Large modifications are on the horizon for Saturday Night time Reside as Season 51 prepares to shake up its solid.
Lorne Michaels, the legendary producer behind the long-running sketch present, teased that there will likely be main solid modifications forward of Season 51, which premieres October 4.
Throughout a current interview with Puck Information, Michaels, 80, confirmed the shake-up. When requested if he plans to “shake issues up” with the solid, he replied, “Yeah, for certain.” He added that he feels the “stress to reinvent this season” and promised that the total lineup “will likely be introduced in every week or so.”
Up to now, the one solid member Michaels has confirmed will return is James Austin Johnson, who reprised his position as President Donald Trump throughout Season 50. The earlier season additionally starred Michael Che, Colin Jost, Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernandez, Andrew Dismukes, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker. Featured gamers Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline rounded out the ensemble.
Sunday night time introduced the primary confirmed exit forward of the brand new season when author Celeste Yim introduced they’d be leaving after 5 seasons.
“After 5 seasons, I’m leaving my job at Saturday Night time Reside,” Yim wrote on Instagram. “Lorne employed me over the cellphone once I was 23 and the job actually made all of my goals come true BUT it was additionally grueling and I slept in my workplace each week BUT my associates helped me with all the things BUT I obtained yelled at by random well-known males BUT some well-known women too BUT I beloved it and I laughed on daily basis and it’s the place I grew up.”
Reflecting on their groundbreaking position, Yim continued, “I hate when different folks say this but it surely’s true that I used to be the primary ever out trans individual to be a author for SNL. I at all times felt honored to be working inside the lengthy custom of queer writing on the present. Many don’t know this however Chevy is non-binary! I really feel so powerless to guard trans folks on the earth however writing connects us and makes us everlasting, so it’s what I’ll proceed to do.”
Yim additionally thanked associates, household, and colleagues: “Thanks to my household and associates who love me nonetheless though I didn’t see them very a lot. And thanks all to your help.”
As of late August 2025, two solid members have introduced their exits from Saturday Night time Reside forward of Season 51. Scroll via our gallery to seek out out who’s leaving, to this point.
