'Saturday Night Live' To Kick Off Landmark 50th Season With Host Jean Smart

LOADINGERROR LOADINGNEW YORK (AP) — “Saturday Night Live” is set to set off its 50th season with host Jean Smart and musical guest Jelly Roll.Smart, the 73-year-old “Hacks” and “Designing Women” star who just won her sixth Emmy, has never hosted the NBC sketch comedy institution before in her more than 40-year career.She said on Instagram that the gig is a “bucket list” achievement for her.Advertisement Former cast member Maya Rudolph is reportedly returning to the show this season to play Vice President Kamala Harris, and if recent patterns of opening episodes with politics-of-the-moment are any indication, she could be in the premiere’s cold open at the top of the show.Rudolph has popped up to play Harris before — and won an Emmy for it — but has yet to play the role of presidential candidate.Lorne Michaels is still at the helm, just as he was for the first episode on Oct.

11, 1975, when George Carlin hosted and the nation got its first dose of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris.Advertisement There were two musical guests — Billy Preston and Janis Ian — playing two songs apiece, the norm in the early days.The country singer and rapper Jelly Roll has the music role to himself Saturday, and like Smart he’s a first-timer.That debut show is documented and reenacted in the newly released Jason Reitman film “Saturday Night,” part of a wave of reflection and celebration the show is getting on the cusp of its 50th anniversary.Support Free JournalismConsider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost.We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.The stakes...