Jalen Brunson to Host Season 52 Premiere of Saturday Night Live
NBA champion Jalen Brunson will host the season-opening episode of Saturday Night Live on Sept. 26, with KATSEYE as musical guest.
Jalen Brunson, who led the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship in over fifty years, will take the helm of Saturday Night Live’s season-52 premiere on Sept. 26. The episode will showcase KATSEYE as the musical guest. Brunson’s hosting marks the first time an active NBA player has appeared on the SNL stage since LeBron James in 2007, and the first athlete overall in more than three years after Travis Kelce’s March 2023 stint.
The fall lineup also lists Dakota Johnson, who will host on Oct. 3 with Turnstile performing, and Shane Gillis on Oct. 10 with Rosalia as musical guest. Additional hosts include Inde Navarrette on Oct. 17, accompanied by Gracie Abrams. The cast appears relatively stable after last season’s major changes.
Why it matters
The appearance highlights the crossover of top athletes into mainstream entertainment, drawing broader audiences to the show.
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