‘SNL’ Taps Drake as 2014’s First Host and Musical Guest

"Saturday Night Live" certainly closed out 2013 right with Jimmy Fallon as host and Justin Timberlake returning as musical guest, an even episode that saw some of the long-running NBC sketch comedy series' best ratings in years.

But will the first 2014 installment of the NBC-TV show enter on the same high note? 

Hip-hop artist Drake will take double duty in the first 2014 "SNL" episode, acting as both host and musical guest when the series returns Jan. 18.

This will be Drake's first time hosting, though he'd previously performed on the program in 2011 as the musical act opposite Anna Faris.

Of course, Drake may end up a bit overshadowed by the most recent "SNL" headlines, which suggest studio boss Lorne Michaels will have added the new black female cast member to the ensemble by January's premiere, presumably the first installment.

Michaels held auditions in both Los Angeles and New York, for which Deadline claims the pool of hopefuls have emerged as Bresha Webb, Tanisha Long, Misty Monroe, Gabrielle Dennis, Amber Ruffin, Leslie Jones, Sasheer Zamata, Natasha Rothwell, Briana KC and Erica Ash.