Season 36
Saturday Night Live aired its thirty-sixth season during the 2010–2011 television season on NBC. This season began on September 25, 2010 with former cast member Amy Poehler serving as host and Katy Perry as the musical guest, and ended on May 21, 2011 with Justin Timberlake serving as host and Lady Gaga as musical guest. Prior to the start of the season, many cast changes occurred. Will Forte, who had been with the show since 2002, announced on August 26, 2010 that he would be leaving the show. Featured player Jenny Slate was let go from the show after only one season. Abby Elliott and Bobby Moynihan were promoted to repertory status, becoming the first featured players to be promoted since 2006. The show hired four new cast members: Chicago improvisers Vanessa Bayer and Paul Brittain from ImprovOlympic; stand-up comic/impressionist Jay Pharoah; and comedic actor Taran Killam of The Groundlings, who, like Jeff Richards was a former cast member on SNL's rival sketch show, MADtv. This season also debuted a new animated feature voiced by former SNL cast members, called "Greetings from American America", created by former SNL head writer Fred Wolf.
Episodes
1 Amy Poehler/Katy Perry Sep 25, 2010 
2 Bryan Cranston/Kanye West Oct 2, 2010 3 Jane Lynch/Bruno Mars Oct 9, 2010 
4 Emma Stone/Kings of Leon Oct 23, 2010 
5 Jon Hamm/Rihanna Oct 30, 2010 6 Scarlett Johansson/Arcade Fire Nov 13, 2010 
7 Anne Hathaway/Florence and the Machine Nov 20, 2010 
8 Robert De Niro/Diddy-Dirty Money Dec 4, 2010 
9 Paul Rudd/Paul McCartney Dec 11, 2010 
10 Jeff Bridges/Eminem & Lil Wayne Dec 18, 2010 11 Jim Carrey/The Black Keys Jan 8, 2011 
12 Gwyneth Paltrow/Cee Lo Green Jan 15, 2011 
13 Jesse Eisenberg/Nicki Minaj Jan 29, 2011 
14 Dana Carvey/Linkin Park Feb 5, 2011 
15 Russell Brand/Chris Brown Feb 12, 2011 
16 Miley Cyrus/The Strokes Mar 5, 2011 
17 Zach Galifianakis/Jessie J. Mar 12, 2011 18 Elton John/Leon Russell Apr 2, 2011 19 Helen Mirren/Foo Fighters Apr 9, 2011 20 Tina Fey/Ellie Goulding May 7, 2011 
21 Ed Helms/Paul Simon May 14, 2011 
22 Justin Timberlake/Lady Gaga May 21, 2011