- "PISTOLS AT DAWN MATTHEWS!"
- — Zell Miller in the Hardball cold open in the Jude Law episode, televised the 23 October 2004
Season 30 is the thirtieth anniversary season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between October 2, 2004, and May 21, 2005. It premiered on October 2, 2004 on NBC, hosted by actor Ben Affleck, with musical guest Nelly and ended on May 21, 2005, hosted by actress Lindsay Lohan, with musical guests Coldplay.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, the opening montage was changed. The montage is letterboxed, which was likely in anticipation of the change to HDTV; the montage would continue in the following seasons, which were in widescreen. This was the final season to broadcast in 480i SDTV, after 30 years.
History[]
This season was notable for a lip-syncing gaffe by Ashlee Simpson during her second performance (on the episode hosted by Jude Law).
This season was also home to many sketches focused on the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, but, unlike the 2000 election (and later, the elections for 2008 and 2016), there was little to no media coverage about the sketches.
Cast Changes[]
Before the season, longtime cast member Jimmy Fallon left the show after six seasons with the cast since 1998. In the wake of Fallon's departure, Fred Armisen was promoted to repertory status, while Finesse Mitchell and Kenan Thompson remained as featured players.
New cast members Rob Riggle, an improv comedian (at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater) and U.S. Marine (making him the first and, as of 2025, only SNL cast member to serve in the Marines), joined the cast for this season. This would also be Riggle's only season on the show. In addition, SNL writer Jason Sudeikis (who appeared in many bit roles before joining the cast) also joined the cast as a featured player for the last three episodes of the season.
With Fallon gone, Amy Poehler joined Tina Fey at the Weekend Update desk as a co-anchor, making Fey and Poehler the first and, through at least season 51, only two-woman anchor team. The story behind the Update desk is interesting, as several cast members and writers besides Poehler auditioned to get the Update desk, including Seth Meyers[1] and Jason Sudeikis,[2] but Poehler, of course, ended up winning the Update seat. Meyers eventually got the Update desk in 2006, after Tina left the show.
Cast[]
Repertory Players[]
Featured Players[]
Changes[]
- Jason Sudeikis: First May 7
Opening Montage[]
S30
From the infamous Jude Law/Ashlee Simpson episode.
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| Preceded by: Season 29 |
Season 30 (2004— 2005) |
Followed by: Season 31 |
| Seasons | |
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