'Saturday Night Live' lands Taylor Lautner, James Franco

Bon Jovi and Muse also set for 'SNL' musical stints

By Daniel FienbergWednesday, Nov 25, 2009 2:40 PM

Taylor Lautner

Credit: Matt Sayles/AP

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Expect plenty of jokes about six-pack abs, lycanthropy and Taylor Swift when Taylor Lautner hosts "Saturday Night Live" on Dec. 12.

NBC confirms that the "Twilight" and "Twilight Saga: New Moon" star will take his first stab at "Saturday Night Live" hosting duties and will be joined by musical guest Bon Jovi.

Lautner was name-checked on "Saturday Night Live" earlier this month by rumored flame Swift in an episode that earned some of the season's best reviews.

Through Monday, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," featuring Lautner as the increasingly wolfy Jacob Black, has already passed $153 million at the domestic box office, putting it on target to easily pass the first "Twilight" film by the end of the Thanksgiving weekend.

Lautner is actually an NBC veteran, having co-starred in the network's short-lived "My Own Worst Enemy." His other credits include "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D" and "Cheaper by the Dozen 2."

The following week, on Dec. 19, "SNL" will welcome "General Hospital" (and "Milk" and "Pineapple Express") star James Franco, with musical guest Muse.

The next new "Saturday Night Live" will be the December 5 episode, hosted by "Gossip Girl" star Blake Lively, with musical guest Rihanna.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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.