In a move that has caught many fans off guard, Bowen Yang is officially leaving the cast of “Saturday Night Live.” His departure comes in the middle of the show’s 51st season, with his final performance scheduled for this Saturday’s episode.
The timing feels like a full-circle moment, as the episode features host Ariana Grande, who stars alongside Yang in the Wicked film franchise. Musical legend Cher is also set to perform for the 2025 Christmas broadcast, which serves as Yang’s swan song.
A Historic Run on 30 Rock
Yang’s journey at SNL has been nothing short of historic. He first walked into the studio as a writer in 2018 for Season 44. Just a year later, he made the jump to the screen as a featured player. By Season 47, he was promoted to the main cast.
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He notably became the first SNL featured player to ever receive an Emmy nomination for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. In total, he has racked up multiple nominations for both his writing and his iconic character work.
Why He’s Leaving Now
While leaving midseason is fairly rare, sources indicate that the choice was Yang’s. The comedian has become one of the busiest names in Hollywood, with a calendar full of high-profile projects.
Fans might remember Yang’s comments to People earlier this year, where he mentioned discussing his future with creator Lorne Michaels. Despite Michaels reportedly telling him there was “more to do,” Yang seems ready to explore life after the sketch show. He previously spoke about how beautiful it is to see former cast members enjoying their lives and families after their time on the show ends.
Life After Late Night
Yang isn’t slowing down. He continues to co-host the hit podcast Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers, and the duo is currently writing a feature film for Searchlight Pictures. He also has voice-acting roles lined up for The Cat in the Hat and Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me.
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His exit follows a major wave of departures earlier this year, including Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner. While Yang joins a list of midseason exits that includes names like Cecily Strong and Eddie Murphy, his presence on the Weekend Update desk will be deeply missed by viewers who loved his viral turns as the Titanic Iceberg and George Santos.
His final episode airs this Saturday on NBC.
