"SNL" ADDS AKON TO DECEMBER 9 SHOW

HIP HOP CHART TOPPER AKON JOINS STAR-STUDDED DECEMBER 9 EPISODE OF SNL

Performing No. 1 Single in the Country, Akon Joins Award-Winning Actress Annette Bening and Gwen Stefani

NEW YORK � December 4, 2006 � "Saturday Night Live" will feature two top ten musical performances with the late addition of chart-topping hip-hop artist Akon to the December 9 show.

Akon joins a pair of leading ladies on the show: Oscar and Emmy nominee Annette Bening and musical guest Gwen Stefani.

The Senegalese hip-hop/soul artist will perform the No. 1 song in the country "I Wanna Love You" from his No. 2 debuting sophomore release "Konvicted," which has earned wide critical acclaim.

One of the most celebrated actresses working today, Bening makes her SNL debut. She is currently earning raves for her work in "Running With Scissors." She received Academy Award nominations for her work in "Being Julia," "American Beauty" and "The Grifters." She has starred in a wide variety of films from "Bugsy" and "Love Affair" opposite husband Warren Beatty to "The American President," "Regarding Henry," "Mars Attacks" and "Open Range" "Richard III" and "Valmont," to name a few.

Making a return appearance to SNL with Bening is Gwen Stefani. Stefani will perform her new hit single "Wind It Up" (currently No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100) from her sophomore solo release "The Sweet Escape," the follow up to her quadruple-platinum debut "Love. Angel. Music. Baby."

"Saturday Night Live," is from SNL Studios in association with Broadway Video. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels. Steve Higgins produces. Marci Klein and Mike Shoemaker are producers. Head writers are Seth Meyers, Paula Pell and Andrew Steele. Don Roy King directs.