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Seth Meyers: 38th 'SNL' season full of transitions and surprises

After 37 seasons, it's hard to imagine there's still something "Saturday Night Live" hasn't done. But if head writer and Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers has his way, the new season will be full of surprises when it kicks off Saturday night with host Seth MacFarlane. Like, say, which Not Ready for Primetime Player will impersonate GOP vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan. "I feel like that's g

After 37 seasons, it's hard to imagine there's still something "Saturday Night Live" hasn't done. But if head writer and Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers has his way, the new season will be full of surprises when it kicks off Saturday night with host Seth MacFarlane. 

Like, say, which Not Ready for Primetime Player will impersonate GOP vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan. 

"I feel like that's going to be a surprise," Meyers told TODAY's Matt Lauer Thursday. "No, it won't be me -- Lorne (Michaels, "SNL" creator) doesn't like when I'm in sketches."

The show will also feature three new players: Aidy Bryant, Tim Robinson and Cecily Strong, all of whom come out of Chicago's Second City. "They came as kind of a mini-clique," said Meyers. "They won't talk to us, they won't sit and have lunch with us. It's really weird."

Meyers also revealed that there's another kind of transition going on: Fred Armisen will not be impersonating President Barack Obama this season; that torch has been handed over to player Jay Pharoah. "Jay's in his third season and I feel like this is a transition year for us, it's time for the young cast to sort of become the vets on the show," he said.

"SNL" is in a recovery year, having lost stars Kristen Wiig, Abby Elliot and Andy Samberg, but there was a rumor for a time that Meyers himself wouldn't be back if he got hired as Regis Philbin's replacement on "Live! With Kelly." Forget it, said Meyers.

"I'm so half-asleep right now I can barely remember who you are," Meyers said. "If I had to do it in a full-time job ... I belong to the night. But I love Kelly, and I think that Michael's (Strahan) going to do an awesome job."

"Saturday Night Live" returns Saturday at 11:30 p.m on NBC.

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