Saturday Night Live's 36th season saw several cast changes, with the departure of longtime player Will Forte and featured performer Jenny Slate. Past featured players Abby Elliot and Bobby Moynihan were promoted to full cast, and four new featured performers joined the show: Jay Pharoh, Taran Killam, Vanessa Bayer and Paul Brittain. Check out this rundown of the sketch comedy's 36th season in late night.
1. Amy Poehler/Katy Perry (9/25/10)
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Former SNL cast member Amy Poehler returned to the show to host the 36th season premiere, which also featured apparances from alumni Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Rachel Dratch and Maya Rudolph, as well as pop star Justin Timberlake and New York Governor David Patterson.
2. Bryan Cranston/Kanye West (10/2/10)
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Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, with musical guest Kanye West. New cast member Vanessa Bayer debuted her Miley Cyrus impression for "The Miley Cyrus Show," and Morgan Freeman and Ernest Borgnine appeared in the regular sketch "What Up With That?".
3. Jane Lynch/Bruno Mars (10/9/10)
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Emmy-award winning actress and comedian Jane Lynch hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time but wasn't given much to do in an episode that recycled "Gilly," "Secret Word" and "The Suze Orman Show" sketches. Bruno Mars was the musical guest. Original air date 10/9/10.
4. Emma Stone/Kings of Leon (10/23/10)
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Superbad and Easy A star Emma Stone hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time and acquitted herself nicely in a collection of unambitious but not unpleasant sketches. Kings of Leon appeared as the musical guest. Original air date 10/23/10.
5. Jon Hamm/Rihanna (10/30/10)
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Jon Hamm hosted Saturday Night Live for the third time in three consecutive seasons, helping to cement his status as the sketch comedy series' new Alec Baldwin. Rihanna was the musical guest and also reprised a recurring role in the week's Digital Short, "Ronnie and Clyde." Original air date 10/30/10.
6. Scarlett Johansson/Arcade Fire (11/13/10)
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Actress Scarlett Johansson hosted for her third time in this episode, which featured a number of showcase sketches for new cast member Vanessa Bayer but which also saw a lot of repeat sketches, including "The Manuel Ortiz Show" and a "G-20" opener. Musical guest was Canadian rock band Arcade Fire. Original air date 11/13/10.
7. Anne Hathaway/Florence and the Machine (11/20/10)
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Anne Hathaway returned to host Saturday Night Live again, this time pulling out killer impressions of both Judy Garland and Katie Holmes. Musical guest was Florence and the Machine. Original air date 11/20/10.
8. Robert DeNiro/Diddy Dirty Money (12/4/10)
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Robert DeNiro made a rare TV appearance to host Saturday Night Live in promotion of his movie Little Fockers, with musical guest Diddy Dirty Money (featuring Sean "P. Diddy/Puff Daddy" Combs). Special surprise appearances were made by Robin Williams and Ben Stiller, DeNiro's Fockers co-star. Original air date 12/4/10.
9. Paul Rudd/Paul McCartney (12/11/10)
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Paul Rudd returned to host Saturday Night Live for the second time, accompanied by musical guest Paul McCartney, who performed a full four songs on the episode as well as appearing in the monologue, the week's Digital Short and on "Weekend Update." Original air date 12/11/10.
10. Jeff Bridges/Eminem (12/18/10)
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Oscar winner Jeff Bridges returned to host SNL for the first time since 1983, but -- like a lot of guest hosts this season -- wasn't given a whole lot to do. Eminem was the musical guest. Special appearances by Cookie Monster, Jessica Alba, Blake Lively and Akon (the latter three in this week's Digital Short, "I Just Had Sex"). Original air date 12/18/10.
