Eighteen days before the season started , the September 11 terrorist attacks took place in New York . The season premiere ( hosted by Reese Witherspoon ) went on as scheduled , with a special cold open featuring Rudy Giuliani , the Mayor of New York City at the time , along with firefighters from the FDNY and police officers from the NYPD , declaring that despite the terrorist attack , New York City will run as normal and '' Saturday Night Live '' will go on as planned ( with Lorne Michaels asking Giuliani , " Can we be funny ? " and Giuliani replying , " Why start now ? " )
September 11 terrorist attacks
September 11 attacks
Saturday Night Live (season 27)