Season 21
The twenty-first season began September 30, 1995 and ended on May 18, 1996. 20 episodes were produced. SNL once again dodged cancellation from season twenty's low ratings and scathing reviews about the show's decline in quality. Only five cast members: Norm Macdonald, Mark McKinney, Tim Meadows, Molly Shannon and David Spade returned to the show from the previous season. This would be the final season for David Spade. Spade had agreed to stay only for a year so that he could be a bridge between the old and new casts. Newcomers David Koechner and Nancy Walls were also let go after this season.
Episodes
1 Mariel Hemingway/Blues Traveler Sep 30, 1995 
2 Chevy Chase/Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories Oct 7, 1995 
3 David Schwimmer/Natalie Merchant Oct 21, 1995 
4 Gabriel Byrne/Alanis Morissette Oct 28, 1995 
5 Quentin Tarantino/Smashing Pumpkins Nov 11, 1995 
6 Laura Leighton/Rancid Nov 18, 1995 
7 Anthony Edwards/Foo Fighters Dec 2, 1995 
8 David Alan Grier/Silverchair Dec 9, 1995 
9 Madeline Kahn/Bush Dec 16, 1995 
10 Christopher Walken/Joan Osborne Jan 13, 1996 
11 Alec Baldwin/Tori Amos Jan 20, 1996 
12 Danny Aiello/Coolio Feb 10, 1996 
13 Tom Arnold/Tupac Shakur Feb 17, 1996 
14 Elle MacPherson/Sting Feb 24, 1996 
15 John Goodman/Everclear Mar 16, 1996 
16 Phil Hartman/Gin Blossoms Mar 23, 1996 
17 Steve Forbes/Rage Against the Machine Apr 13, 1996 
18 Teri Hatcher/Dave Matthews Band Apr 20, 1996 
19 Christine Baranski/The Cure May 11, 1996 
20 Jim Carrey/Soundgarden May 18, 1996