“Saturday Night Live” added seven new writers ahead of Season 51.
New scribes include actor Jack Bensinger (“Rap World”), stand-up comedian Joe Sunday (Just for Laughter), Comic Muddy Wiener (“The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon), actor-writer Rachel Pegram (“Harley Quinn”), writer-comedian Claire McFadden (2nd City), Maxwell Gay and Maxwell Kamegar and Tamado, as well as Auguste White, who left the “SNL” writing staff.
After a landmark 50 season at NBC, “SNL” will return to Season 51 on October 4th, with host Bad Bunny and musical guest Doja Cat returning. On October 11th, Amy Poehler returned to Studio 8H to host alongside a role model from Music ACT, and on October 18th, Sabrina Carpenter pulls Double-Duty as a host and music guest.
Ahead of the new season, “SNL” added just a handful of new cast members as many familiar faces emerged from the show. Heidi Gardner ended the series after eight seasons, and Ego Nwodim announced the exit after 7am. Also, those coming out of the show are Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and Martin Helihee to be on the writing crew, and Ben Marshall joins the main cast, so don’t destroy John Higgins. Also new to the cast are Veronika Srowikowska, Kam Patterson, Jeremy Culhane and Tommy Brennan.
“SNL” boss Lorne Michaels dealt with the cast shake-up on the Emmys’ red carpet and said, “The show has always brought people from different ages and different generations, and that’s a way of reviving itself.
He added: “The change is good. The people we bring in, I’m really excited.”
Dumebi Malaika Menkaya / Matthew Salacuse / Sub / Urban Photography / Sarah Rose Nelson
Michael Wayne Jones / Courtesy Image