Season 22 of Saturday Night Live ran from the fall of 1996 to the spring of 1997 on NBC. The season premiered on September 28, 1996, hosted by actor Tom Hanks with musical guests Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and concluded on May 17, 1997, hosted by actor Jeff Goldblum with musical guests En Vogue.
Many changes happened before the start of the season. Season 21 cast members David Koechner and Nancy Walls were both let go after one season, and longtime cast member David Spade, who had been with the cast for six seasons since 1990, left the show on his own terms.
Comedian and singer Ana Gasteyer and stand-up comedian Tracy Morgan were hired to replace Koechner and Walls, being promoted to repertory players when hired.
Chris Kattan was promoted to repertory status, while Colin Quinn and Fred Wolf remained as featured players.
This marks the last time cast members were hired directly into repertory status; all repertory players who have followed started as featured players and were promoted.
This was the final season for Mark McKinney, who had been on the show for three seasons since 1995.[4] Wolf also left his position as featured player and co-head writer after the season's first three episodes.[5] Overall, Wolf had been on the show as a writer and featured player for six seasons since 1992.
This was also the final season to show the Dolby Surround and NBC logos during the opening montage.[6]
Cast[]
Repertory Players[]
Featured Players[]
Changes[]
- Fred Wolf: Only October 19
Births[]
- Chloe Troast (May 13, 1997)
- Marcello Hernández (August 25, 1997)
Opening montage[]
S22
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| Preceded by: Season 21 |
Season 22 (1996— 1997) |
Followed by: Season 23 |
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