Saturday Night Live: Season 21

Season overview

The twenty-first season of Saturday Night Live aired from September 30, 1995, through May 18, 1996, consisting of 20 produced episodes. This season followed a period of significant instability for the program, as the show faced potential cancellation due to low ratings and critical disapproval regarding the decline in quality during the twentieth season. In an effort to revitalize the series, the production underwent a major cast overhaul. Only five performers from the previous season returned to the ensemble: Norm Macdonald, Mark McKinney, Tim Meadows, Molly Shannon, and David Spade. David Spade served as a bridge between the outgoing and incoming cast members, having agreed to remain with the show for only one additional year. The season also featured newcomers David Koechner and Nancy Walls, both of whom were released from the show following the conclusion of the season. Ultimately, the twenty-first season served as a transitional period for the long-running sketch comedy and variety show as it attempted to recover its standing after a difficult preceding year and establish a new direction for the future of the program.