Tonight it's time to watch SNL, and we've got a pretty great reason: Owen Wilson is finally hosting Saturday Night Live. Oh, and he's backed up by the excellent Kacey Musgraves, who is a joy (provided the Studio 8H acoustics don't betray her sound).
Why has it taken so long for Wilson to get to host SNL? He's recently told former SNL cast member Kevin Nealon (on his YouTube series Hiking with Kevin) that he's no fan of public speaking. What an interesting phobia for someone who performs on camera, you might say.
But there's a large difference between being taped on camera and performing for a live worldwide audience. The latter doesn't let you re-take lines if you flub them. So to Wilson, we send all the best of luck!
We've also got a lot of news about the cast of SNL. Two cast members are leaving this season: Lauren Holt (who was just made a featured player last year) and Beck Bennett (best known for his impressions of Russian politico Vladimir Putin and former VP Mike Pence) is no longer going to be on the show.
On-the-bubble cast members Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong and Kenan Thompson are all coming back. Joining the show are three new players: Aristotle Athari, James Austin Johnson and Sarah Sherman.
- The best streaming services to watch shows
- Plus: the best cable TV alternatives
Up next on October 9, SNL will be hosted by Kim Kardashian West (ft. Halsey), and October 16 will see Rami Malek paired with musical guest Young Thug. Then, Ted Lasso himself Jason Sudeikis hosts on Oct. 23, joined by Brandi Carlile.
How to watch SNL online in the US
In the U.S., viewers can watch Saturday Night Live via NBC via a digital antenna or cable TV package. If you've already cut the cord, you can watch NBC on several live TV streaming services (depending on your region), including Sling TV, fuboTV, Hulu With Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.
Of these options, we recommend Sling and fubo, two of the best streaming services on the market. Both of these services offer cloud DVR and on-demand features, allowing you to catch up on the big show via NBC even if you missed it live. YouTube TV is nice, but a current spat with NBCUniversal means that we don't know if or when NBC affiliates could leave the service — a temporary stay of execution has been granted.
NBCUniversal's $4.99 per month Peacock Premium package will also air SNL live.
Saturday Night Live episodes also appear on Hulu the day after they air.
How to watch SNL online anywhere
Just because NBC isn't available everywhere doesn't mean you can't watch Saturday Night Live if your current location doesn't offer it. Watching SNL using the service you already pay for, along with the rest of the internet, can be pretty easy with the right VPN (virtual private network), which lets stream the show from wherever you go.
The best VPN service is ExpressVPN. It meets the VPN needs of the vast majority of users, offering outstanding compatibility with most devices and impressive connection speeds. Plus, if you're ready to commit now, signing up for longer periods of six months or a year reduces the cost even more.
How to watch SNL online in the UK
Great news for Brits! Saturday Night Live season 47 episodes will air on Sky Comedy.
Americans abroad who want to watch it live can do so by using a VPN such as ExpressVPN.
How to watch SNL online in Canada
Up North, Canadians are able to watch SNL on the same day and time as Americans on Global TV. Missed it the first time? It also has an online streaming platform. And if you aren't at home and are therefore unable to watch Global TV as usual, you could try using a VPN such as ExpressVPN.
