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Saturday Night Live Season 40
Season 40
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 27, 2014 – Spring 2015
Season chronology
← Previous 39 Next → Season 41
List of episodes

Saturday Night Live premiered its fortieth season during the 2014–15 television season on NBC. The season premiered on September 27, 2014, with host Chris Pratt and musical guest Ariana Grande, and former cast member Darrell Hammond as the show's new announcer, replacing Don Pardo, who had died in August. The premiere included an interstitial photograph of Pardo. Pardo had been the announcer for SNL since it premiered in 1975, with the exception of season seven. This season also saw the death of former cast member Jan Hooks, who died from an unidentified illness two weeks into the season.

Cast

As part of an on-going rebuilding process, which Lorne Michaels indicated would result in cast changes for the 2014–15 season, a number of changes were announced: Nasim Pedrad departed after five seasons to star on the Lorne Michaels-produced show Mulaney, while John Milhiser, Noël Wells, and Brooks Wheelan were let go after a single season. Additionally, Mike O'Brien, a writer for the show for four seasons before joining the cast at the start of the previous season, returned to the writers' room.

Two comedians joined the cast at the start of the season: stand-up comic Pete Davidson, the first SNL cast member to have been born in the 1990s, and former SNL writer Michael Che as a Weekend Update co-anchor, replacing Cecily Strong, who remains in the cast. Che left SNL at the end of the previous season to become a correspondent on The Daily Show.

Repertory players Vanessa Bayer Aidy Bryant Taran Killam Kate McKinnon Bobby Moynihan Jay Pharoah Cecily Strong Kenan Thompson bold denotes Weekend Update anchors

Featured players Beck Bennett Michael Che Pete Davidson Colin Jost Kyle Mooney Sasheer Zamata

Writers

Prior to the start of the season, five new writers were hired:

• Alison Rich, a performer with the Upright Citizen's Brigade in New York
• Nick Rutherford, a member of Los Angeles-based comedy group Good Neighbor.
• Natasha Rothwell, a performer with the Upright Citizen's Brigade in New York.
• Streeter Seidell, CollegeHumor front page editor.
• Jeremy Beiler, writer on Inside Amy Schumer.

Episodes

Specials

References

1. Erbland, Kate (July 15, 2014). "The First Casualty of The Fortieth Season of 'Saturday Night Live'". Film School Rejects. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
2. Cite error: The named reference hammond was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
3. Genzlinger, Neil; Carter, Bill (August 19, 2014). "Don Pardo, the Voice of 'Saturday Night Live,' Dies at 96". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
4. "Lorne Michaels: More 'SNL' cast changes coming". CNN. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014. Lorne Michaels says that Saturday Night Live can expect cast changes before its 40th season begins in September. In an interview with Deadline, the creator and longtime executive producer of NBC's late-night sketch show said, 'We're still in the middle of rebuilding. So there will be changes this year.'
5. "Nasim Pedrad implies that she's leaving 'Saturday Night Live'". Erin Strecker. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
6. "Noël Wells & John Milhiser Also Leaving 'SNL', Michael Patrick O'Brien Future Unclear". Nellie Andreeva. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
7. "Brooks Wheelan states he was fired from Saturday Night Live". NY Daily News. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
8. "Mike O'Brien will not return as an 'SNL' player this season". Esther Zuckerman. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
9. "Pete Davidson Joins 'Saturday Night Live' As New Featured Player". Deadline. September 15, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
10. Cite error: The named reference che was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
11. "'The Daily Show' hires 'SNL' writer Michael Che as correspondent". EW.com. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
12. "Alison Rich Hired as a Writer at 'SNL'". Splitsider. August 28, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
13. McCarthy, Sean L. (September 9, 2014). "SNL hires Nick Rutherford to reunite, write with his Good Neighbor mates". The Comic's Comic.
14. ^ Wright, Megh (September 9, 2014). "Natasha Rothwell, Streeter Seidell, and Jeremy Beiler Join 'SNL's Writing Staff". Splitsider. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
15. Kondolojy, Amanda (September 28, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' Season Premiere With Host Chris Pratt and Musical Guest Ariana Grande Even With Last Season's Finale". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
16. Bibel, Sara (October 5, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Sarah Silverman and Musical Guest Maroon 5 Down From Last Week's Premiere". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
17. Kondolojy, Amanda (October 12, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Bill Hader and Musical Guest Hozier Down From Last Week". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
18. ^ Bloom, David (October 12, 2014). "Jim Carrey To Host 'Saturday Night Live' Oct. 25 Ahead of 'Dumber To' Debut". Deadline.com. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
19. ^ "Chris Rock to Host 'Saturday Night Live' With Prince as Musical Guest". The New York Times. October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.

• Saturday Night Live seasons
• 2014 television seasons
• 2015 television seasons