Saturday Night Live is stepping into its 51st season with one of the biggest cast shake-ups in recent memory.
While four familiar faces are exiting, five new names are being welcomed into the lineup, setting the stage for a season full of change.
Fresh Faces Join the Cast
NBC has confirmed that Ben Marshall, Veronika Slowikowska, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, and Kam Patterson will be the newest featured players.
Fans of SNL may already recognize Marshall as part of the Please Don’t Destroy comedy trio, known for their quirky digital shorts.
This time, he’s officially stepping into the main cast.
Slowikowska, who’s built a huge TikTok following with over 700,000 fans, comes in with recent credits on Netflix’s Tires and FX’s What We Do in the Shadows.
Patterson brings his own brand of humor from the live podcast-comedy show Kill Tony, while Brennan and Culhane add fresh stand-up and sketch experience to the mix.
A Painful Goodbye for Fans
Of course, the excitement of new names comes with the sting of goodbyes.
Longtime cast member Heidi Gardner is among those leaving after an eight-year run.
Since joining in 2017, Gardner became a fan favorite, especially for her recurring Weekend Update character Bailey Gismert and her spot-on celebrity impressions of stars like Reba McEntire and Kim Kardashian.
Gardner’s departure sparked disappointment among loyal viewers, with some even calling for the show to be canceled after so many exits.
She was last seen celebrating alongside SNL legends at the show’s 50th anniversary special earlier this year.
Other Exits Rock the Show
Gardner isn’t the only one moving on. Michael Longfellow, who joined in Season 48, is also leaving after three years.
He became known for his witty Weekend Update segments but won’t be part of Season 51.
Emil Wakim, another featured player, confirmed on Instagram that he’s been let go after just one season.
In a heartfelt post, Wakim reflected on the surreal experience of working at SNL, calling it both “terrifying” and “rewarding.”
The Chicago-born comedian also made history as the show’s first cast member of Lebanese heritage.
Devon Walker shared his own goodbye, describing his three-year run as a “toxic at times” but unforgettable relationship.
Walker, who made his debut in 2022 and quickly became a standout with celebrity impressions on Weekend Update, ended his post with a surprising twist: he’s heading to Japan before aiming for a role in a prestige drama.
Lorne Michaels Confirms a Shake-Up
The departures aren’t coming out of nowhere. Show creator Lorne Michaels recently admitted that a “significant shake-up” was in the works.
With Season 51 set to premiere on October 4 on NBC and Peacock, Michaels hinted at pressure to reinvent the show.
“Yeah, for sure,” he said when asked about the need for change.
Looking Ahead to Season 51
Despite the big changes, SNL will still feature longtime staples like Kenan Thompson, Colin Jost, and Bowen Yang.
The mix of fresh energy and veteran talent could set the stage for a season unlike any other.
Fans will find out soon enough when the iconic late-night comedy returns to Studio 8H this fall.v