SNL

It might surprise you to learn that Amy Poehler had never won an Emmy before last night, but less so that she’d make history doing it. Ahead of the full ceremony next Sunday, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey both took home Emmy awards for their SNL hosting, and made history in the process.

SNL sailed from the 40th anniversary into Season 41 rather smoothly, though the waters roughened in recent weeks with the departures of Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah and Jon Rudnitsky. Thankfully, it’s clear skies ahead for Season 42, as the rest of the beloved cast will be staying aboard. Sailing metaphors!

SNL is built for a bit of turnover here and there, but that doesn’t remove the sting from losing some of its best not-ready-for-primetime-players. To wit, Season 42 has some surprising departures, including series veterans Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah.

Just when you thought Fred Armisen’s deleted SNL finale sketch the last of Season 41 to hold you over for summer, in swoops a bonus round of celebrity Star Wars auditions! SNL dusted off the November sketch for another round, this time including Matthew McConaughey, along with impressive impressions the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Shia LaBeouf and more.

SNL vet Fred Armisen returned to Studio 8H this weekend to host the Season 41 finale, and as you might expect, things got pretty weird. In between delivering the longest, most delightfully strange monologue in recent memory and reviving a couple of fan-favorite characters, Armisen starred in this pre-recorded spoof of Dead Poets Society. Riffing on a 27-year-old drama is certainly unexpected, but not nearly as unexpected as what happens at the end of this thing.

At long last, all our efforts to brave another SNL season will pay off when distinguished alum Fred Armisen takes the stage to host the Season 41 finale. Armisen hasn’t exactly been a stranger to Studio 8H, but seems a bit forgetful in his first SNL finale promos with fellow veteran Kate McKinnon.

SNL hasn’t yet revealed its final host of Season 41, let alone what, if any cast turnover to expect in Season 42, but a notable change is already afoot. The NBC mainstay will cut at least two commercial breaks from live airings next season, but what might replace the additional runtime?

SNL has had only a moderate April, between hosts Peter Dinklage, Russell Crowe and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, but fans can easily agree on at least one gem: “Space Pants.” Were there further need to settle the debate, SNL has obliged with full-length rendition of the interstellar track, Gwen Stefani and all.

Eternally associated with the role of Seinfeld’s Elaine (and since 2013, Veep’s title boss), Julia Louis-Dreyfus garners significantly less recognition for her time as an SNL player in the mid ‘80s. Now, with her third SNL hosting turn this coming weekend, Dreyfus reveals that her initial SNL years weren’t fond memories, given some of the sexism and lacking recognition.

With Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage hosting SNL, there was no way the show wasn’t going to parody HBO’s beloved fantasy series in some way. After all, this wouldn’t be the first time SNL has taken on the most popular tale of intrigue and violence and dragons and sex. But you’ve got to give the writers credit — creating a fake “making-of” featurette is a fresh concept, especially since past sketches have been more straightforward riffs on this material.

SNL took a little break through the second half of February (thankfully, the GOP race has largely filled in for itself), but will return for its March 2016 debut with Hail, Caesar! star Jonah Hill, and musical guest Future. Go on, enjoy Jonah getting his shoes shined, then. What can you do, not watch?

Last week’s 2016 SNL premiere with Star Wars: The Force Awakens star Adam Driver proved every bit as delightful as we’d hoped, but will Ronda Rousey pack the same punch? The Furious 7 star’s first official promos have arrived, as Rousey predictably overpowers Beck Bennett and pretty much anyone in New York.