Early 'Saturday Night Live' guests include Ryan Reynolds, Lady Gaga, Gerard Butler

Ryan Reynolds

Credit: AP

NBC has announced the hosts and musical guests for the season's first four new episodes episodes of "Saturday Night Live."

As has previously been revealed, Megan Fox will be hosting the 35th season's premiere on Sept. 26, with a tiny Irish rock ensemble named U2 serving as musical guest. That's a pretty big show, right? 

How do you top it?

Well, realistically you don't, but Ryan Reynolds will host the Oct. 3 episode. The star of "The Proposal" and the upcoming "Green Lantern" will do his best to avoid getting upstaged by Lady Gaga, who will be making her "SNL" debut as musical guest. 

A more seasoned veteran will host the Oct. 10 episode, with Drew Barrymore returning for the sixth time. Barrymore, who first hosted at the age of seven back in 1982, will be promoting her feature directing debut, "Whip It," which just happens to co-star "Saturday Night Live" regular Kristen Wiig. The musical guest that night will be Regina Spektor. 

The streak of four season-opening new episodes concludes when Gerard Butler, always funnier than his movie roles have given him the chance to showcase, will host the Oct. 17 episode. Butler, promoting the release of "Law Abiding Citizen," will be accompanied by Shakira.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.