Saturday Night Live is obviously an iconic sketch comedy show, but not just because of the laughs. The music has always mattered too. The performances can be great, but it is the unexpected moments that make it legendary.
Who can forget Morgan Wallen's seemingly jerky move of walking off the front of the stage when final goodbyes were being said in an episode of season 50? The crowd didn't seem to like Wallen's performance very much, and he showed no class by thinking he was bigger than the cast and making the ending more about him.
Still, in a very tight space in which to perform, the songs of most musical guests shine through. There isn't enough space for a band to spread out. What they play and sing matters.
Saturday Night Live names musical guests for first three episodes of season 51
This leads us to season 51 of the series, and NBC and Saturday Night Live have announced who the first three musical guests will be to open the new season. In reality, there are basically 3.5 musical artists involved.
That is because the first show is on October 4 and will be hosted by Bad Bunny. Bad Bunny won't perform (that we know of), though. Instead, Doja Cat, whose new album, Vie, will be released on September 26, will be the guest. Maybe Bad Bunny will join her for something.
On October 11, SNL alum Amy Poehler will host, and Role Model will be the musical act. If you don't know Role Model, he is an indie artist who sings "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out." In other words, expect a low-key performance that might be perfect for a late night in the autumn.
The final known performance will be October 18 when we get a double dose of Sabrina Carpenter. She will host and be musical guest. She was the musical act once before in the season 49 finale. She also recently released her latest album, Man's Best Friend, which debuted at No. 1.
Saturday Night Live airs on (you guessed it) Saturdays at 11:30 pm ET and can be seen on NBC and Peacock. You can also watch replays on Peacock.