'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' SHINES IN THE NEW YEAR

Oscar Nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and "Entourage" Emmy Winner Jeremy Piven Topline January Shows

Indie sensation The Shins to play on January 13, Rockers AFI, appear January 20.

NEW YORK � January 11, 2007 � NBC's "Saturday Night Live" returns for the New Year with back-to-back shows featuring two of the hottest actors around.

On January 13, "SNL" welcomes Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal for his hosting debut. Firmly established as one of the most promising actors of his generation, Gyllenhaal has impressed audiences and critics alike, most recently with his universally praised and multiply nominated performance in "Brokeback Mountain." His next film is the thriller "Zodiac" from acclaimed director David Fincher. Segueing seamlessly between independent and big budget features, his diverse film credits include "Jarhead," "Proof," "The Day After Tomorrow," "The Good Girl," "Moonlight Mile," "October Sky" and the cult classic "Donnie Darko."

Joining Gyllenhaal in their "SNL" debut as musical guest are "indie rock kingpins" (Billboard) The Shins. A guitar pop band hailing from New Mexico, The Shins enjoyed critical acclaim and a strong fan base with their first two records. Then, after the endorsement by Natalie Portman's character in the sleeper hit "Garden State," in which she claimed the Shins would "change your life," the band found themselves as the centerpiece of a platinum-selling soundtrack and their second record "Chutes Too Narrow" sold 400,000 units. The Shins return with their eagerly anticipated third record "Wincing the Night Away," which is producing adjectives like "shimmering" and "exuberant" and "gorgeous" in an early review from Spin Magazine.

The following Saturday, January 20, brings Emmy Award winner Jeremy Piven to "SNL," also in his debut appearance.

A recent Emmy Award winner and two-time Golden Globe nominee for his role as "superagent" Ari Gold on the hit HBO comedy series, "Entourage," Jeremy Piven comes to "SNL" with a wealth of film, television and stage experience. Piven's next big screen role is in the upcoming star-packed black comedy "Smokin' Aces" and the forthcoming thriller "The Kingdom" opposite Jennifer Garner and Jamie Foxx. A veteran of over 40 films, other credits include "Keeping Up With The Steins," which won the Audience Award at the 2005 Comedy Arts Festival, "Two For The Money" opposite Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey as well as "Runaway Jury," "Old School," "Serendipity," "Black Hawk Down," "Very Bad Things," "Rush Hour 2" and "The Family Man." Previous TV credits include "Cupid," "Ellen" and "The Larry Sanders Show."

Joining Piven is acclaimed rock band AFI. The Bay Area outfit has evolved from their early days as a hardcore punk band into something completely original, blending elements of their punk roots with goth-metal and electronic with great success. Their current album "Decemberunderground" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album chart and is well on its way to going platinum. After winning their second VMA for Best Rock Video, the band has been all over the 2006 "Best Of" lists with their lead single "Miss Murder" appearing on the best song lists of EW, Rolling Stone and Blender and the band winning in a landslide the Alternative Press readers poll as Artist, Album and Video of the Year. Their second single "Love Like Winter" is still riding high on the Modern Rock charts.

"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.