As the cast of “Saturday Night Live” prepare for season 48, viewers will see several new faces take the stage tonight following the biggest cast overhaul in history.
Executive producer and creator Lorne Michaels blamed the pandemic for the late-night comedy show’s recent sales.
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“The pandemic had put us in a position where nobody could really get out because there were no jobs,” Michaels said, according to the New York Times.
He went on to say that there was “nowhere to go” for the comedians who have been on the show for years during the turbulent times of the pandemic – which he called a “year of transition”.
Some of the celebrity cast of Saturday Night Live who have left the stage forever include Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor and Aristotle Athari, as well as Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon and Kyle Mooney. (Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Celebrity cast members who have left the stage forever include Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor and Aristotle Athari, as well as Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon and Kyle Mooney, who have been on the show for years.
‘SNL’ ANNOUNCES FOUR NEW CAST MEMBERS AHEAD OF SEASON 48
Some former “SNL” employees decided to leave and pursue other opportunities.
Some former “SNL” employees decided to leave and pursue other opportunities. (Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
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NBC announced that Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker will be joining the show.
‘Top Gun 2’ actor Miles Teller will open Season 48 by hosting his first musical guest Kendrick Lamar.
(‘Saturday Night Live’ returning cast members Kenan Thompson, Heidi Gardner, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, James Austin, Punkie Johnson, Bowen Yang, Michael Che, Colin Jost, Ego Nwodim, Chris Redd, Sarah Sherman and Cecily Strong .)
They will join returning cast members Kenan Thompson, Heidi Gardner, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, James Austin, Punkie Johnson, Bowen Yang, Michael Che, Colin Jost, Ego Nwodim, Chris Redd, Sarah Sherman and Cecily Strong.
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The comedian reshuffle is the biggest change in cast size in nearly a decade.
In 2013, Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen and Bill Hader said goodbye to SNL after season 38, in addition to Seth Meyers departing mid-season for his new gig with NBC’s Late Night.
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Eight more cast members joined “SNL” after Colin Jost took over the “Weekend Update” segment following Meyer’s departure.
The new season of “Saturday Night Live” starts on October 1st.
Stephanie Giang-Paunon is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @SGiangPaunon.