Saturday Night Live concluded its iconic 50th season, but with several actors and writers announcing their departures before season 51, concerns were raised concerning the continuous longevity of the program. Snl Was a must for weekends for decades, making the public laugh with its unique brand of comedy and political humor.
The NBC program at the end of the evening was a comedy mastodonLaunching the career of many family names and winners of the Emmy Awards since its creation in 1975. Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell are only some of the megastars who made their debut on Snl. Public members are attached to their favorite distribution members and any departure can be difficult.
Although some distribution members leave and new actors are introduced almost every season, the number of distribution members starting before Snl Season 51 feels worrying. Season 50, stylized as SNL50was a huge successBut without some of the voices that made him great, it is not clear if season 51 will maintain the momentum of the notes that he desperately needs.
Lorne Michaels confirmed that SNL season 51 would see a major upheaval
In August 2025, the creator and showrunner Lorne Michaels confirmed Snl Season 51 would see a reshuffle of the actors, although it has not given a lot of details. The distribution of season 50 of the Sketch Comedy Show has not undergone many changes, but Michaels promised that the previous one would not continue in season 51.
The goal had always been to spend the 50th anniversary season, then approach the following season as a reset and a new start. Other distribution members secretly confirmed it when they also suggested that there would be departures. Then, the official exit announcements began to flood.
SNL is in the middle of a casting exodus before season 51
Devon Walker was the first Snl member of the distribution to announce that he would not come back to Snl Season 51. In an Instagram flow pole, Walker informed fans that while working at Snl was often fun, it was also toxic at times. He never expressly declared that he had left the show by choice or that he had been invited to leave, but his post played in speculation. Walker titled his explanation, “Wait … Has he arrested or was he dismissed?”
The following shock came when Emil Wakim was dismissed from the NBC program, which he announced in an Instagram post on August 27, 2025. Wakim frequently appeared when updating the weekend, and his talent was clear from the first day. He seemed to be Wakim needed a little more time to really find his base on SnlAnd unfortunately, he will not have this opportunity.
Michael Longfellow then announced that he was cut off from the show. Based on his Instagram legend, it seems that, like Wakim, Longfellow was invited not to come back, rather than deciding to start from his own will. However, Manper reported a few days earlier than Longfellow recorded a screen test for weekend update.
With Colin Jost, rumors that leave SNL, Longfellow seemed to be the perfect replacement for the weekend update. Of course, neither Jost nor Michael Che have announced that they are leaving, so a screen test may have been premature. Now that Longfellow has been out, it is even more likely that Jost will stay for another season.
Eight years Snl The veteran Heidi Gardner will also be absent from season 51, and although she has not yet made a statement, He is sure to assume that Gardner left Rather than being cut. The actress lent her talents to various television shows and advertisements, so she probably decided that it was the right time to spend Snl.
In addition to the four distribution members leave Snl After season 50, Two writers also came out. Celeste Yim wrote for Snl For five years and was the first trans person to be endowed as a writer in the series. Rosebud Baker will have a comedy tour instead of writing for the show for another season.
More people are likely to leave Snl Before season 51 in October. In August 2025, we do not know who, if someone, will replace the missing distribution members. Although it is understandable, it is a worrying sign for the show after season 50.
SNL50 saw the record hearing after the ratings in difficulty
Snl Season 50 was the most watched season in three years. The season was on average 8.1 million views per episode, a number that did not even take into account the SNL50: The anniversary special. The event obtained 22.8 million views in the first 35 days of broadcasting.
When Emmy Award’s appointments were released on July 15, 2025, Snl broke his own record as the most nominated show of all timebringing the total to 338. Clearly, Snl Season 50 was a success, so a reshuffle in the new season is disconcerting, especially since the live spectacle for a long time has been the viewers hemorrracts for a few seasons now.
The casting exodus before SNL season 51 could kill the momentum whose show desperately needs
Michaels said that there was going to be a overhaul of the Snl sunk, and he didn’t lie. Of course, new members of the distribution are frequently hired on SnlAnd these new players can bring a new perspective and rekindle the show. However, If fans lose their favorite actors, it can prevent them from connecting to the new season. A upheaval is a high -risk proposal and with a strong reward.
This is particularly Dicey considering that SnlNotes of decrease for a few years. Like many other broadcasting programs, Saturday Night Live has lost viewers because of streaming services. However, Snl To a particularly difficult position, being a spectacle that is so strongly based on political comedy at a time when the nation is divided, and even apparently apolitical sketches can set fire.
Although it is adapted to the new normal, it, like other network programs, will never be the mastodon of the notes that it was in the past. We will have to wait for the Saturday Night Live First in season 51 on October 4 to see how Michaels exactly reinvents the award -winning program at the end of the evening. The show can have a difficult battle after a 50th season so emblematic, but if someone can withdraw it, it’s Michaels.
Source: Manper
Saturday Night Live
8/ 10
- Release date
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October 11, 1975
- Showrunner
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Lorne Michaels
- Directors
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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 Rich, Michael Patrick O’Brien, Nicki Minaj, Herbert Sargent, Matt Piedmont, John Solomon, Chris Kelly, Alan Zweiber, Kent Sublette, Ari Jung, Justin Franks, Jerrod Betti Rhiannon Bryan
