After just a handful of departures and arrivals, Variety learned that Saturday Night Live has confirmed its season 51 cast.
Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim and Chloe Feynman return to the NBC sketch comedy series alongside Kenan Thompson for a record 23 seasons.
Despite reports that Lorne Michaels was screen-testing a new anchor for “Weekend Update,” Colin Jost and Michael Che are joining their 12th season together at the back of their desks.
Also returning to Season 51 of “SNL” are Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernandez, Andrew Dis Deckes and James Austin Johnson. Additionally, season 50 rookies Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline are back in their sophomore season.
Variety reported in August that “SNL” veterinarian Heiji Gardner was leaving the series eight years later. Her exit followed the departure of Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow and Emile Wakim. Additionally, the show splits the sketch comedy trio. Don’t destroy it as Martin Helihee moves to the writing staff and John Higgins leaves the show.
Don’t destroy Ben Marshall when “SNL” adds four fresh faces: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Calhane, Cam Patterson, Veronica Slorikowska.
Despite the media circus surrounding lineup changes, this type of annual cast shakeup is fairly common in “SNL,” which previously weathered the exits of series stars such as Jason Sudeikis, Bill Harder, Fred Armisen, Andy Samberg and Kristen Wig. As Variety’s Brian Steinberg pointed out, roster refreshes have also been in the spotlight on “SNL” even in the offseason, as dozens of news stories gave the series a pump of promotion ahead of the season 51 premiere.
Saturday Night Live will return to NBC on October 4th.
