musical guest snl tonight

Is SNL New Tonight? Your Guide to the Saturday Night Live Rerun and Season 51 Schedule

By The Editorial Desk
Last Updated: November 29, 2025

If you are settling in for a Saturday night and asking yourself, "Is Saturday Night Live new tonight?", you aren't alone. With the buzz surrounding the start of Season 51, viewers across Canada and the United States have been eager to catch the latest sketches, political satire, and musical performances. However, for those looking for fresh content on November 29, 2025, the answer is a bit different.

While the search for the musical guest SNL tonight is high, the iconic sketch show is taking a brief pause. Here is everything you need to know about the current status of the show, the rerun airing this week, and what to expect when the show returns.

What’s Happening Tonight: The Rerun Schedule

According to verified reports from entertainment news outlets, Saturday Night Live is not airing a new episode tonight, Saturday, November 29, 2025.

Instead of a new broadcast, NBC is airing a rerun from the current season. This break follows the show's typical production schedule, which often sees a hiatus around the American Thanksgiving holiday to allow the cast and crew a short rest before the final push toward the end of the year.

As reported by Last Night On, "Saturday Night Live isn't new tonight, but there is a rerun (Saturday, Nov. 29)." This is standard practice for the long-running late-night sketch comedy series, ensuring that viewers still get their SNL fix even during production breaks.

Verified Updates: Season 51 and the Recent Musical Guests

To understand where the show stands, it is helpful to look at the verified timeline of Season 51. The season premiered in late September 2025, and the most recent new episode aired on November 22, 2025.

According to a detailed schedule report by NJ.com, the show has been navigating its milestone 51st season with a mix of veteran cast members and new featured players. The November 22 episode was significant, but for viewers searching for tonight's specific musical guest, the information is tied to that previous broadcast rather than a new one.

Parade Magazine confirmed in their "Is SNL New Tonight?" guide for November 29 that the network is in a scheduled off-week. This pause allows the show to maintain its quality and energy as it heads toward the holiday season.

The Last New Lineup

While there is no new musical guest tonight, the last verified performance came during the November 22 episode. Until the show returns with new episodes, fans will have to rely on reruns to get their late-night comedy fix.

The Context: Why SNL Breaks Matter

For long-time viewers, the rhythm of Saturday Night Live is familiar. The show operates on a grueling weekly schedule, writing, rehearsing, and performing a brand-new hour of television in just five days. This intensity is why breaks, like the one occurring this weekend, are essential.

The search volume for terms like "musical guest SNL tonight" spikes whenever there is a break in the schedule. This highlights the show's enduring cultural relevance. Even when the show isn't airing new content, it remains a dominant topic of conversation on social media and search engines.

The transition to Season 51 has been closely watched by industry analysts. Following the departure of several key cast members at the end of Season 50, Season 51 represents a rebuilding phase. This makes the musical guests and guest hosts even more critical in drawing viewership during the fall months.

Immediate Effects: The Viewer Experience

The immediate effect of this week's rerun is a pause in the current narrative arc of the season. However, this "downtime" serves a strategic purpose:

1. Holiday Planning: The break allows producers to plan the high-profile December episodes, which typically feature A-list hosts and musical acts to maximize holiday ratings.
2. Audience Retention: By airing a rerun, NBC keeps the time slot warm and maintains audience habits without burning out the production team.

For fans, the lack of a new episode this week is a minor inconvenience, but it offers a chance to catch up on sketches from earlier in the season that may have been missed.

Future Outlook: When Will SNL Return?

Based on the standard television calendar and the verified reports from Parade Magazine and NJ.com, Saturday Night Live is expected to return with a new episode next week, likely on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

As we move deeper into the holiday season, viewers can anticipate:

• High-Profile Hosts: The show often secures major stars to host during December to promote holiday films.
• Musical Diversity: The musical guests in December often feature a mix of pop superstars and legacy acts, catering to the broad demographic of the show's audience.
• Political Satire: With the U.S. political landscape always shifting, the "Weekend Update" segment remains a focal point for viewers looking for comedic commentary on current events.

Conclusion

While the search for the musical guest SNL tonight yields no new results for November 29, 2025, the show is merely catching its breath. The rerun airing this evening serves as a reminder of the high-quality comedy the show has delivered so far in Season 51.

Fans should mark their calendars for next Saturday, December 6, when the show is expected to return to its regular live broadcast schedule. Until then, enjoy the rerun and keep an eye on official NBC announcements for the next round of hosts and musical guests.