Saturday Night Live: Season 30
Saturday Night Live aired its thirtieth season on NBC during the 2004-2005 television season, beginning on October 2, 2004, and concluding on May 21, 2005, across a total of 20 episodes. Prior to the season, Jimmy Fallon departed the show, leading to a shift in cast and anchor roles. Fred Armisen was promoted to repertory status, while Finesse Mitchell and Kenan Thompson continued as feature players. Following Fallon
Season 30 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Saturday Night Live is a late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels.
- Jimmy Fallon left the show prior to the start of the season.
- Tina Fey and Amy Poehler established positions as Weekend Update anchors following Fallon's departure.
- Fred Armisen held repertory status while Finesse Mitchell and Kenan Thompson remained feature players.
Season overview
Saturday Night Live aired its thirtieth season on NBC during the 2004-2005 television season, beginning on October 2, 2004, and concluding on May 21, 2005, across a total of 20 episodes. Prior to the season, Jimmy Fallon departed the show, leading to a shift in cast and anchor roles. Fred Armisen was promoted to repertory status, while Finesse Mitchell and Kenan Thompson continued as feature players. Following Fallon's departure, Amy Poehler joined Tina Fey as a co-anchor on Weekend Update, marking the first time the segment was anchored by a two-woman team. New additions to the cast included improv comedian and U.S. Marine Rob Riggle for his sole season, alongside SNL writer Jason Sudeikis, who joined as a featured player for the final three episodes. The season featured numerous sketches centered on the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, though these sketches received little to no media coverage compared to the 2000 election. Additionally, the season gained notable attention for a lip-syncing gaffe by Ashlee Simpson during her second performance.
Episode Guide
Season 30 Progress Shield
Ben Affleck/Nelly
Oct 2, 2004 · 67 min
Live From New York (and opening the 30th season of SNL), it's...Chris Parnell Sketches include ""First Presidential Debate 2004,"" ""Dr. Porkenheimer's Boner Juice,"" ""Debbie Dow
Queen Latifah
Oct 9, 2004 · 67 min
Live From New York, it's...Darrell Hammond Sketches include ""Hardball"", ""Sky Captain Filming"", ""Dyson Toilets"", ""The Ninth Presidential Debate"", ""Paris Hilton Apologizes"
Jude Law/Ashlee Simpson
Oct 23, 2004 · 67 min
Live From New York, it's...Jim Downey translating for Seth Meyers Sketches include: NBC Special Report, Rap Night, Mrs. Dr. Frankenstein, TV Funhouse: John McCain's Speech, Clinto
Kate Winslet/Eminem
Oct 30, 2004 · 67 min
Live From New York, it's...Will Forte Sketches include: Kerry at the Beach, Star Jones' Wedding Night, You Call This A House Do Ya?, Dr. Porkenheimer's Boner Juice (repeat from th
Liam Neeson/Modest Mouse
Nov 13, 2004 · 67 min
Sketches include: ""C-SPAN Terrorist Alert,"" ""Woomba,"" ""Pranksters,"" ""A 'Blue' Christmas"" (cartoon), ""The Undercover Cop,"" ""Prince Christmas Special,"" ""Apprentice Chris
Luke Wilson/U2
Nov 20, 2004 · 67 min
Live From New York, it's...Darrell Hammond Sketches include: CNN Press Conference, Trucker Talk, Beaver Ranch Brothel, Hardball, Black Paramedics, Noony and Nuni, and The Not So G
Colin Farrell/Scissor Sisters
Dec 11, 2004 · 67 min
Live From New York, it's...Tina Fey and Amy Poehler! Sketches include: ""The Bush Twins"", ""Condelezza Rice's Hearing"", ""Gaystrogen"" (from season 29), ""Paul Giamatti's Limo D
Robert De Niro/Destiny's Child
Dec 18, 2004 · 67 min
Live from New York, it's...Rachel Dratch Sketches include: American Idol, CheapKids.Net Ad 1, Versace Skiing, Starkisha and Portia at the Purse Shop, CheapKids.Net Ad 2, Exclusive
Topher Grace/The Killers
Jan 15, 2005 · 67 min
Live from New York, it's... Horatio Sanz Sketches include ""Kim Jong Il,"" ""me-Harmony.com,"" ""Monkeys Throwing Poop at Celebrities,"" ""Black History Month,"" ""The Best of TT
Paul Giamatti/Ludacris & Sum 41
Jan 22, 2005 · 67 min
Live from New York, it's... Amy Poehler! Sketches include ""Neverland Ranch,"" ""Grayson-Moorhead Investments,"" ""Sheila Choad's LA Face,"" ""Hot Plates,"" ""Debbie Downer at the
Paris Hilton/Keane
Feb 5, 2005 · 67 min
Live from New York, it's...Rachel Dratch Sketches include: American Idol, CheapKids.Net Ad 1, Versace Skiing, Starkisha and Portia at the Purse Shop, CheapKids.Net Ad 2, Exclusive
Jason Bateman/Kelly Clarkson
Feb 12, 2005 · 67 min
Live From New York, it's...Darrell Hammond Sketches include: Hardball, meharmony.com (repeat from the Jason Bateman/Kelly Clarkson episode), Oprah, The Push-Up Contest, Kevin Fede
Hilary Swank/50 Cent
Feb 19, 2005 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Papal Debate '05,"" ""Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,"" ""Michael Jackson"" (cartoon), ""The Barry Gibb Talk Show,"" ""One-Star Hotel,"" ""Woo! The Musical,"" ""
David Spade/Jack Johnson
Mar 12, 2005 · 67 min
Live from New York, it's...Chris Parnell Sketches include: A Message From Tom DeLay, Dr. Porkenheimer's Boner Juice (re-edited and using the alternate ending from the Liam Neeson/
Ashton Kutcher/Gwen Stefani
Mar 19, 2005 · 67 min
Live From New York, it's...Paula Abdul Sketches include: ""Primetime Live: The American Idol Scandal,"" ""Sally & Dan Harrison: The Couple That Should Be Divorced,"" ""Donald Trum
Cameron Diaz/Green Day
Apr 9, 2005 · 67 min
Live From New York, It's... Darrell Hammond (yet again) Sketches include ""Hardball,"" ""America's Next Top Model,"" ""Monster-In-Law Screening,"" ""The Prince Show,"" ""Little It
Tom Brady/Beck
Apr 16, 2005 · 67 min
Live from New York, it's...Chris Parnell Sketches include: A Message From Tom DeLay, Dr. Porkenheimer's Boner Juice (re-edited and using the alternate ending from the Liam Neeson/
Johnny Knoxville/System of a Down
May 7, 2005 · 67 min
Live From New York, it's...Paula Abdul Sketches include: ""Primetime Live: The American Idol Scandal,"" ""Sally & Dan Harrison: The Couple That Should Be Divorced,"" ""Donald Trum
Will Ferrell/Queens of the Stone Age
May 14, 2005 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Will Backstage,"" ""Celebrity Jeopardy,"" ""Oracle Conclave,"" ""Going 2 C Movies,"" and ""Luxury Spy.""
Lindsay Lohan/Coldplay
May 21, 2005 · 67 min
Live From New York, It's... Darrell Hammond (yet again) Sketches include ""Hardball,"" ""America's Next Top Model,"" ""Monster-In-Law Screening,"" ""The Prince Show,"" ""Little It