Preseason
Commit before the data arrives
The longest-horizon predictions carry the season. If official news reveals an answer before the deadline, that question is void for everyone.
Rules room
Predict precisely.Score transparently.
Every category tells you what counts, what does not, and how many points are at stake. This is the quick field guide. Deadlines, disputes, corrections, and unusual situations are governed by the public Standards & Practices.
Playing an earlier card or a preseason cast prediction? Read how lead, supporting, and minor roles are scored, including ensemble sketches and the rules for earlier cards.
Weekly
Pick five. Feature two.
Cards open Monday at 6:00 PM Eastern and lock Saturday at 11:00 PM Eastern before that night's live broadcast.
Holiday break reshuffle
Trade certainty for upside
Revise up to three eligible unresolved preseason questions. A reshuffled answer is capped at 75% of its original value.
The boards
The prediction boards.
Component scoring is capped in the database, and disputed calls use the review process in the official standards.
Category board
Preseason
324
Max points
P1Departure Board15 PT
P28First New Five-Timer15 PT
P29First Musical Guest in Comedy15 PT
P4Premiere Cold Open Topic6 PT
P5Premiere Cold Open Lead Performer6 PT
P6First Former Cast Member to Host12 PT
P7Deep Cut Watchlist15 PT
P8First Returning Weekend Update Character12 PT
P9First Major Alumni Cameo10 PT
P10First Non-Alumni Celebrity Cameo8 PT
P11First Newly Debuted Real-Person Impression10 PT
P12Total First-Time Hosts8 PT
P13Total Alumni Hosts10 PT
P14Cast Turnover Totals9 PT
P15Featured-to-Repertory Promotion Board8 PT
P16Episodes Featuring an Alumni Cameo8 PT
P17Most-Used Cast Member15 PT
P18Most Sketch Leads15 PT
P19Most Cold Open Appearances12 PT
P20Most Weekend Update Desk Features12 PT
P21Most Unique Real-Person Impressions15 PT
P22Breakout Performer Index15 PT
P30Five-Person Alumni Cameo Board25 PT
P24Season Finale Host12 PT
P25Season Finale Musical Guest12 PT
P26Double Duty Forecast14 PT
P27Opening Titles Revamp10 PT
Weekly · Episode 4 onward
Build your five-person cast.
Choose five different current cast members: three Repertory picks earn 2 points per appearance; two Featured picks earn 4. These fantasy positions are independent of SNL billing. There is no exclusive draft.
Keep or edit your lineup until the posted cutoff. It carries forward automatically; bonus answers reset each week.
Five bonus questions · 3 points each
- Monologue format
- Update guest segments
- Comedy pretapes
- Celebrity cameo
- Musical guest in comedy
Unanswered bonuses earn zero. There are 15 possible bonus points; cast points depend on qualifying appearances.
Full lineup and bonus rules →What counts as an appearance?
One appearance per cast member per sketch or monologue. The Update anchor block counts once; each separately introduced Update guest feature counts separately. A small role and a lead earn the same points. Identifiable voice performances count. Music-only appearances, introductions, opening credits, bumpers, archival footage, stills and goodnights do not count.
Why the weekly card changed →Earlier weekly cards · Episodes 1–3
Their original 15-call rules and scores remain in force.
Category board
Earlier weekly episode
100
Max points
W1Cold Open Lead Performer5 PT
W2Monologue Format3 PT
W3First Comedy Segment after Monologue4 PT
W4First Impression Call10 PT
W5First Recurring Sketch / Character8 PT
W6Weekend Update Opening Story4 PT
W7Weekend Update Guest Count5 PT
W8First Comedy Segment after Update5 PT
W9Celebrity Cameo7 PT
W10Musical Guest in Comedy6 PT
W11Final / 10-to-1 Call7 PT
W12Pretape Count4 PT
W13Episode Special6 PT
W14Wildcard Cast Member18 PT
W15Host Workload8 PT