Jimmy Fallon isn’t the only member of the Lorne Michaels television universe getting into the holiday spirit this year. NBC has set air dates for two Saturday Night Live favorites: A Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving and A Saturday Night Live Christmas.
The Thanksgiving special will air Thanksgiving eve, Wednesday, Nov. 26 from 9–11 p.m., serving up a buffet of sketches that celebrate, skewer, and sing about the holiday. Expect classics like Adam Sandler’s “Thanksgiving Song” (“turkey for you, turkey for me”) and Adele calming a tense family dinner with the power of music.
Three weeks later, NBC will unwrap A Saturday Night Live Christmas, airing Thursday, Dec. 18 from 9–11 p.m. with an encore presentation Monday, Dec. 22 at 9 p.m.
Both specials will be available for streaming next day on Peacock.
Tracing its roots back to 1990, when it first aired under the title Saturday Night Live Christmas Past, the show’s Christmas compilation has aired annually since 2012. Past editions have featured Rachel Dratch’s Debbie Downer meeting Santa, Kate McKinnon’s abducted-by-aliens character Ms. Rafferty recalling her “not-so-great” trip to the North Pole, and Eddie Murphy’s return as Mister Robinson.
The Christmas special shouldn’t be confused with SNL’s annual live Christmas episode, which typically closes out the year with one of the show’s most high-wattage nights. That broadcast, which is expected to air this year on Saturday December 20, regularly features one a favorite host—often a returning cast legend—and plenty of celebrity cameos.
In recent years, the Christmas episode has been hosted by Martin Short, Kate McKinnon, and Kristen Wiig, each bringing their own nostalgia factor and holiday flair. NBC has yet to announce who will take the stage this December, but expectations, as always, are high.
