NBC recently announced that five new cast members will join the upcoming season of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), following the departure of some notable cast members from the show. Ben Marshall, who has been a writer for SNL, will be promoted to a feature player, joining newcomers Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska.
These changes come after several long-time cast members confirmed they would be leaving the show, which is preparing for its 51st season. Last week, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and Michael Longfellow shared on social media that they would not be returning. There are also reports that Heidi Gardner, a familiar face on the show, is stepping away, although she and NBC have not confirmed this.
Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, hinted at changes after the show’s impressive 50th season, noting he expected to “shake things up.” The recent cast departures bolster that idea.
The new cast members come just after confirmation that Heidi Gardner, who has been with the show since 2017, will not be back. Gardner is known for creating memorable characters, such as a quirky teenager who reviews movies and the girlfriend of a boxer. She is now starring in the Apple TV+ show, “Shrinking.”
Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker, two writers for Saturday Night Live, are departing the show. Yim, the first openly nonbinary writer, called her experience both a dream and a challenge, while Baker announced her departure in an interview. Another writer, Higgins, is also moving on to explore acting.
Following these announcements, fans are excited for the new season, which is trending on social media. However, their favorite stars’ departures have also left fans with mixed emotions.
