Jalen Brunson tries key, sledgehammer and chainsaw in SNL Season 52 promo
New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson cannot get in the door in the new promo for Saturday Night Live.
The spot shows Brunson trying his New York City golden key on the Studio 8H door, then a sledgehammer, then a chainsaw, without success. It is the set-up for his hosting debut on September 26, which will open the show's 52nd season on NBC, according to Deadline.
Studio 8H is the door with the name on it. Every host has to get through it. Brunson cannot.
Featured player Ben Marshall steps in during the promo to offer a tip. A featured player, meaning a newer cast member still working up the bill, often appears in these teasers alongside the incoming host. Deadline reported the exchange without giving away how the joke lands.
The booking puts a basketball captain on the Studio 8H stage. Brunson plays point guard for the Knicks, the player who runs the offence, and serves as team captain. The NBA noted his position when the hosting news was announced, while Deadline listed his captaincy in its promo report.
It also ends a long wait for the league on that stage. Brunson is the first NBA player to host Saturday Night Live since LeBron James hosted Season 33, according to NBC Insider.
He will share the night with KATSEYE. The act will make their debut as musical guests, meaning they perform the music slots during the episode, alongside Brunson as host. A host, meaning the guest star who opens the show and appears through the night, and a musical guest are the two names on the bill each week.
The Season 52 premiere airs live on NBC on September 26 at 11:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 p.m. CT / 8:30 p.m. PT, according to NBC Insider. That late-night slot is the show's regular home.
What makes this stand out is the simplicity of the sell. No sketch is spoiled. No cameo is promised. Just a locked door, three failed tools and a player trying to start a new season in a very different arena.
For fans, this means one date to keep. September 26, late, on NBC. Brunson hosts. KATSEYE play. The door, presumably, opens.
