Saturday Night Live concluded its iconic and record-breaking fiftieth season, however with a number of solid members and writers asserting their departures forward of season 51, issues have been raised concerning the present’s persevering with longevity. SNL has been a weekend staple for many years, making audiences snort with its distinctive model of sketch comedy and political humor.
The NBC late-night program has been a comedy juggernaut, launching the careers of quite a few family names and Emmy Award winners since its inception in 1975. Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, and Will Ferrell are just some of the megastars who bought their begins on SNL. Viewers members change into connected to their favourite solid members, and any departure will be exhausting.
Though some solid members go away and new comedians are launched virtually each season, the variety of cast members leaving before SNL season 51 feels worrying. Season 50, stylized as SNL50, was an enormous success, however with out a number of the voices that made it nice, it is unclear if season 51 will maintain the scores momentum going at a time it desperately must.
Lorne Michaels Has Confirmed That SNL Season 51 Would See A Main Shake-Up
In August 2025, creator and showrunner Lorne Michaels confirmed SNL season 51 would see a cast shakeup, though he did not give away many particulars. The sketch comedy present’s season 50 solid did not undergo many adjustments, however Michaels promised that precedent wouldn’t carry over into season 51.
The purpose had at all times been to get by means of the fiftieth anniversary season after which strategy the following season as one thing of a reset and contemporary begin. Different solid members covertly confirmed this when in addition they hinted there can be departures. Then, the official exit bulletins began flooding in.
SNL Is In The Midst Of A Forged Exodus Earlier than Season 51
Devon Walker was the first SNL cast member to announce he would not be returning for SNL season 51. In an Instagram feed publish, Walker knowledgeable followers that whereas working at SNL was typically enjoyable, it was additionally poisonous at instances. He by no means expressly acknowledged whether or not he left the present by selection or was requested to depart, however his publish performed into the hypothesis. Walker titled his rationalization, “wait..did he give up or did he get fired?”
The following shock got here when Emil Wakim was fired from the NBC show, which he introduced in an Instagram publish on August 27, 2025. Wakim continuously appeared on Weekend Replace, and his expertise was clear from day one. It appeared like Wakim wanted a bit of extra time to actually discover his footing on SNL, and sadly, he will not have that chance.
Michael Longfellow then introduced he was lower from the present. Primarily based on his Instagram caption, evidently, like Wakim, Longfellow was requested to not return, quite than deciding to depart on his personal accord. Nevertheless, LateNighter reported just some days earlier that Longfellow taped a display screen check for Weekend Replace.
With Colin Jost rumored to be leaving SNL, Longfellow appeared like the proper Weekend Replace host alternative. In fact, neither Jost nor Michael Che have introduced that they are quitting, so a display screen check could have been untimely. Now that Longfellow is out, it is much more possible Jost might be sticking round for an additional season.
Eight-year SNL veteran Heidi Gardner will even be absent from season 51, and whereas she has but to make an announcement, it is protected to imagine Gardner has give up quite than been lower. The comic has been lending her skills to numerous TV exhibits and commercials, so she possible determined now was a very good time to maneuver on from SNL.
Along with the 4 solid members leaving SNL after season 50, two writers are additionally out. Celeste Yim wrote for SNL for 5 years and was the primary out trans particular person to be staffed as a author on the present. Rosebud Baker might be occurring a stand-up comedy tour as a substitute of writing for the present for an additional season.
Extra individuals are prone to be leaving SNL earlier than season 51 premieres in October. As of August 2025, we do not know who, if anybody, will exchange the lacking solid members. Whereas it is comprehensible, it is a worrying signal for the present after season 50.
SNL50 Noticed Document-Setting Viewership After Struggling Scores
SNL season 50 was the most-watched season in three years. The season averaged 8.1 million views per episode, a quantity that did not even account for the massively-viewed SNL50: The Anniversary Special. The occasion bought 22.8 million views throughout the first 35 days of airing.
When the Emmy Award nominations got here out on July 15, 2025, SNL broke its personal document because the most-nominated present of all time, bringing the full to 338. Clearly, SNL season 50 was a hit, so a shake-up going into the brand new season is disconcerting, particularly because the long-running dwell present has been hemhorraging viewers for a couple of seasons now.
The Forged Exodus Earlier than SNL Season 51 Would possibly Kill The Momentum The Present Desperately Wants
Michaels did say there was going to be a revamp of the SNL solid, and he wasn’t mendacity. In fact, new solid members are continuously employed on SNL, and these new gamers can carry a contemporary perspective and reignite the present. Nevertheless, if followers lose their favourite comedians, it might probably forestall them from tuning into the brand new season. A shake-up is a high-risk, high-reward proposition.
It is particularly dicey contemplating that SNL‘s scores have been dipping for a couple of years. Like many different broadcast exhibits, Saturday Night time Stay has been shedding viewers to streaming providers. Nevertheless, SNL has a uniquely difficult place, being a present that leans so closely on political sketch comedy at a time when the nation is split, and even seemingly apolitical sketches can draw fireplace.
Whereas it is tailored to the brand new regular, it, like different community exhibits, won’t ever be the scores juggernaut it as soon as was. We’ll have to attend till the Saturday Night time Stay season 51 premiere on October 4 to see how precisely Michaels is reinventing the award-winning late-night program. The present could have an uphill battle after such an iconic fiftieth season, but when anybody can pull it off, it is Michaels.
Supply: LateNighter
Saturday Night Live
8/10
- Launch Date
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October 11, 1975
- Showrunner
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Lorne Michaels
- Administrators
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Dave Wilson, Don Roy King, Liz Patrick, Andy Warhol, Linda Lee Cadwell, Matthew Meshekoff, Paul Miller, Robert Altman, Robert Smigel
- Writers
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Will Forte, Bill Hader, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Chris Parnell, Asa Taccone, John Lutz, Tom Schiller, Simon Wealthy, Michael Patrick O’Brien, Nicki Minaj, Herbert Sargent, Matt Piedmont, John Solomon, Chris Kelly, Alan Zweibel, Kent Sublette, Ari Katcher, Marika Sawyer, Sarah Schnedier, Scott Jung, Justin Franks, Jerrod Bettis, Rhiannon Bryan
