Key cast members to depart ‘Saturday Night Live’ ahead of new season
A number of cast members have confirmed they won’t be returning to Saturday Night Live for its 51st season.
The longstanding NBC series, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, is revamping the cast ahead of its return later this year, with Micahel Longfellow the latest to announce his departure.
Longfellow, who has been part of Saturday Night Live for the last three seasons, told his followers on Instagram: “Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL. Wish I was but, so it goes. It was the best three years of my life so far. I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience and everyone there.”
The comic continued: “Lorne, you gave me the greatest job in the world and changed my life. You even put my mom on TV. Thank you doesn’t begin to cover it, but thank you. I’ll miss it all, but I’ll miss the friends I made and seeing them every day the most.”
Meanwhile, Devon Walker, who also served as a cast member on Saturday Night Live for three seasons, announced his departure earlier this week. He also announced the news on Instagram, sharing, “To me, jobs in this industry feel like a bunch of little marriages. Some of ‘em last for a long time if we’re lucky, but most of them are fleeting. Permanent until they’re not. That’s the deal. You know what it is when you sign up.”
Of his time on the NBC flagship programme, Walker admitted, “Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we did what we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a fucked up lil family.”
Lastly, Emil Wakim, who only joined Saturday Night Live for the 50th season, has confirmed he’s been informed he’s no longer part of the show. He said it was “a gut punch of a call to get but I’m so grateful for my time there”.
Wakim gratefully added: “It was the most terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience of my life and I will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home. Thank u to lorne for taking a chance on me and changing my life.”
Season 51 of Saturday Night Live will begin on October 4th, with more departures anticipated before it gets underway.
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