting and fifth time as a musical guest, and will come just a day after the release of her new album "Mayhem".

The show's 50th anniversary celebration was a major success, with a 3½-hour extravaganza that delivered the biggest audience for the network for a night-time entertainment show since the 2020 Golden Globes. The celebration included comedy sketches, superstar musical performances, and unexpected cameos, and was watched by nearly 15 million viewers. Only the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a bigger viewership draw in recent years, NBC said. The show's success is a testament to its enduring popularity, and its ability to adapt to changing times and tastes. With its diverse range of hosts and musical guests, SNL continues to be a major player in the world of entertainment.

In addition to the upcoming episodes, SNL has also announced that it will be welcoming back some familiar faces in the coming months. The show's creator, Lorne Michaels, has said that he is committed to keeping the show nonpartisan, and has made an effort to include a diverse range of voices and perspectives. This approach has helped the show to stay relevant and fresh, even after 50 years on the air. With its talented cast and crew, and its ability to tackle tough topics and current events, SNL continues to be a major force in the world of comedy and entertainment.

Here are the technical specifications and features of the upcoming SNL episodes: * List of hosts and musical guests: * March 1: Shane Gillis (host), Tate McRae (musical guest) * March 8: Lady Gaga (host and musical guest) * List of upcoming albums: * Tate McRae: "So Close to What" (late February) * Lady Gaga: "Mayhem" (March 7) The show's upcoming episodes are sure to be exciting and entertaining, with a talented lineup of hosts and musical guests. With its rich history and continued success, SNL remains one of the most popular and influential shows on television.