The thirty-third season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 29, 2007, and May 17, 2008. Due to the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, there were only 12 episodes produced in this season instead of the usual 20, making this the shortest season in the series run and beating out both the sixth (1980–1981) season and the thirteenth (1987–1988) season, which had thirteen episodes each and were also cut short due to WGA strikes. This is also the only season in SNL history not to have a new Christmas episode, since the WGA strike spanned from November 2007 to February 2008.
Strike On November 5, 2007, after the episode hosted by Brian Williams, the Writers Guild of America went on strike. It was announced that SNL would air its next episode on November 10, 2007 (with host Dwayne Johnson and musical guest Amy Winehouse), live on air, with a future episode to follow, featuring Jonah Hill and musical guest Kid Rock. However, on November 7, 2007, SNLs official website confirmed that those episodes were canceled and reruns would be seen beginning November 10, and would continue during the duration of the strike.
During the strike on November 17, 2007, the cast of the show, along with host Michael Cera and musical guest Yo La Tengo performed an "episode" of the show entitled Saturday Night Live - On Strike! at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (co-founded by cast member Amy Poehler) in New York City. Every cast member except for Maya Rudolph (who had at that point left the cast) appeared, with former cast members Horatio Sanz and Rachel Dratch and musician Norah Jones making cameo appearances.
On February 12, 2008, the strike was announced to be officially over with a 92.5% vote. Production continued on February 18, 2008 for the February 23, 2008 episode, hosted by longtime former SNL cast member Tina Fey with musical guest Carrie Underwood.
To make up for lost time and wages, four episodes were produced back-to-back between February 23 and March 15. The "four in a row" marathon had not been done since season one in 1976.
Cast No changes to the cast happened over the summer and everyone from last season returned. Prior to the start of the season, Maya Rudolph, who had been on the show for seven seasons since 2000, announced she would be leaving the cast. However, she changed her mind ahead of the season premiere and remained on the show. When the show shut down in November due to the strike, Rudolph did not renew her contract.
Casey Wilson, a comedian and writer who frequently performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, was hired in January 2008 to fill the void left by Rudolph. However, because of the strike, Wilson did not appear on SNL until the show returned on February 23, 2008.
During the show's hiatus, Lorne Michaels held auditions for someone to play Barack Obama in political sketches for the upcoming 2008 election. Jordan Peele and Donald Glover were among those who auditioned for the role. Ultimately, cast member Fred Armisen was given the part, and he debuted as Obama in the first post-strike episode. Armisen's portrayal attracted some criticism as the comic is not himself black, but of Asian and Latino descent.
Cast roster
Repertory players Fred Armisen Will Forte Bill Hader Darrell Hammond Seth Meyers Amy Poehler Maya Rudolph (final episode: November 3, 2007) Andy Samberg Jason Sudeikis Kenan Thompson Kristen Wiig
Featured players Casey Wilson (first episode: February 23, 2008)
bold denotes Weekend Update anchor
Writers
Future head writer Kent Sublette joins the writing staff this season. Rob Klein (a future head writer during different seasons) also joins the writing staff with this season. Simon Rich also joins the writing staff this season.
This was the final season for longtime head writer Harper Steele (who had been a writer for the show since 1995), as she left the show after 13 years. Steele (who became head writer in 2004) was head writer for four seasons.
This was also the final season for longtime writer Robert Smigel (who previously wrote for the show from 1985 to 1993; and had been producing the TV Funhouse cartoons for 12 years since 1996), as he permanently left the show after 20 non-consecutive years.; as well as longtime Weekend Update writer Charlie Grandy (who had writing for Update since 2001), as he left after seven years.
Episodes
Canceled episodes with booked guests
Airdate Host Musical Guest Comments November 10, 2007 Dwayne Johnson Amy Winehouse Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson hosted a season 34 episode in March 2009, with musical guest Ray LaMontagne. Winehouse never appeared as a musical guest prior to her death in 2011. November 17, 2007 Jonah Hill Kid Rock Jonah Hill ended up hosting in March 2008, with musical guest Mariah Carey (originally, it was Janet Jackson, but she cancelled due to the flu). Kid Rock has yet to return to the show as musical guest (the last time he appeared was on the season 25 finale hosted by Jackie Chan). December 1, 2007 Ben Affleck Not announced Ben Affleck ended up hosting for the fourth time on the November 1, 2008 broadcast with musical guest David Cook. December 8, 2007 Edie Falco Not announced Cancelled due to writer's strike. December 15, 2007 Tom Hanks Not announced Tom Hanks would have hosted a Christmas episode of SNL to coincide with the premiere of the movie Charlie Wilson's War.
Specials
Notes
References