NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Live from New York! It\u2019s a new \u201cSNL\u201d season, with faces both fresh and familiar.<\/p>\n
After a fanfare-filled 50th season celebrating the past, \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d<\/a> looks to the future with a cast that includes five new featured players. <\/a> As for the high-wattage early hosts, none other than Bad Bunny kicks things off on Saturday.<\/p>\n The music superstar is having what can only be described as an enormous week: he\u2019s coming off a historic residency in Puerto Rico<\/a>, and in another kickoff moment, he\u2019s been announced as headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show.<\/a><\/p>\n His moment in the spotlight hasn\u2019t come without some political discourse. The Puerto Rican artist has said one of the reasons his residency bypassed the continental U.S. was a concern that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials could target immigrants for deportation outside his shows. Some conservatives supportive of President Donald Trump\u2019s immigration crackdown have criticized the halftime show pick as a result.<\/p>\n Asked Friday by a podcaster whether ICE officials would be conducting enforcement at the Super Bowl, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said they would, because DHS \u201cis responsible for keeping it safe.\u201d She didn\u2019t specify whether the officials would be conducting immigration enforcement or other law enforcement duties that are typical at the event.<\/p>\n In his second \u201cSNL\u201d hosting gig, Bad Bunny will be joined by musical guest Doja Cat, making her debut in that role.<\/p>\n He\u2019ll be followed in subsequent weeks by Amy Poehler and Sabrina Carpenter. All three were highlights of the 50th season celebrations, with Bad Bunny performing at the \u201cSNL50: The Homecoming Concert<\/a> ” and also serving as the final musical guest of the season.<\/p>\n SNL alumna Poehler, in her second solo hosting gig, will front the Oct. 11 episode alongside first-time musical guest Role Model. Her episode will air 50 years to the day of the very first episode of \u201cSaturday Night Live,\u201d<\/a> on Oct. 11, 1975.<\/p>\n Carpenter, who was a major attraction of the anniversary celebrations,<\/a> is pulling double duty as host and musical guest on Oct. 18.<\/p>\n The revamped cast comes on the heels of several high-profile departures, including Ego Nwodim and Devon Walker. Ben Marshall, already an \u201cSNL\u201d writer, becomes a featured player, along with newcomers Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nwodim, Walker, Emil Wakim and Michael Longfellow all confirmed last month on their social media accounts that they are leaving the show. Multiple news outlets reported that cast mainstay Heidi Gardner was also departing the show, but neither Gardner nor NBC has publicly confirmed.<\/p>\n The show picked up 12 Emmys last month for its 50th season and anniversary programming, including an award for outstanding variety special<\/a>.<\/p>\n