Saturday Night Live: Get ready for a star-studded 'SNL' with Lady Gaga and Shane Gillis!

"Saturday Night Live" plans fresh episodes following its 50th-anniversary festivities, featuring Lady Gaga in a dual role and Shane Gillis hosting alongside performer Tate McRae. Gillis will present the programme on March 1, with McRae performing tracks from her third album "So Close to What" releasing in February.

Lady Gaga's March 8 appearance marks her second time hosting and fifth time performing on "SNL". Her newest album "Mayhem" releases the previous day.

Gillis has a complex relationship with the programme, having been dismissed as a cast member in 2019 before his first appearance. His removal followed controversy over a 2018 podcast where he used anti-Asian language and mocked accents.


Following the video's emergence, Gillis issued an apology, describing himself as a "comedian who pushes boundaries". He subsequently created and starred in "Tires", returning to Netflix for a second series this year, and hosted "SNL" in February last year.

"SNL" currently enjoys significant attention after its 50th-anniversary show became NBC's most-viewed prime-time entertainment broadcast in five years, attracting nearly 15 million viewers.

The recent three-and-a-half-hour celebration, featuring comedy sketches, musical acts and surprise appearances, achieved NBC's highest night-time entertainment viewership since the 2020 Golden Globes.

NBC reported on Monday that only the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has drawn larger audiences recently.

The programme began its commemorative weekend with "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert", where Gaga performed twice - replacing Justin Timberlake in a Lonely Island medley with Andy Samberg and guests, and delivering "Shallow" near the concert's conclusion. (AP) RB RB