In a surprising move for the long-running sketch show, Bowen Yang, one of the most prominent cast members of NBC's Saturday Night Live, is reportedly leaving the program. According to industry reports from Deadline and Variety, his departure comes in the middle of the show's 51st season, which is also his eighth year on the iconic stage.
A Sudden and Rare Exit
The ninth episode of Season 51, scheduled for this Saturday, will reportedly be Yang's final appearance. The episode features pop star Ariana Grande as host and music legend Cher as the musical guest. Neither a representative for SNL nor Yang himself has officially commented on or confirmed the news, and the reports did not specify a reason for the sudden exit.
This type of mid-season departure is exceptionally rare for an SNL cast member. The last instance was comedian Cecily Strong in 2022. Looking further back, the list includes Molly Shannon in 2001, Dana Carvey in 1993, and comedy legend Eddie Murphy in 1984. Norm MacDonald also left mid-season, though he was fired from the show in 1998.
Yang's Rising Star and Future Plans
Bowen Yang has become a major star both on and off the SNL stage. He recently appeared in the film adaptations Wicked and Wicked: For Good and co-hosts the highly popular comedy podcast Las Culturistas. In a September interview with People magazine, Yang revealed he had discussed his future on the show with creator Lorne Michaels.
Yang expressed a concern that the audience is maybe getting sick of me, but recalled that Michaels disagreed, telling him, There's more for you to do. I need you. Yang has long viewed SNL as a transitional launching pad, telling People, What I've always thought... is that 'SNL' is this boot camp, and that implies that there is a next phase you train for something else.
Major Cast Shakeup Continues
Yang's reported exit follows a significant cast overhaul that preceded Season 51. Several other fan-favourite cast members, including Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim, also left the show. This wave of departures marks one of the most substantial cast transitions in recent years for the legendary comedy institution.
As the news breaks, fans and industry watchers are left to speculate on Yang's next career move and how Saturday Night Live will fill the void left by one of its most distinctive and celebrated contemporary performers.
