According numerous sources, Lebron James, NBA superstar and self-proclaimed “Global Icon”, will host the 33rd season premiere of Saturday Night Live. Lebron just finished co-hosting the ESPY awards last week with Jimmy Kimmel, and impressed audiences with his comedic stylings.  The much-talked about highlight was a late musical number in which Lebron parodied both MC Hammer and Bobby Brown.  The season premiere episode of Saturday Night Live will air sometime in September. 

Lebron, 22, has been an enormously hyped star since he was a sophomore in high-school, and as a result is comfortable in the limelight.  His partnership with Nike has produced various buzz-worthy commercials, including an ad campaign which featured Lebron playing four different characters at once, a la Eddie Murphy.  Lebron isn't you typical wooden sports star.  He's going to be very good on SNL. 

In other SNL news, at yesterday's NBC press tour event at the Beverly Hills Hilton, SNL creator/executive producer Lorne Michaels and most cast members sat down journalists for a interactive panel.  A few tidbits:

Lorne reports that all of last year's cast should be back for the coming season.  The only question mark is Maya Rudolph, who still hasn't decided if she wants to come back. 

Auditions for SNL will be held in August, like they are every year, and if someone really wows the producers, than they'll be hired.  Otherwise, Lorne and company aren't on the lookout for anyone in particular. 

In the past, Lorne was approached by NBC to do a SNL reality show, in which they find the next new cast member.  Lorne declined.

As far as I'm concerned this is all good news.  SNL showed significant signs of growth last year, as the cast began to mesh together really well.  Over the years, there have been countless cries of SNL's downfall.  They're never true: the show just runs in cycles.  Give this cast a shot.  Next year should be a turning point.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of LebronJames-US.com)