SNL: Season 34 encyclopedia topics

The thirty-fourth season of the variety series Saturday Night Live began airing in 2008 and is expected to conclude in 2009 on NBC. The season is expected to consist of 22 episodes, in attempt to compensate for episodes lost during the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. This would make it the longest season since the show's second season. In addition to the regular episodes, three thirty-minute episodes are scheduled to air Thursdays in October in the weeks leading up to the 2008 United States presidential election. 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 and Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton. 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. This is Amy Poehler's final season as she will be leaving in November after the election for maternity leave and will then go on to star in the as-of-yet untitled Office spinoff. With the exception of Amy Poehler's departure and the hiring of new feature player Bobby Moynihan (who, like Casey Wilson, was a member of the Upright Citizens Brigade stage troupe), there have been no major cast changes so far this season.

SNL Thursday Night Live

Saturday Night Live will air three special prime time half-hour episodes on Thursdays starting October 9th. These specials, entitled SNL Thursday Night Live, will focus on the presidential election.

Episode Number	Original Air Date	Notes
Episode 1	October 9, 2008	Bill Murray and Chris Parnell made cameo appearances in the 2nd Presidential Debate sketch.
Episode 2	October 16, 2008	Confirmed Below
Episode 3	October 23, 2008	Confirmed Below

Cast

Repertory players

Listings

September 13, 2008 Michael Phelps/Lil Wayne (34.1, live)
September 20, 2008 James Franco/Kings of Leon (34.2, live)
September 27, 2008 Anna Faris/Duffy (34.3, live)
October 4, 2008 Anne Hathaway/The Killers (34.4, live)
October 11, 2008 Michael Phelps/Lil Wayne (34.1, repeat)
October 18, 2008 Josh Brolin/Adele (34.5, live)
October 25, 2008 Jon Hamm/Coldplay (34.6, live)

Episodes

Episode Number	Date	Host	Musical Guest	Remarks
637 (34.1)	September 13, 2008	Michael Phelps	Lil Wayne	Senator Barack Obama was scheduled to make a second cameo appearance in this episode. However, due to the results of Hurricane Ike, Obama pulled out. Therefore, his appearance will be rescheduled for a later date.Chuck Norris was also scheduled to make a cameo appearance, but pulled out for the same reason. William Shatner, Michael Phelps' mother Debbie and Jared Fogle make cameo appearances Tina Fey appeared as Sarah Palin in A Nonpartisan Message from Governor Sarah Palin & Senator Hillary Clinton Lil Wayne performed "Got Money" and "Lollipop" Bobby Moynihan's first episode as a featured cast member
638 (34.2)	September 20, 2008	James Franco	Kings of Leon	Cameron Diaz reprised her role in "The Cougar Den" sketch. Gossip Girl's Blake Lively made a cameo appearance in the SNL Digital Short. Kings of Leon performed "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody"
639 (34.3)	September 27, 2008	Anna Faris	Duffy	Tina Fey returned as Gov. Sarah Palin in the cold open. Chris Parnell made a cameo appearance in a debate sketch as Jim Lehrer. Duffy performed "Mercy" and "Stepping Stone".
640 (34.4)	October 4, 2008	Anne Hathaway	The Killers	Queen Latifah appeared as Gwen Ifill and Tina Fey returned as Sarah Palin in a parody of the Vice Presidental Debate. The Killers performed "Human" and "Spaceman". An edited version of the sketch parodying the economic bailout was posted on NBC.com, removing references to Herbert and Marion Sandler's (played by Darrell Hammond and Casey Wilson, respectively) corrupt activities and removing the graphic labeling the couple as "people who should be shot". Lorne Michaels admitted he did not know the Sandlers were a real couple, and that he believed they were simply characters written for the sketch.
641 (34.5)	October 18, 2008	Josh Brolin	Adele
642 (34.6)	October 25, 2008	Jon Hamm	Coldplay	Governor Sarah Palin is rumored to be making a cameo appearance as herself.
643 (34.7)	November 1, 2008	TBA	TBA