Hold onto your hats, SNL fans! Major changes are brewing as several familiar faces won’t be returning for Season 51. Lorne Michaels is promising a reinvention after the landmark 50th year. Who do you think will be missed the most when the iconic sketch comedy show returns?
A significant shift is underway for the legendary Saturday Night Live as creator Lorne Michaels signals a profound reinvention ahead of its 51st season. This strategic overhaul comes on the heels of the show’s landmark 50th year, promising a fresh dynamic for the beloved TV comedy institution.
Michaels, the venerable producer, openly acknowledged the “pressure to reinvent this season” during a recent interview. His remarks indicate a deliberate move to revitalize the long-running sketch series, departing from the relative stability of the cast maintained between seasons 49 and 50.
The decision to retain a consistent ensemble for the 50th season was a conscious choice, aimed at fostering a celebratory atmosphere for the show’s milestone. Michaels explained that he desired familiar faces, such as Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, and Maya Rudolph, to return for hosting duties and special appearances, thus minimizing any potential disruptions that could detract from the golden jubilee.
Prior to these announced cast departures, the 2024-25 season featured a robust 17-person ensemble, including 14 full-time members and three featured players. The enduring presence of veterans like Kenan Thompson, the show’s longest-tenured castmate since 2003, alongside stalwarts such as Colin Jost, Michael Che, Mikey Day, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Chloe Fineman, and Bowen Yang, underscores the show’s historical continuity.
Among the first confirmed exits for SNL Season 51 is Devon Walker, who joined as a featured player in 2022 and was promoted to a full-time cast member for his third and final season. Walker candidly addressed his departure on Instagram, likening industry jobs to “little marriages” that can be both “really cool” and “toxic as hell,” but ultimately formative.
Wakim also announced their departure on Instagram on August 27th, describing the news as a “gut punch” but expressing immense gratitude for their time. They reflected on the surreal experience of working at Studio 8H, calling it the most “terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding” experience of their life, highlighting the strong sense of family among the brilliant people involved in the sketch comedy news production.
Michael Longfellow, another featured player from the 2022 cohort (Season 48), who was promoted to the main cast for Season 50, will also not be returning. His exit contributes to the significant turnover anticipated as Lorne Michaels steers the show towards its next chapter, marking a clear generational shift within the ensemble.
Perhaps the most notable exit so far is Heidi Gardner, who joined SNL in 2017 and became a full-time cast member in 2019, dedicating eight seasons to the show. Her long tenure makes her departure particularly impactful, signifying a substantial change to the show’s recent comedic landscape and further solidifying the narrative of a major cast refresh.
These extensive cast departures signify a pivotal moment for Saturday Night Live, as it prepares for SNL Season 51 with a refreshed lineup. The strategic decisions made by Lorne Michaels and the production team are poised to shape the future of this iconic TV comedy institution, promising new comedic voices and a reinvigorated approach to sketch comedy news.
