Season 27 of Saturday Night Live premiered on September 29, 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks, with host Reese Witherspoon and musical guest Alicia Keys and concluded on May 18, 2002 with host Winona Ryder and musical guest Moby.
The first episode with a special cold opened with a moving tribute featuring New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, Paul Simon, and members of the New York City police and fire departments. New York City will run as normal and Saturday Night Live will go on as planned (with Lorne Michaels asking Giuliani "Can we be funny?" and Giuliani replying, "Why start now?").
Before the start of the season, longtime cast member Molly Shannon, who had been on the show for six seasons since 1995, departed on her own terms, and Jerry Minor and Chris Parnell were both let go from the show. However, Parnell was hired back to the show mid-season in the March 2, 2002 episode hosted by Jonny Moseley, with musical guest Outkast, becoming the second cast member to be hired back to the show after being fired, the first person being Jim Belushi in 1983.
Four new cast members were hired: stand-up comic Dean Edwards, Chicago improv comedian Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler of the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe, and stand-up comic/impressionist Jeff Richards who was previously a cast member on the rival Fox's sketch comedy show MADtv.
Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph, who had been with the cast since Season 25 and Season 26, were all upgraded to repertory status at the beginning of the season, and Poehler was upgraded to repertory status mid-season of the January 12, 2002 episode.
Will Ferrell was absent from a number of episodes because he was filming Old School. This would be also the final season for both Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer. Ferrell had been a cast member since 1995, a total of 7 seasons and Gasteyer who had been with the cast since 1996, a total of 6 seasons.
Cast[]
Repertory[]
Featured[]
Changes[]
- Amy Poehler promoted to repertory player as of January 12.
- Chris Parnell was fired at the end of the previous season and was rehired mid-season. His first episode back was March 2.
Gallery[]
Gasteyer's intro clip from the season premiere on September 29, 2001.
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| Preceded by: Season 26 |
Season 27 (2001— 2002) |
Followed by: Season 28 |
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