Beyond Studio 8H: Unveiling the Real-Life Romances of Saturday Night Live’s Beloved Cast and Crew

From iconic hosts to celebrated writers, Saturday Night Live has long been a surprising matchmaker, with many cast and crew members finding love with fellow celebrities, colleagues, and partners away from the cameras, as seen with the relationships of the current Season 51 ensemble and its illustrious alumni.

For over 45 years, NBC’s Saturday Night Live has been a cultural touchstone, but beyond the hilarious sketches and memorable musical performances, Studio 8H has also served as an unexpected cupid for many of its talented cast members, writers, and producers. From whirlwind celebrity romances to quiet, enduring partnerships, the show has fostered an incredible array of love stories.

Whether sparks fly during a live comedy sketch, at a closed-door after-party, or through shared professional connections, the world of SNL has proven to be fertile ground for romance. This comprehensive guide delves into the fascinating love lives that have blossomed within and around the legendary show, from its early days to the present-day Season 51 cast.

The Power Couple Phenomenon: A-Listers and SNL Stars

Some of the most high-profile romances linked to SNL involve its stars coupling up with major Hollywood names.

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost

Perhaps one of the most celebrated pairings, SNL head writer and “Weekend Update” anchor Colin Jost is married to superstar actress Scarlett Johansson. While Jost claimed they met in 2006 during his first year as a writer, Johansson recalls their first interaction in 2010 when she acted in a sketch he wrote.

Their romance truly began in 2017, two months after Johansson’s divorce, when they were spotted making out at an SNL after-party. They became engaged in May 2019, with Jost proposing with an estimated $450,000 ring. The couple married in 2020 and welcomed their son, Cosmo, in 2021. Jost also became a stepdad to Johansson’s daughter, Rose, from a previous marriage.

Jost openly shared how Johansson transformed his life. In his June 2020 memoir, A Very Punchable Face, he wrote, “I’ve met someone I love and who I feel more comfortable with than I ever have before. I feel more confident committing to what I’m working on and standing by whatever I create, regardless of whether people like it or not,” a sentiment echoed in an interview with The New York Times.

Emma Stone and Dave McCary

Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone found love with former SNL segment director Dave McCary. Their connection began in 2016 when McCary directed the “Wells for Boys” sketch, featuring Stone. Their relationship, initially kept private, was confirmed publicly in 2019 when McCary accompanied Stone to the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

McCary announced their engagement in December 2019 via Instagram, with a photo showcasing a ring estimated between $35,000 and $45,000. It was reported that Dave proposed at 30 Rock, where they first met. The couple quietly married in the fall of 2020 and welcomed their daughter, Louise, in 2021, according to People.

Pete Davidson’s Whirlwind Romances

Current SNL cast member Pete Davidson is well-known for his high-profile dating life. His notable relationships include:

• Cazzie David (2016-2018), daughter of Larry David. Davidson even got a tattoo of her face, which he later covered.
• Pop star Ariana Grande (2018): They met when she was an SNL musical guest in 2014. Their whirlwind romance led to an engagement in June 2018, but they split by October 2018. Grande even dedicated a song, “Pete Davidson,” to him.
• Actress Kate Beckinsale (January-April 2019).
• Actress Margaret Qualley (August-October 2019).
• Model Kaia Gerber (Fall 2019-January 2020): Davidson spoke candidly about their split, saying, “It just wasn’t the right place or the right time at all,” as reported by People, noting his mental state and her young age.
• Reality star Kim Kardashian (October 2021-August 2022): Their romance began after an on-screen kiss during her SNL hosting gig, sparking massive media attention.

Davidson has often addressed the scrutiny surrounding his dating life, once joking on SNL, “You get to date a famous woman and everyone’s delighted, but when I do it, the world wants to punch me in the throat — what’d I do?”

Other Notable Celebrity Pairings

• Ben Affleck & Lindsay Shookus: The “five-timer’s club” host dated SNL producer Lindsay Shookus publicly from 2017 to 2018, with a brief rekindling in 2019. Reports suggest they may have first connected in 2014 while both were still married, a claim detailed by People.
• Olivia Wilde & Jason Sudeikis: The actress and former SNL cast member met at an after-party in 2011. Sudeikis famously waited six months to ask for her number. They were engaged in 2013 and share two children, Otis and Daisy, before ending their relationship in 2020.
• Dan Aykroyd & Carrie Fisher: The former cast member and late “Star Wars” actress hit it off on the SNL set in 1978 and fell in love while filming “Blues Brothers.” Aykroyd proposed, but Fisher ultimately chose musician Paul Simon. Aykroyd later paid a heartfelt tribute to Fisher, calling her “one of the most brilliant and hilarious minds of our eon.”

Enduring SNL Love Stories

Beyond the high-wattage celebrity pairings, many SNL cast and crew members have built lasting relationships, often with partners outside the immediate Hollywood spotlight.

• Maya Rudolph & Paul Thomas Anderson: The former cast member and acclaimed filmmaker have maintained a notoriously private relationship for over 18 years and share four children. While not officially married, Rudolph refers to Anderson as her “husband.”
• Will Ferrell & Viveca Paulin: The legendary comedian married Swedish actress and auctioneer Viveca Paulin in 2000. They have three sons: Magnus, Mattias, and Axel.
• Tina Fey & Jeff Richmond: Former head writer and star Tina Fey married composer-producer Jeff Richmond in 2001. Richmond has collaborated with Fey on projects like “30 Rock” and “Mean Girls,” and they have two daughters.
• Seth Meyers & Alexi Ashe: Before hosting his own late-night show, Seth Meyers was an SNL cast member and head writer. He married lawyer Alexi Ashe in 2013. They have three children: sons Ashe and Axel, and daughter Adelaide.
• Taran Killam & Cobie Smulders: Former cast member Taran Killam married Canadian actress Cobie Smulders in 2012 after years of dating. They have two children.
• Heidi Gardner & Zeb Wells: Current cast member Heidi Gardner married Marvel Comics and “Robot Chicken” writer Zeb Wells in 2010.
• Beck Bennett & Jessy Hodges: Former cast member Beck Bennett started dating actress Jessy Hodges in 2011, marrying in 2018, and welcoming their first child in 2022.
• Alex Moffat & Caroline Rau: Current cast member Alex Moffat married comedian Caroline Rau in 2017, maintaining a private relationship.
• Luke Null & Cady Shultz: Former cast member Luke Null and Cady Shultz were together for nine years before their engagement in 2019 and marriage in 2022.
• Nick Kocher & Karen Gillan: Emmy-nominated writer Nick Kocher married “Guardians of the Galaxy” actress Karen Gillan in 2022 at a Scottish castle.

Romances Within the SNL Family: Cast and Crew Connections

Sometimes, love blossoms directly within the confines of Studio 8H, connecting colleagues who share the unique experience of working on Saturday Night Live.

• Aidy Bryant & Conner O’Malley: Longtime cast member Aidy Bryant married writer and actor Conner O’Malley in 2018 after more than a decade together. O’Malley is also known for his writing work on “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”
• Mikey Day & Paula Christensen: Season 51 cast member Mikey Day has been with actress Paula Christensen for over a decade. The couple, who keep their relationship private, eloped on Christmas Eve in 2024 after 14 years together and welcomed a son years before.
• Bobby Moynihan & Brynn O’Malley: Former cast member Bobby Moynihan married theater actress Brynn O’Malley in 2016, welcoming a daughter in 2017.
• Michael Patrick O’Brien & Cecily Strong: Former writer Michael Patrick O’Brien dated cast member Cecily Strong. Strong confirmed their relationship in 2014, noting that dating a coworker was “probably stupid” but allowed them to understand each other’s jobs better.
• Elisabeth Moss & Fred Armisen: “Mad Men” star Elisabeth Moss met former cast member Fred Armisen during her 2008 cameo on the show. They began dating and wed in October 2009, but Moss filed for divorce in September 2010. Armisen later reflected on the marriage, stating on The Howard Stern Show in 2013, “I think I was a terrible husband, I think I’m a terrible boyfriend.”

Season 51 Cast: Current Love Lives (As of October 2025)

As Saturday Night Live enters its 51st season in October 2025, the love lives of its current cast members continue to be a subject of fan interest. Here’s a look at who’s found love and who’s embracing single life.

Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson

Colin Jost continues his 12th season hosting “Weekend Update” alongside his wife, Scarlett Johansson. Their journey from meeting on the SNL set to building a family has been a fan favorite. Jost previously shared with The New York Times in July 2024 that part of why he fell in love with her was seeing her be a “great mom” to his stepdaughter, Rose.

Mikey Day and Paula Christensen

Marking his tenth season on SNL, Mikey Day and his wife, actress Paula Christensen, continue their long-term, private relationship. Christensen shared a throwback photo of them kissing in 2012 for his birthday in March 2022 on Instagram, writing, “Still feel this way about you @mikeyfuntime.” The couple eloped on Christmas Eve in 2024.

James Austin Johnson and Rebekah Lain

Entering his fifth season, James Austin Johnson is a devoted husband to Rebekah Lain and father to their son, Homer, born in 2022. The couple married in 2018. Johnson frequently expresses his affection for Lain, stating in a June 2022 Instagram post that his life is “a million percent better” with her, praising her kindness and strength.

Marcello Hernández and Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral

Marcello Hernández, in his fourth season, made his relationship with architect Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral public in July 2025 at the New York City premiere of “Happy Gilmore 2.” The couple was first spotted together in January 2025, though details about how and when they met remain private.

Andrew Dismukes and Aly Dixon

Now in his sixth season, Andrew Dismukes is married to Aly Dixon. They began dating in 2016, a year before Dismukes joined SNL. He proposed on a beach in August 2023, and they married in Los Angeles in June 2025. Dismukes described Dixon in a February 2020 Instagram post as “the most wonderful person I know” who makes him “laugh like a full idiot.”

Jane Wickline and Sio Hornbuckle

Returning for her second season, Jane Wickline celebrated her first anniversary with partner Sio Hornbuckle in January 2025. The couple maintains a low profile, though they have collaborated on projects like Wickline’s theater piece “Dukes Forever,” which Hornbuckle directed as noted on Instagram.

Veronika Slowikowska and Kyle Chase

Newcomer Veronika Slowikowska, making her SNL debut in Season 51, is known for her internet comedy sketches with boyfriend Kyle Chase. They confirmed their romantic involvement in a June 2025 interview with Cosmopolitan. Chase shared, “We were friends for a year and a half before we started dating. It was like, ‘Do we risk it all?’ Which was scary because we had a great friendship going.” Slowikowska added, “But there was so much tension that we had to make a decision. And then, yeah, we got drunk on tequila and kissed.”

Michael Che: Embracing the Single Life

As Michael Che returns for his twelfth season co-hosting “Weekend Update,” he does so without a current romantic link. During a May 2021 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Che expressed his lack of interest in dating famous individuals, preferring to “meet someone normal” and find a “nice, boring librarian.”

Kenan Thompson: Focused on Family

Returning for a record-breaking 23rd season on SNL, Kenan Thompson is not publicly known to be dating anyone. He shares two daughters, Georgia and Gianna, with his ex-wife, Christina Evangeline. Thompson filed for divorce in April 2022 after more than 10 years of marriage. In September 2022, it emerged that Evangeline had moved on with Thompson’s former SNL co-star Chris Redd.

Bowen Yang: Career First

Bowen Yang embarks on his seventh season with SNL as a single man. In April 2025, the “Wicked” actor told People that his demanding career often leaves little time for romance, explaining, “My time is really slipping away from me and I’m so sorry and it’s not a you thing, it’s a me thing.”