Ryan Gosling And Jay-Z Headline Season Premiere Of ‘Saturday Night Live’

Saturday Night Live kicks off its 43^rd season tonight with actor Ryan Gosling as host and rapper Jay-Z as the musical guest. The Canadian actor, 36, first hosted SNL in December 2015 where his knack for comedy shined.

Last season the series experienced some of its highest ratings in more than two decades thanks to jokes aimed at the White House. Alec Baldwin and Melissa McCarthy’s regular appearances as President Trump and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer kept viewers tuning in each week. Baldwin and McCarthy went on to win Emmy’s for their work on SNL’s 42^nd season, along with cast mate Kate McKinnon, who frequently impersonated Hillary Clinton on the show.

With the surge in popularity last season, a half-hour spinoff show Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Summer Edition aired throughout the summer while the main show was on break.

In a promo for tonight’s 90-minute season premiere host Ryan Gosling delivers a dramatic voiceover reminiscent of Drive as the cityscape of New York scrolls by. Gosling reflects on his first time hosting Saturday Night Live and promises to give more of himself during his second go-around.

“This time, I’m going to give the world my soul,” he says. “Something they will never… ever forget.”

Afterwards, the clip immediately cuts to Gosling attempting to rush past security at 30 Rock after being refused entry. Gosling’s second appearance as host of the comedy show coincides with his upcoming movie Blade Runner 2049.

Although Ryan Gosling makes his return to the series, a few familiar faces will not. Regulars Vanessa Bayer, Bobby Moynihan, and Sasheer Zamata will no longer be making the audience laugh as part of the SNL cast. With the loss of the regulars comes the addition of three new featured players: Heidi Gardner, Luke Null, and Chris Redd.

The season premiere of SNL is tonight and will continue to air live coast-to-coast at 8:30 p.m. PST/ 11:30 p.m,. ET on NBC.