In a move that marks the end of an era for the iconic sketch show, Bowen Yang has confirmed his departure from "Saturday Night Live". The beloved cast member made the announcement on a Saturday, fittingly, sharing a heartfelt goodbye on Instagram midway through his eighth season with the NBC program.
An Emotional Farewell From a Fan Favourite
Yang, who joined as a featured player in Season 45 and was promoted to full cast member two years later, expressed deep gratitude for his time at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. "i loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people," he wrote. He reflected on finding purpose at the show during a time when the world felt futile, learning the value of showing up when surrounded by worthwhile people.
His post featured a carousel of memories, including:
- A full cast group photo.
- Behind-the-scenes glimpses of famous sketches.
- Candid dressing room moments.
- Selfies outside the iconic SNL studio.
Rare Mid-Season Exit for a Comedy Institution
Yang's confirmation follows reports from entertainment industry outlets Deadline and Variety. His exit is notable as mid-season departures from SNL are uncommon. While co-star Cecily Strong left similarly in 2022, few others have done so. The announcement places Yang in a small, notable group of cast members who departed mid-season, including:
- Molly Shannon in 2001.
- Dana Carvey in 1993.
- Eddie Murphy in 1984.
Norm Macdonald also left mid-season in 1998, but his exit was not voluntary; he was fired for his persistent on-air jokes about O.J. Simpson.
Lessons Learned and Thanks Given
In his lengthy note, Yang shared humorous and poignant lessons from his seven full seasons and part of an eighth. "i learned about myself (bad with wigs). i learned about others (generous, vulnerable, hot). i learned that human error can be nothing but correct," he wrote. He also noted that "comedy is mostly logistics and that it will usually fail until it doesn't."
He extended thanks to dozens of friends, former co-workers, SNL pages, and past hosts. Yang saved special acknowledgment for the show's legendary creator, Lorne Michaels. "thank you to lorne for the job," he wrote, "for the standard. and for bringing everyone at work together."
He concluded his goodbye on a forward-looking note, referencing a famous showbiz adage: "the show doesn't go on because it's ready, but shiiiiit, i hope i am." As one of the show's biggest names in recent years, his departure signals a significant shift for the long-running comedy institution as it continues its current season.
