Season 17 premiered on September 28, 1991 with host Michael Jordan and musical guest Public Enemy and concluded on May 16, 1992 with host Woody Harrelson and musical guest Vanessa Williams.
Before the start of the season, previously cast members A. Whitney Brown, Jan Hooks and longtime Weekend Update anchor Dennis Miller had all left the show. Kevin Nealon was promoted to Weekend Update anchor, replacing Miller, who had departed the previous year.
Ellen Cleghorne, Sibohan Fallon, and writer Robert Smigel had joined the cast. Beth Cahill and Melanie Hutsell also later joined the cast. At the beginning of the season, Chris Farley, Chris Rock, and Julia Sweeney were promoted to repertory status, while Tim Meadows remained in the middle group. Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and David Spade were promoted to the middle group.
This was the final season for longtime cast member Victoria Jackson (who had been on the show since 1986, as she left after six seasons, at the time, she became the longest serving female cast member in SNL history at this time. She was later surpassed by Molly Shannon in Season 26). This would also be the only season for Siobhan Fallon and Beth Cahill on the show.
Repertory[]
 Dana Carvey |
 Chris Farley |
 Phil Hartman |
 Victoria Jackson |
 Mike Myers |
 Kevin Nealon |
 Chris Rock |
 Julia Sweeney |
Also starring[]
 Ellen Cleghorne |
 Siobhan Fallon |
 Tim Meadows |
 Adam Sandler |
 Rob Schneider
|
 David Spade
|
Featured[]
 Beth Cahill |
 Al Franken |
 Melanie Hutsell |
 Robert Smigel |
Episodes[]
Births[]
- Molly Kearney (May 2, 1992)
[]
| Preceded by: Season 16 |
Season 17 (1991— 1992) |
Followed by: Season 18 |
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