Saturday Night Live aired its thirty-first season in the 2005-06 television season on NBC. The season began on October 1, 2005, and ended on May 20, 2006, with 19 episodes in all. The season was cut one episode short due to the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. A 30th anniversary special for the show was planned, but the plan was scrapped due to budget cuts. Before the start of the season, featured player Rob Riggle was let go from the show. Finesse Mitchell and Kenan Thompson were both promoted to repertory status while Jason Sudeikis remained a featured player. The show then added three new cast members to the show. They included: Los Angeles-based sketch comedian Bill Hader, Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig of The Groundlings. Wiig debuted on the show in November, in the episode hosted by Jason Lee. Samberg, Schaffer and Taccone would be a notable force for creating SNL Digital Shorts. One such short was "Lazy Sunday"; after it aired during the Jack Black episode it became an Internet phenomenon. Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph missed a few episodes in this season due to both of them being pregnant and on maternity leave. Fey's place on Weekend Update was briefly taken over by Horatio Sanz until her return in the episode hosted by Catherine Zeta-Jones, making Sanz the first Hispanic Weekend Update anchor. Fey returned to the show before her maternity leave time was up. Maya Rudolph, however, appeared on the first episode of the new season, and then went on maternity leave and returned in February, in the episode hosted by Steve Martin.

Season 31 Episode 7 - Dane Cook/James Blunt

Live from New York, it's... the entire cast of SNL! (more or less) Sketches include "The Tree Re-Lighting," "West Bedford Drama Club," "Taco Town," "The Long Ride Home: The Jay Feely Story," "Wool Sweater," "Lettuce" (film), "Target Greatland," "24-Hour Coma," "Fight Back with Victor Santos," and "Morgan Stanley." James Blunt performed "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover." Air Date : 3rd-Dec-2005

Season 31 Episode 1 - Steve Carell/Kanye West

Live from New York, it's... Will Forte! Sketches include "Bush Addresses the Nation," "MorganStanley," "The JetBlue Crisis," "Anderson Cooper 360," "The Couple That Should Be Divorced," "Girls Gone Wild Katrina," "Kanye Backstage," "The Lundford Twins Variety Hour," "Fun With Real Audio" (cartoon), and "Debbie Downer." Kanye West performed "Gold Digger" and "Heard 'Em Say" featuring Adam Levine. Air Date : 1st-Oct-2005  Read More

Season 31 Episode 2 - Jon Heder/Ashlee Simpson

Sketches include "George W. Bush and Harriet Miers," "Taco Town," "Caitlin's Science Fair," "Werewolf Date," "The Misadventures of Tom Delay and Bill Frist," "Showbiz Grande Explosion!," "Wilson Brothers Funeral Home," "Hubbard Systems," "Operator Date," and "The Black Eyed Peas." Ashlee Simpson performed "Catch Me When I Fall" and "Boyfriend." Air Date : 8th-Oct-2005  Read More

Season 31 Episode 3 - Catherine Zeta-Jones / Franz Ferdinand

Live from New York, it's... Darrell Hammond! Sketches include "Bush's Spontaneous Chat," "Butt Cancer Treatment Center," "Newsnight with Aaron Brown," "Dancers Party," "The Italians," "Access Hollywood," "Creighton Boys School," "Glen and Gina's Wedding," "MorganStanley," and "The Scheinwalds." Franz Ferdinand performed "Do You Want To" and "Take Me Out." Air Date : 22nd-Oct-2005  Read More

Season 31 Episode 4 - Lance Armstrong/Sheryl Crow

Live from New York, it's... Darrell Hammond! Sketches include "The Libby Indictment," "Celebrity Ironman," "RAD 3000," "Indigo Girls Harmonies," "The O'Reilly Factor," "Sheryl's Song," "Days of Our Lives," "Carol!," and "Giddy Henchman." Sheryl Crow performed "Good is Good" and "Strong Enough." Air Date : 29th-Oct-2005  Read More

Season 31 Episode 5 - Jason Lee/Foo Fighters

Live from New York, it's... Will Forte! Sketches include "Hardball," "JJ Casuals," "Good Morning Meth," "The Falconer," "Thomas & Dobbins," "The Soaking Wet Killer," "Refurbishments," "Butt Pregnancy," "Stachin'," "McNutly & Sons," and "American Tasar." Foo Fighters performed "DOA" and "Best of You." Air Date : 12th-Nov-2005  Read More

Season 31 Episode 6 - Eva Longoria/Korn

Live from New York, it's... Will Forte! Sketches include "Hardball," "JJ Casuals," "Good Morning Meth," "The Falconer," "Thomas & Dobbins," "The Soaking Wet Killer," "Refurbishments," "Butt Pregnancy," "Stachin'," "McNutly & Sons," and "American Tasar." Foo Fighters performed "DOA" and "Best of You." Air Date : 19th-Nov-2005  Read More

Season 31 Episode 7 - Dane Cook/James Blunt

Live from New York, it's... the entire cast of SNL! (more or less) Sketches include "The Tree Re-Lighting," "West Bedford Drama Club," "Taco Town," "The Long Ride Home: The Jay Feely Story," "Wool Sweater," "Lettuce" (film), "Target Greatland," "24-Hour Coma," "Fight Back with Victor Santos," and "Morgan Stanley." James Blunt performed "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover." Air Date : 3rd-Dec-2005  Read More

Season 31 Episode 8 - Alec Baldwin/Shakira

Live from New York, it's... Alec Baldwin! Sketches include "Saddam's Cell," "Tylenol BM," "Face Transplant," "The O'Reilly Factor," "Celebrity Mugshot Poker" (cartoon), "Brokeback Goldmine," "The Tony Bennett Show," "Carol at Bowl-a-Rama," "The Man Who Married a Hot Dog," "Medicare," and "Santa's Workshop." Shakira performed "Don't Bother" and "La Tortura" (acoustic mix) with Alejandro Sanz. Air Date : 10th-Dec-2005  Read More

Season 31 Episode 9 - Jack Black/Neil Young

Live from New York, it's... Will Forte! Sketches include "A Holiday Message from the Vice President," "Stuart Little Mouse Removal Kit," "Sbarro," "Appalachian Emergency Room," "Christmastime for the Jews" (cartoon), "Channel 5 Photo Shoot," "Lazy Sunday" (film), "A Very Downer Christmas," "Space War 2148," "Two A-Holes Buying a Christmas Tree," and "Spelling Bee." Neil Young performed "It's a Dream" and "He Was The King." Air Date : 17th-Dec-2005  Read More

Season 31 Episode 10 - Scarlett Johanson/Death Cab for Cutie

Live from New York, it's... the voice of Robert Smigel! Sketches include "The 700 Gang" (cartoon), "Taco Town," "Deep House Dish," "Smorgabord," "Darwin" (cartoon), "Mike and Toni's Chandelier Galaxy," "Live Duluth," "My Super Sweet 16," "Once in a Lifetime Jewelers," "The Kuril-Khamchatka Trench," and "Mr. Willoughby." Death Cab for Cutie performed "Soul Meets Body" and "Crooked Teeth." Air Date : 14th-Jan-2006  Read More

Season 31 Episode 11 - Peter Sarsgaard/The Strokes

Live from New York, it's... Seth Meyers! Sketches include "Anderson Cooper 360," "Nelson's Baby Toupees," "Target Greatland," "National Pirate Convention," "Carol!," "Young Chuck Norris" (film), "Cat Fancy," "Gays in Space," "Fairmount Suites Inn," "NSA Wiretap," and "Peter Sarsgaard's SARS-guards." The Strokes performed "Juicebox" and "You Only Live Once." Air Date : 21st-Jan-2006  Read More

Season 31 Episode 12 - Steve Martin/Prince

Filmed in New York, it's... Steve Martin! Sketches include "The Sabotage of Baldwin" (film), "Teddy Bear Holding a Heart," "Oprah," "Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford," "Hamas Party," "Close Talkers" (film), "Quick Zoom Theater," "Super Bowl XL Rehearsals," "Backstage: Steve, Alec and Lorne," "The Prince Show," "State of the Galaxy 2145," "The Tangent" (film), "Surfer Club," and "Naturally Crafting." Prince performed "Fury (A Woman Scorned)" and "Beautiful Loved, and Blessed" featuring Tamar. Air Date : 4th-Feb-2006  Read More

Season 31 Episode 13 - Natalie Portman/Fall Out Boy

Sketches include "Bush Responds to Criticism," "Nelson's Baby Toupees," "Jamba Juice," "Larry King Live," "The Couple That Should Be Divorced," "Belated Black History Moment" (cartoon), "Art Dealers and the College Boyfriend," "Sheldon's Bar Mitzvah," "The Real Natalie" (film), and "RAD 3000." Fall Out Boy performed "Dance Dance" and "Sugar, We're Going Down." Air Date : 4th-Mar-2006  Read More

Season 31 Episode 14 - Matt Dillon/Arctic Monkeys

Live from New York, it's... Darrell Hammond! Sketches include "Bush Responds to Criticism," "Nelson's Baby Toupees," "Jamba Juice," "Larry King Live," "The Couple That Should Be Divorced," "Belated Black History Moment" (cartoon), "Art Dealers and the College Boyfriend," "Sheldon's Bar Mitzvah," "The Real Natalie" (film), and "RAD 3000." Fall Out Boy performed "Dance Dance" and "Sugar, We're Going Down." Air Date : 11th-Mar-2006  Read More

Season 31 Episode 15 - Antonio Banderas/Mary J. Blige

Live from New York (for the 600th time), its... Seth Meyers! Sketches include "Anderson Cooper 360," "Basic Instinct 2: Return of the Beaver," "Deal or No Deal," "Automated-Phone Lady," "Besos y Lagrimas," "13th Annual Women's Basketball Coaches Fashion Awards," "Zorro's Body Double," "Rascals' Karoake," "Immigrants Backstage," and "Wine Snobs." Mary J. Blige performs "Be Without You" and "Enough Crying. Air Date : 8th-Apr-2006  Read More

Season 31 Episode 16 - Lindsay Lohan/Pearl Jam

Live from New York, it's... Lindsay Lohan! Sketches include "The Situation Room," "Neutrogena Coin Slot," "Deep House Dish," "Journey to the Disney Vaults" (cartoon), "The O'Reilly Factor," "Le Rendezvous," "Laser Cats!" (film), "Debbie Downer," "Officemates' Night Out," and "Atlantic City Fever." Pearl Jam performed "World Wide Suicide" and "Severed Hand." Air Date : 15th-Apr-2006  Read More

Season 31 Episode 17 - Tom Hanks/Red Hot Chili Peppers

Live from New York, its... Will Forte! Sketches include "Bill Frist's Gas Plan," "Wheel of Fortune," "Kaitlin and the Iguana," "Ariell & Ephraim" (film), "Ma!," "Claremont Yoga Center," "Colin's Place," and "Country Club Tennis." Red Hot Chili Peppers performed "Dani California" and "Give It Away." Air Date : 6th-May-2006  Read More

Season 31 Episode 18 - Julia Louis-Dreyfus/Paul Simon

Live from New York, its... Al Gore! Sketches include "Parallel Universe Address from President Gore", "Techpack", "Horny Homeless Guy", "The Morning Show", "MySpace", "Charades", "Unsolved Mysteries: The Sandy Patterson Story", and "Peyote" (film). Paul Simon performed "How Can You Live In the Northeast?" and "Outrageous". Air Date : 13th-May-2006  Read More

Season 31 Episode 19 - Kevin Spacey/Nelly Furtado

Live from New York, its... Rachel Dratch! Sketches include "Anderson Cooper 360," "A-holes at a Crime Scene," "Oprah's Legends Ball," "Carol!," "Fun with Real Audio" (cartoon), "Kevin and Andy Backstage," "The Falconer," "Andy Walking" (film), "Lord Phillip Sarc," and "I Do Not Agree With Many of This Administration's Policies." Nelly Furtado performs "Promiscuous" (featuring Timbaland) and "Maneater." Air Date : 20th-May-2006  Read More