{"id":215235,"date":"2026-01-07T13:19:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T13:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/bowen-yang-cries-over-final-snl-episode-on-las-culturistas-podcast\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T13:19:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T13:19:35","slug":"bowen-yang-cries-over-final-snl-episode-on-las-culturistas-podcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/bowen-yang-cries-over-final-snl-episode-on-las-culturistas-podcast\/","title":{"rendered":"Bowen Yang Cries Over Final SNL Episode on Las Culturistas Podcast"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Bowen Yang<\/strong><\/a> is sharing more insight into his decision to officially step away from Saturday Night Live<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is honestly what\u2019s behind it. It\u2019s time. Like, you would do seven seasons and then you would scoot,\u201d Yang, 35, said during the Wednesday, January 7, episode of his \u201cLas Culturistas\u201d podcast<\/a>. \u201cCOVID and the current media landscape, the current entertainment ecosystem is so turbulent that people have completely valid reasons for staying longer or in a lot of cases, don\u2019t have the privilege of staying on as long as they would like to.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cI have this very beautiful thing where I get to say that I stayed on exactly as long as I wanted to. Maybe, I\u2019m sure \u2014 and I\u2019ve said this before \u2014 I was maybe unsure about going back in the summer and I\u2019m so glad I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yang\u2019s SNL<\/em> career began in 2018 when he was hired as a writer. He joined the cast one year later. News broke on December 19 that Yang was leaving the show<\/a> after seven seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved working at SNL<\/em>, and most of all I loved the people. I was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile,\u201d Yang wrote via Instagram on December 20, hours before his final episode aired.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m grateful for every minute of my time there. I learned about myself (bad with wigs). I learned about others (generous, vulnerable, hot). I learned that human error can be nothing but correct. I learned that comedy is mostly logistics and that it will usually fail until it doesn\u2019t, which is the besssst.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with thanking fellow castmates and writers, Yang gave a shout-out to Lorne Michaels<\/strong> for setting \u201cthe standard\u201d and \u201cfor bringing everyone at work together. they all care deeply about people in the room, any room, enjoying themselves. I can\u2019t believe I was ever included in that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yang\u2019s last SNL<\/em> episode was hosted by his friend and Wicked<\/em> costar Ariana Grande<\/strong><\/a>, with Cher<\/strong> as the musical guest. During his podcast on Wednesday, Yang reflected on his thoughts and feelings after leaving SNL\u00a0<\/em>with cohost and BFF Matt Rogers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Keep scrolling for everything Yang said about his SNL\u00a0<\/em>departure on \u201cLas Culturistas:\u201d<\/p>\n

His Final Sketch<\/h2>\n

Yang could barely hold back tears throughout his final sketch<\/a>, in which he played a Delta employee finishing his last shift before retirement. At 12:55 a.m. on December 21, Yang still didn\u2019t know if \u201cthat sketch was going to go to air,\u201d noting there were \u201ca million reasons\u201d it could be cut from the live show.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing is guaranteed,\u201d Yang continued. \u201cThat is, sort of in a nutshell, like, it is perfectly illustrative of what that job is. It was resonant all the way through to the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

Initially, Yang was worried that the sketch wouldn\u2019t be as emotional as he wanted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was sobbing at the read-through,\u201d he recalled. \u201cIn the sketch, I say, \u2018I\u2019ve loved everyone here. I\u2019ve loved every single person who works here.\u2019 Like, I immediately broke down because I was telling the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cher\u2019s Involvement<\/h2>\n

At first, Yang didn\u2019t know if Cher would be in his final sketch. She finally agreed to appear on the morning of the live show.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was like, \u2018Can I just say, like, you were perfect?\u2019 And she was like, \u2018I just want to kiss him,\u2019 or something,\u201d Yang said. \u201cThen we had to go and pitch to her that \u2026 we would love if she sang with us at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Show\u2019s Energy<\/h2>\n

Rogers said that he\u2019s happy Yang is \u201cexcited\u201d about other things in his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know how you were going to feel after it ended. Because it does warp you a little bit. Like, I can give that take now that you\u2019re not there,\u201d Rogers said. \u201cThere were times where I would come to the show and you would be there, and I was like, \u2018What happened to you?\u2019 \u2026 The energy could alternately be so high and unbelievable and the best energy you could ever experience or through the floor to the point where I\u2019m like, \u2018Why are we even doing this?’\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Stars Get Real About Their \u2018Saturday Night Live\u2019 Hosting Debuts<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tSaturday Night Live\u2019s stage has played host to icons from Harry Styles to Betty White, and many of its celebrity guests have gushed over reaching the impressive career milestone. \u201cI can\u2019t believe I am hosting Saturday Night Live. I\u2019m not sure many of you know that I\u2019m 88 and a half years old,\u201d White, who [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Reflection on \u2018SNL\u2019<\/h2>\n

\u201cThat is one of the most meaningful experiences I will ever have,\u201d Yang said, noting that SNL\u00a0<\/em>taught him \u201chow to work under what seems like an immense amount of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also admitted that he experienced \u201cthe full spectrum\u201d of emotions because of the culture of the show.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking there is completely disregulating, emotionally. Either you are soaring or you are, like, completely in the dumps,\u201d Yang explained. \u201cIt is time encroaching on you emotionally, physically, process-wise, creatively. It is all those things bearing down on you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone Showed Up<\/h2>\n

Yang got emotional about the \u201coutpouring\u201d of love for his final show.<\/p>\n

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