Season 30

Saturday Night Live entered its thirtieth season during the 2004-2005 NBC schedule, running from October 2, 2004 to May 21, 2005 and comprising 20 episodes. Ahead of the season, Jimmy Fallon departed, prompting Fred Armisen's elevation to repertory status while Finesse Mitchell and Kenan Thompson remained featured players. The new arrivals included Rob Riggle, an improv comedian and U.S. Marine, marking Riggle's sole season on the show. Additionally, SNL writer Jason Sudeikis joined the cast as a featured player for the last three episodes. With Fallon gone, Amy Poehler joined Tina Fey as co-anchor on Weekend Update, creating Fey and Poehler as the first two-woman anchor team. The season also featured Ashlee Simpson's infamous lip-syncing gaffe during her second performance, and several sketches focused on the 2004 U.S. presidential election, though, unlike the 2000 election, there was little media coverage of the sketches.