Season 29 is the twenty-ninth season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between October 4, 2003 and May 15, 2003. The season premiered on October 4, 2003 on NBC, hosted by comedian, actor and musician Jack Black with musical guest John Mayer, and ended on May 15, 2004, hosted by the Olsen Twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, with musical guest J-Kwon.
History[]
This season marked the debut of a brand-new stage for the host's monologue and the musical guest performing stage. Instead of the wrought-iron fire escape motif with the blinking "ON AIR" light, the stages are now modeled after Grand Central Terminal (right down to the spherical clock).
Cast Changes[]
Before the start of the season, longtime cast members Chris Kattan and Tracy Morgan, who had both been on the show since 1996 for eighth and seven seasons respectively, departed the show on their own terms, and featured player Dean Edwards, who had been on the show the past two seasons, was let go following the finale. Despite their departures, Kattan and Morgan would make guest appearances in several episodes throughout the season and Morgan would later host in 2009 and 2015.
Will Forte, Seth Meyers, and Jeff Richards were all promoted to repertory status, while Fred Armisen remained a featured player.
The show added two new African-American cast members: stand-up comedian Finesse Mitchell and Kenan Thompson, a former child star from the Nickelodeon comedy shows All That and Kenan & Kel. Thompson became the first SNL cast member to be born after the show's premiere in 1975 (Thompson was born in 1978) and would eventually become the longest-tenured cast member in the show’s history.
This was the final season for longtime cast member Jimmy Fallon, who had been on the show for six seasons since 1998, and Richards, who departed mid-season after three seasons on the show since 2001. In an interview at the time, Richards said he left to branch out into other projects, though he later mentioned that his substance abuse was a factor.
Cast[]
Repertory Players[]
Featured Players[]
Changes[]
Jeff Richards: Final Episode January 17
Episodes[]
Opening Montage[]
S29
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| Preceded by: Season 28 |
Season 29 (2003— 2004) |
Followed by: Season 30 |
| Seasons | |
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