{"id":190772,"date":"2025-09-03T23:20:25","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T23:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/03\/saturday-night-live-season-51-premiere-date-cast-exits-and-everything-you-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T23:20:25","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T23:20:25","slug":"saturday-night-live-season-51-premiere-date-cast-exits-and-everything-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/03\/saturday-night-live-season-51-premiere-date-cast-exits-and-everything-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturday Night Live Season 51: Premiere Date, Cast Exits and Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cLive from New York, it\u2019s Saturday Night!\u201d Or at least, it will be very soon.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/shows\/saturday-night-live\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Saturday Night Live<\/em><\/a>, the iconic comedy variety show created by producer <a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/lorne-michaels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Lorne Michaels<\/strong><\/a>, is on its way with season 51, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbc.com\/nbc-insider\/saturday-night-live-season-51-premiere-date-cast-hosts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBC\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Whether you prefer watching new episodes live or catching viral clips online, <em>SNL<\/em> remains a cornerstone of American culture.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/watch-with-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch With Us<\/a> has everything you need to know about the return of <em>Saturday Night Live<\/em> coming this fall. Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n<h3>When Will \u2018SNL\u2019 Season 51 Premiere?<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"New York 50th Musical \u2013 SNL50\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/l8GbTZ8v1-w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>NBC recently announced that <em>Saturday Night Live<\/em> will return on Saturday (of course), <strong>October 4, 2025, in its 11:30 p.m. EST <\/strong>time slot.<\/p>\n<h3>Who Will Be the Host and Musical Guest for the \u2018SNL\u2019 Season 51 Premiere?<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jean Smart Monologue - SNL\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LHYNWh-Gpgs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>No host has been announced yet for the October 4 premiere, but fans can most likely expect a big name. <em>Hacks<\/em> star <a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/jean-smart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Jean Smart<\/strong><\/a> hosted the premiere of <em>SNL 50<\/em>, while former cast member <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/pete-davidson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Pete Davidson<\/strong><\/a> opened the 49th season, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/miles-teller-jokes-he-needs-6-month-heads-up-before-top-gun-3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Miles Teller<\/strong> of <em>Top<\/em> <em>Gun: Maverick<\/em><\/a> hosted the premiere in 2022 for season 48.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, no announcements have been made regarding the musical guest. <strong>Jelly Roll<\/strong> was the musical guest for last year\u2019s premiere, while <strong>Ice Spice<\/strong> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/kendrick-lamar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kendrick Lamar<\/strong><\/a> were the guests in the two previous season premieres.<\/p>\n<h3>Who Is Returning to the Cast of \u2018Saturday Night Live\u2019 Season 51?<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SNL Is Returning for Season 50!\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bghn4prC7i0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Each new season of <em>SNL<\/em> often sees some series regulars depart and some up-and-coming talent arrive in the new cast. In an interview with\u00a0<em>Puck<\/em> on Sunday, August 24, Michaels hinted that there would be news about the cast \u201cin a week or so.\u201d He confirmed that <strong>James Austin Johnson<\/strong>, who impersonated President Trump throughout season 50, would be back, but was tight-lipped about the rest of the cast.<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/best-tv-shows-on-peacock-right-now\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"00\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/best-tv-shows-on-peacock-right-now\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"00\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">18 Must-Watch TV Shows on Peacock Right Now (August 2025)<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tNot sure if you\u2019re getting the most out of your Peacock subscription? You might not even realize how many great shows are available on the NBCUniversal platform for your viewing pleasure \u2014 from buzzy new originals to classic favorites worth revisiting. In August 2025, we\u2019ve added an underrated action comedy starring Anthony Mackie as well [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Apart from Johnson, as of last year, the regular cast members included <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/michael-che\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michael Che<\/a>, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Marcello Hernandez, Colin Jost, Michael Longfellow, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/ego-nwodim-joins-snl-cast-5-things-to-know-about-the-newcomer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ego Nwodim<\/a>, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, Devon Walker<\/strong> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/bowen-yang\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Bowen Yang<\/strong><\/a> and the featured players were <strong>Ashley Padilla<\/strong>, <strong>Emil Wakim<\/strong> and <strong>Jane Wickline.<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DNwymqQWPen\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>We now know that at least one writer will not be returning for season 50. <strong>Celeste Yim\u00a0<\/strong>announced on Sunday that they would be exiting the show after spending the last five seasons there as a writer.<\/p>\n<p>They shared a heartfelt message about what the show meant to them, explaining, \u201cAfter five seasons, I\u2019m leaving my job at <em>Saturday Night Live<\/em>. Lorne hired me over the phone when I was 23 and the job literally made all of my dreams come true BUT it was also grueling and I slept in my office every week BUT my friends helped me with everything BUT I got yelled at by random famous men BUT some famous girls too BUT I loved it and I laughed every day and it\u2019s where I grew up.\u201d Yim also wrote about their experience being the first openly transgender writer on the show.<\/p>\n<h4>Devon Walker Announces He\u2019s Leaving \u2018Saturday Night Live\u2019<\/h4>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Weekend Update: Devon Walker Shares His Morning Routine - SNL\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/40-xLoNrzGk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Well, we have one confirmation of who won\u2019t be returning to <em>Saturday Night Live<\/em> for season 51. <strong>Devon Walker<\/strong>, who first joined NBC\u2019s long-running sketch comedy show in 2022, is leaving. In an Instagram post, the comedian wrote, \u201cMe 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 f****d up lil family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMore than anything, I\u2019m just really happy I got to do it with Gary and Alex. [We] really went from running a bar show to working together at 30 rock! It\u2019s a beautiful thing. Also, I look caked up in that picture and I feel like it\u2019s important for people to know what I got going on.<br \/>Anyway, I\u2019m bout to go to Japan. When I get back I\u2019m tryna be in a prestige drama. Ideally something with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/julianne-moore\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Julianne Moore<\/strong><\/a>. Hope y\u2019all staying hydrated and getting some money today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s unclear if the parting was mutual, if Walker quit or if NBC let him go. Walker seems positive about it and about his time on the show.<\/p>\n<h4>Emil Wakim Is Exiting \u2018Saturday Night Live\u2019 Season 51<\/h4>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Weekend Update: Emil Wakim on American Patriotism - SNL\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Xiw8YDSGS6g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Following Devon Walker\u2019s recent announcement that he won\u2019t be returning to <em>Saturday Night Live<\/em> for season 51, fellow cast member <strong>Emil Wakim<\/strong> is also exiting the long-running sketch comedy series. In an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DN3LdLZWqPk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">August 27 Instagram post<\/a>, Wakim wrote, \u201cI won\u2019t be returning to SNL next year. It was a gut punch of a call to get but I\u2019m so grateful for my time there. I was at Six Flags celebrating my friend\u2019s 36th birthday and went on a really emotional walk through Bugs Bunny Park and stared out across Daffy Duck Lake thinking about life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery time I scanned into the building I would think how insane it is to get to work there. 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 [Michaels] for taking a chance on me and changing my life,\u201d he added. \u201cI was so lucky to bring some of myself in there and say things I believed in and I\u2019m excited for whatever chapter comes next. Here\u2019s to making more art without compromise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wakim was a relatively new addition to the <em>SNL<\/em> cast, having joined just before season 50 started in 2024. He made his late-night TV debut on <em>The Jimmy Fallon Show<\/em> in 2022. While his time on <em>SNL<\/em> was short, Wakim made history as the first cast member of Lebanese heritage.<\/p>\n<h4>Another One Bites the Dust \u2014 Michael Longfellow Is the Latest \u2018SNL\u2019 Cast Member to Exit<\/h4>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Weekend Update: Michael Longfellow on REAL ID - SNL\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dsRaQ6a2s9U?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Another cast member is leaving <em>Saturday Night Live<\/em>. On August 28, <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2025\/08\/snl-michael-longfellow-leaving-1236500129\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Deadline<\/em> reported that <strong>Michael Longfellow<\/strong><\/a> won\u2019t appear in season 51 of the sketch comedy series. Longfellow\u2019s departure follows the recently announced exits of fellow cast members Devon Walker and Emil Wakim, who announced via social media that they are no longer a part of the show.<\/p>\n<p>Longfellow spent three years on <em>SNL<\/em>, having joined in 2022. He was seen by some as a candidate for the <em>Weekend Update<\/em> anchor chair, which is currently occupied by Colin Jost and Michael Che.<\/p>\n<h3>Heidi Gardner Is Leaving \u2018SNL\u2019 After Eight Years<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Beavis and Butt-Head - SNL\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/86qKgK0asGo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The exits keep coming, and this one\u2019s a bit of a shocker \u2014 longtime cast member <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/heidi-gardner-details-painful-split-from-husband-zeb-wells\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Heidi Gardner<\/strong><\/a> is <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2025\/08\/snl-heidi-gardner-leaving-1236500760\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leaving <em>Saturday Night Live<\/em> after eight years<\/a>. Gardner is one of the more popular regulars over the years due to her recurring characters Bailey Gismert, Crystal and Angel, as well as her hilarious impressions of such celebrities as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/reba-mcentire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Reba McEntire<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>She went viral last year for losing her composure when she saw <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/stylish\/news\/ryan-gosling-recreates-snl-skit-at-the-fall-guy-premiere\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Mikey Day<\/strong>\u2018s Butthead impression in a sketch<\/a> that featured guest host <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/ryan-gosling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Ryan Gosling<\/strong><\/a>. No one could blame her, though \u2014 Day looked hilariously ridiculous, and Gardner\u2019s reaction set social media on fire.<\/p>\n<h3>Will Lorne Michaels Be Stepping Back From \u2018SNL\u2019 After Season 50?<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Weekend Update: Lorne&#039;s Best Friends from Growing Up \u2013 SNL50\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/c4APJNk9vfI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div id=\"news-block\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form  \">\n<div class=\"newsletter-signup__success\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<h3>Thank You!<\/h3>\n<p>You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>In the same\u00a0<em>Puck<\/em> interview, Michaels explained that more of the <em>SNL<\/em> staff were \u201cinvolved in the choices and in the decisions\u201d about the show\u2019s direction. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people in that room with a lot of opinions. I make the final decision, obviously. But it\u2019s not as if people don\u2019t let me know how strongly they feel.\u201d While he certainly isn\u2019t planning to leave the show, it does sound as though Michaels is giving a bit more control to his colleagues after so many years as captain of the ship.<\/p>\n<h3>How to Watch \u2018Saturday Night Live\u2019 Season 51<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Domingo: Vow Renewal \u2013 SNL50\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LLKJwP1wdqA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>New <em>SNL<\/em> episodes will air at 11:30\/10:30c beginning Saturday, October 4, live on NBC and <a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/media-network\/peacock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peacock<\/a>, and will be available to stream the next day on Peacock. You can currently watch seasons 2-50 on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peacocktv.com\/watch\/asset\/tv\/saturday-night-live\/8885992813767211112\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peacock<\/a>.\u00a0Keep an eye on Watch With Us for more updates on\u00a0<em>SNL\u00a0<\/em>news.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/saturday-night-live-season-51-premiere-date-and-everything-you-need-to-know\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cLive from New York, it\u2019s Saturday Night!\u201d Or at least, it will be very soon. Saturday Night Live, the iconic comedy variety show created by producer Lorne Michaels, is on its way with season 51, according to NBC\u2019s website. Whether you prefer watching new episodes live or catching viral clips online, SNL remains a cornerstone [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":190781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-190772","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=190772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190772\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/190781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=190772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=190772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=190772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}