Saturday Night Live season 30

Did You Know?

• This season featured a lip-syncing gaffe by Ashlee Simpson during her second performance, on the episode hosted by Jude Law.
• Many sketches focused on the 2004 U.S. Presidential election.
• Rob Riggle was the first and, as of 2025, only SNL cast member to have served in the U.S. Marines.

Cast

Before the season, Jimmy Fallon left after six seasons. Fred Armisen was promoted to repertory status, while Finesse Mitchell and Kenan Thompson remained featured players. New featured players included Rob Riggle, an improv comedian and U.S. Marine—the only SNL cast member to have served in the Marines—who stayed for just this season. Jason Sudeikis, previously a writer, joined as a featured player for the final three episodes. With Fallon gone, Amy Poehler became Tina Fey's co-anchor on Weekend Update, making them the only two-woman anchor team through at least season 50. Repertory players included Fred Armisen, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Darrell Hammond, Seth Meyers, Chris Parnell, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Horatio Sanz. Featured players were Finesse Mitchell, Rob Riggle, Jason Sudeikis (from May 7, 2005), and Kenan Thompson.

Writers

Season 30 saw Harper Steele, a writer since 1995, promoted to co-head writer alongside Tina Fey. Alex Baze, previously a Weekend Update writer, joined the writing staff. Near the end of the season, writer Jason Sudeikis left to become a cast member. It was meant to be Paula Pell’s final season after a decade as a writer and eight years as writing supervisor, as she departed to work on her sitcom Thick and Thin, which never aired, leading her to return early the following season. T. Sean Shannon was removed as writing supervisor but stayed on as a writer. Jim Downey took a season off but returned for season 32.