‘Saturday Night Live’ Sets April Hosts as Season 51 Expands With Jack Black and Colman Domingo

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Mar 26

**Jeff Spicer/Getty Images; Chad Salvador/WWD/Getty Images**

SNL leans into star power and momentum post-50th anniversary, with Jack Black and Colman Domingo headlining April’s lineup.

‘Saturday Night Live’ is continuing to build on the momentum of its landmark 50th anniversary season, locking in a stacked lineup of hosts and musical guests for the spring stretch of Season 51. Among the latest additions are Jack Black and Colman Domingo, two performers with very different energies but equally strong ties to the kind of live performance SNL thrives on.

Jack Black will host the April 4 episode, joined by musical guest Jack White, marking a pairing that feels intentionally aligned with SNL’s roots in high-energy, music-driven chaos. Black, who has hosted multiple times in the past, brings a level of unpredictability that the show has increasingly leaned on in recent years, particularly as it balances legacy appeal with the need to stay culturally relevant in a more fragmented media landscape.

The following week, on April 11, Colman Domingo will make his SNL hosting debut, with Anitta set as the musical guest. Domingo’s rise over the past few years has been one of the more notable trajectories in Hollywood, moving from respected character actor to leading man across film, television and awards conversations. His presence signals SNL’s continued effort to bring in performers who carry both critical credibility and mainstream recognition, a balance the show has been refining as it enters its sixth decade.

These April episodes are part of a broader Season 51 slate that reflects both continuity and transition. Following the milestone 50th season, which leaned heavily on legacy appearances and nostalgia, the current season is focused on recalibrating the show’s identity moving forward. That includes a mix of returning hosts, first-time performers and crossover talent from film, television and music, all aimed at maintaining SNL’s position as a weekly cultural touchpoint.

The season itself began with Bad Bunny hosting the premiere alongside Doja Cat as musical guest, immediately signaling the show’s continued investment in global music stars and cross-platform relevance. From there, the lineup has ranged widely, including returning hosts like Amy Poehler and Melissa McCarthy, as well as first-time hosts such as Glen Powell, Nikki Glaser and Alexander Skarsgård. The inclusion of performers like Sabrina Carpenter and Harry Styles pulling double duty as both host and musical guest further reflects the show’s evolving approach to talent, where versatility and cultural reach are as important as traditional comedic background.

One of the defining moments of the season came with its 1,000th episode, hosted by Skarsgård, a milestone that underscored the show’s longevity while also highlighting the pressure to remain relevant in an increasingly crowded entertainment landscape. That tension between legacy and reinvention continues to shape the show’s direction, particularly as it navigates changes both on and off screen.

Season 51 has also introduced one of the most significant cast shakeups in recent years. Several longtime cast members departed ahead of the new season, making room for a new group of featured players and shifting the dynamic of the ensemble. While SNL has always evolved through cast turnover, the scale of this transition suggests a deliberate attempt to refresh the show’s comedic voice and prepare it for its next phase.

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What remains consistent is the show’s ability to function as both a reflection of and a reaction to the broader entertainment industry. The choice of hosts often mirrors what is happening across film, television and music at any given moment, turning each episode into a snapshot of cultural relevance. In that sense, the addition of Black and Domingo is less about individual bookings and more about maintaining that connection to the larger conversation.

As the season moves into its final stretch, the focus shifts toward sustaining that momentum. The April lineup suggests a continued emphasis on performers who can deliver both comedic range and audience recognition, reinforcing the idea that SNL’s success in its sixth decade depends as much on adaptability as it does on tradition.

The format hasn’t changed, but the context around it has. And as long as SNL continues to evolve with that context, it remains one of the few live shows that still feels tied to the moment it airs.

Season 51’s hosts and musical guests are below; the list will be updated as more are announced.

Oct. 4: Bad Bunny, Doja Cat

Oct. 11: Amy Poehler, Role Model

Oct. 18: Sabrina Carpenter (host and musical guest)

Nov. 1: Miles Teller, Brandi Carlile

Nov. 8: Nikki Glaser, sombr

Nov. 15: Glen Powell, Olivia Dean

Dec. 6: Melissa McCarthy, Dijon

Dec. 13: Josh O’Connor, Lily Allen

Dec. 20: Ariana Grande, Cher

Jan. 17: Finn Wolfhard, A$AP Rocky

Jan. 24: Teyana Taylor, Geese