When Are New Episodes Of 'Saturday Night Live?' A Look Back At Season 42 And Ahead To Season 43

"Saturday Night Live" was met with renewed interest in its 42nd season, due in large part to Alec Baldwin's role as President Donald Trump and Melissa McCarthy's stab at White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Although the season wrapped up in May, loyal viewers and political junkies alike may be experiencing withdrawals of the late-night satirical program amid increased political tension within the Trump administration.

When can fans expect "SNL" to return? As of now, NBC has not released an official premiere date but the show typically debuts in late September or early October.

Meanwhile, there has been some news ahead of Season No. 43.

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Some Fan Favorites Won't Return For Season 43

As each season comes to an end, some cast members prepare to make their departure from the long-running series. Whether it's because the actor is ready for a new challenge or their contract is up, the inevitable comes annually. Vanessa Bayer, Bobby Moynihan and Sasheer Zamata have already announced that they won't be returning.

Bayer, who was the longest-serving female cast member at the time, was an active participant on "SNL" for seven seasons. During her time on the series, she has contributed notable laughs with recurring impressions like Miley Cyrus. She also worked on films "Trainwreck" and "Office Christmas Party" during her time on the late-night sketch series.

She took to Instagram to write: "Thank you SNL for 7 years of laughs, love and incredible memories. It has been a dream come true. And thanks for this goodbye sketch at the table, Colin."

Considering Moynihan took on the leading role in CBS' new series "Me, Myself, & I," his departure was expected because it naturally poses a conflict with "SNL." Upon leaving, Moynihan had nine seasons under his belt, making him one of the longest-running cast members in "SNL" history. Some of his most beloved characters include his impressions of Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey and chef Guy Fieri.

On his last episode, Moynihan took to Instagram: "The fifth longest running cast member of all time. I'm very proud of that and my time there. I am a huge fan of SNL. Always have been. Always will be."

Zamata exited "SNL" after four seasons, but her departure was a bit more subdued. Zamata, who announced her departure not long after the season finale, was known for characters like Lupita Nyong'o and Beyoncé. Vulture noted that Zamata had little chance of thriving as a black actress hired to fill a diversity quota, claiming "Zamata ended up being the physical embodiment of that controversy, and never seemed to get a chance to do what she was trained to do."

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However, Zamata left on a high note as she documented her departure for her Instagram followers, saying: "Wow. What a fantastic end to a fantastic season, thanks SNL."

More Trumpisms And Political Satire

Baldwin told CNN that he will be returning as Trump. "SNL" has a long history of poking fun of presidents, so as long as Trump is in the White House, it stands to reason that Baldwin can fill the role.

It's possible that Baldwin could continue the role beyond Trump's time as president, as "SNL" has maintained routines on politicians even when they are not in office. Dana Carvey was famous for his impressions of Ross Perot, while Norm MacDonald played Bob Dole. Tina Fey also portrayed Sarah Palin.

In Baldwin's upcoming special "One Night Only: Alec Baldwin" on Spike TV, he tackles impersonations of both Trump and Bush in the promo video.

As for McCarthy's return as Spicer, that's a more complicated answer. She received praise for the caricature and it wouldn't be surprising if she reprises the role again.

Overall Season 42 Ratings And Season 43 Ratings Predictions

Season 42 proved to be a ratings dominator throughout the 2016-17 season and they may have Trump to thank for it. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show's May finale averaged 8.3 million viewers. However, these ratings didn't meet the expectations the previous episode set, which had McCarthy in the role of host.

THR also noted in May that season's full ratings won't be unveiled for many weeks, but the show had "approached the finale averaging nearly 11 million viewers and a 3.5 rating among adults 18-49," making it the most-watched season to date in years. Nonetheless, these ratings alone prove how much of a pop culture staple the show is.

Entering Season 43, "SNL" will most likely be able to ride off of the stellar ratings wave from the previous season at first, but the show has often had its ups and downs.

If "SNL" hopes to generate a second successful ratings season, the cast may have their work cut out for them in a non-election year. While fan favorites like Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong are expected to return, it may be difficult to continue the winning formula with some new cast members. It wouldn't be surprising if the program sees a minor decline from last year.

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