Season 29 of Saturday Night Live debuted in the fall of 2003. The season premiere was on October 4, 2003 hosted by Jack Black with musical guest John Mayer. The season finale, which it was hosted by the Olsen Twins with musical guest J-Kwon on May 15, 2004, was the final episode for Jimmy Fallon, who had been with the cast since 1998.
Before the start of the season, longtime cast members Chris Kattan and Tracy Morgan, who had both been on the show since 1996, and Dean Edwards, who had been a featured player since 2001, all left the show. Despite Kattan and Morgan's departures, the two would make guest appearances in several episodes throughout the season and Morgan would later host in 2009 and 2015.
Before the season started, 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). Thompson eventually became the longest-tenured cast member in the show’s history.
The set is changed with the doors with lines on them. It had the clock on the top of the audience. Instead of the wrought-iron fire escape motif with the blinking "ON AIR" light, the clock says Grand Central Terminal. The opening montage is changed. It featured Subways, Restaurants, Parties, and Everything else that was in New York.
This was the final season for both Jeff Richards (who quit mid-season over creative differences) and Jimmy Fallon, (who decided to leave the show after the final episode).
Cast[]
Repertory[]
Featured[]
Changes[]
Jeff Richards: Final January 17
Opening montage[]
S29
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| Preceded by: Season 28 |
Season 29 (2003— 2004) |
Followed by: Season 30 |
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